Our goal is to begin a GSA at our high school in Utah County; it would be the second in the county. This journey may be a how-to or a how-not-to for anyone else wanting to form similar clubs at their school. -- WE MADE IT!! :)
Update: These letters have generated invitations from Senator Dabakis and Equality Utah: Freedom Brunch post and Compassionate Conversations post. Currently in Utah, it is okay to fire or evict someone merely for being LGBTQ or just perceived as being LGBTQ. They could be model employees or residents but lose their home and right to make a living based on orientation and identity. SB 100 will change the anti-discrimination amendments to include LGBT protection. Religious institutions, small businesses with less-than 15 employees, and landlords with less than 5 units are exempt from the bill; they may continue discriminating. Link to bill at end of post. GSA students concerned with their futures write to our local senator:
1/26/14
Senator Valentine,
I am [a member] of the Gay-Straight Alliance at American Fork High School, and I just wanted to write a letter showing my support of SB 100. This bill is so important for me and other people like me.
School has always been a top priority for me, and I've worked really hard. I graduate this year, and I look forward to going to college, moving out, getting a job, but the thought that I could be fired because I'm bisexual is very worrisome.
Like I said, this bill is important, and I really think it needs to be passed. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
I am writing this letter in support of SB 100. Utah law already prohibits workplace and housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy/childbirth, age, national origin, or disability, and I feel that it is completely fair that sexual-orientation and gender identity are added to this list. There is no reason to discriminate against anyone, and especially not through housing and in the workplace. I do not feel that there is any reason to oppose this addition to the anti-discrimination amendments. If anything, it is a completely necessary addition. The amendments themselves are there to prevent any sort of discrimination and because there is now a very present need for an addition, it is completely reasonable to update these amendments so that they can further protect all Utah citizens from discrimination in the workplace and housing.
As a student of American fork High School, a straight ally, and [member] of the first ever Gay-Straight Alliance of AFHS, I would love to see this addition be added for all of my friends who in the very near future have to face theses challenges. It's discouraging to think that these people I know and love can be fired and evicted merely on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identification. They are all wonderful people who deserve to have their rights protected, too. I would love to see the day when the LGBTQ+ community is truly given the equal rights that the rest of us US citizens are given, and here, an addition to the anti-discrimination amendments in the state of Utah is definitely a step in the right direction.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and thank you for everything that you are doing to better our state. God bless.
My name is { }, I'm a senior in high school, I have a solid 3.0 GPA, I'm {a member} of the first official GSA (gay - straight alliance) in the Alpine School District, and I've been openly identified as "gay" for the past three and a half years. I always knew that I was gay, no one influenced my decision, because it wasn't a decision. Now you have a decision; you have the biggest influence on passing the SB-100 bill. It's a very scary thought that if this bill isn't passed, I could lose my apartment when I get one, if I get one, and that I could potentially lose my job solely because I am gay.
Being 18, openly gay, and a very proud resident of Utah, I say, "Hear me," as well as all the others out there who fear the same thing I do. In all respect and in the best way possible, please, sign the SB-100 bill. Time will heal a bigoted heart, love for all will heal the wounds inflicted by the many years of struggle, but a decision to make it okay for employers to turn away an LGBT+ human being from a job or a place to live will never be forgotten.
All WE can hope for is that you sign the bill. Either way, you'll end up with upset people, and for that I apologize, but at the end of the day people -- whether straight, gay, or bi, lesbian, transgendered, or questioning -- are people. As I always say: When we're all dead, what's it gonna matter what our sexuality was? We're all essentially just flesh with brains and feelings. No human should fear for their future. Thank you for hearing what I have to say and have a wonderful day.
This post summarizes the steps we took to start the GSA in hopes to encourage anyone who would like to try to start one of their own. I will first list the basic steps then go into further detail and advice for each step and include links.
1a. Find student interest
1b. Obtain faculty advisor(s)
1c. Form a planning committee
2a. Learn the district's and/or school's policy about forming clubs
2b. Make appointment with principal or assistant principal to obtain an application
3. Fill out application (make copies)
4. Depending on district's club-starting policy, you may need to:
Create a constitution (you may use our template)
Create Articles of Association and by-laws (you may use our template)
5. Get student signatures (minimum may be required)
6. Turn in application
7. Faculty and district board meetings
8. Celebrate
9. Permission forms
(While you're waiting...)
(Pre-step advice:)
1a. Find student interest LGBTQ-friendly people know other LGBTQ-friendly people and LGBTQ people. This is hopefully fairly easy, but when LGBTQ people and their supporters are in the closet, they may not even know each other exists. It may take a couple of confident students with an interest-form to show that support is there and help others be brave. >>Petition for interest link >>Interest Form/Sign-up Sheet link Applications often need a minimum of 10 student signatures (see your school's policy in later step). This next tip is not required, but could be highly beneficial: have students write why they think a GSA club would be a good idea. Submitting these along with the application could be influential. It could be as short as a sentence or as long as an essay with references. >> Student Letter Examples link 1b. Obtain faculty advisor(s) Faculty includes anyone who works at the school and does not have to be a teacher. An FA could be a librarian, counselor, facility manager, cafeteria employee, office employee, etc. I have found that counselors are LGBTQ-friendly. Sociology teachers may also understand the importance of supportive clubs. Ask the students who they think are informed-faculty that would be willing to be an FA. Having more than one FA is very helpful in the event one is unable to attend a meeting, then the other can fill in. Here is an example of a letter asking someone to be a faculty advisor:
Hi, ( ), Your name was given to me by ( ), my neighbor and friend. I had asked her if she knew any AFHS faculty who were LGBTQ-friendly, and your name was given. We are in the process of starting a Gay Straight Alliance club at AFHS. We need at least one faculty advisor and a couple of student leaders to begin the club. Our question to you: Would you be interested in being the faculty advisor or would you know of someone who would? Additionally, would you know of students (gay or straight) that would possibly want to be leaders? (Please don't ask, yet...). Before we pursue paperwork, etc., we need to see if there is an interest or support from anyone. Here's a link about GSA clubs. http://gsanetwork.org/get-involved/start-gsa Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely,
1c. Form a planning committee
Getting together can be very difficult with everyone's schedules. We formed a FB group for planning purposes and "met" there. We sent email up-dates to those without a FB account.
2a. Learn the district's and/or school's policy about forming clubs
I was able to go on the district's website and hunt for find it. You may have to ask the secretary to help you find the link. And while you are searching, see if they have a policy about bullying.
2b. Make appointment with principal or assistant principal to obtain an application
It may be possible to simply ask for the application at the front desk, but sitting one-on-one with someone has its benefits. For instance, whether positive or negative, the meeting lets you know what direction you need to take next and shows you are willing to work with them and get your ducks-in-a-row so there's no surprises later. It's so important to keep calm if the reception of your intentions happen to be negative. (The law is on your side. There's no need for name-calling, threats, or door-slamming. Stay respectful and a good example.) Keep notes. Fortunately, my meeting was non-threatening and matter of fact (although I was super-nervous... so outside my comfort zone :) ).
This is what was given to me during the above appointment and for an example only for you. You will have to get your school's own version of their application.
4. Depending on district's policy, you may need to:
Create a constitution
This is basically the goal of the group. Another GSA sent me an example of a constitution to work from. I will show you those as well as our final version. You may use these. The constitution page is where we had the students sign (signatures required by our district).
5. Get student signatures (minimum may be required)
I printed the constitution on light blue paper with a subtle rainbow in the background (not a requirement ;) ). We sat up a meeting time for students to sign the constitution.
6. Turn in application and requirements
Make several copies of everything. The FAs, the school office, the district, and your club all need copies. Make an extra one in case the one you submitted gets "lost." I also recommend printing on paper that is easy to see/find. Include letters/statements from the students if they wrote them (see 1a). I also included a flyer from the Family Acceptance Project as well as their booklet, Supportive Families, Healthy Children.
The application will need to be approved by the faculty before being sent to the district for approval. This may take a couple of weeks, depending on how soon the faculty (or faculty chairs) meet (the district's website should have a schedule). It would be wonderful (and essential, really) to have the faculty advisor(s) be there to answer any questions about the club. Once the application is approved, then you may have to wait several more weeks until the school district has their board meeting with your club (and others, probably) up for discussion. You or your faculty advisor will have a three-minute opportunity to speak on behalf of the club. (Opposition also has three-minutes each to speak against it). Advice for attending the board meeting: There is power in numbers; I recommend supportive parents attend, too. Keep respectful behavior (remember the law is on your side).
8. Then hopefully for number eight you can celebrate!
If, however, the district says no, this is the advice from the ACLU:
If your school turns you down, tells you that you have to change the name of your GSA or that it can't be focused on LGBT issues, tells you that students have to have parental permission to join the GSA when it doesn't require that for other clubs, or tries to tell you that the GSA can't do things that other clubs get to do like have a photo in the yearbook or make club announcements, you should contact the ACLU. We might be able to help!
9. Permission forms Some districts require permission forms for parents/guardians to sign. >> Our permission form link While you are waiting... -Have students ready to fill officer positions. Their parents must be okay with this and willing to sign parental permission-slip forms. -Determine meeting times and place.
This will help keep a positive atmosphere. Save the media for when the district says, "No."
Timing
I'm not an expert on the timing. I feel like we were a little too late by turning in the application when school started in the fall. But, our application was among 79 others being approved the same night, so maybe it wasn't too unusually late. I would advise gathering student interest and faculty advisors during the first of the calendar year while school is in session and have everything ready to turn in so you can begin in the fall. I would ask the office the best time to turn in the application.
Be able to articulate why a GSA club is important.
Info to principals and vice principals
If you have these opportunities available, invite school leaders to suicide prevention workshops. You can also order Family Acceptance Project booklets and pass those out to the principal, assistant principals, and counselors.
There is a whole spectrum of orientations, identifications, and expressions, but the club's name only seems to include two: gay and straight. You can consider other names, but GSAs are known and more common and protected by law (although I bet similar clubs by different names may also be protected). The name must make it clear that this club is about affirmation and non-discrimination. Simply anti-bullying clubs may not make it clear that it includes LGBTQ, and they may still feel left out.
Posters and announcements
When we first became official, the students made posters to hang around the school. The posters included rainbows, and at least some adults didn't understand what the rainbows meant and were offended by them. Our new posters will include this explanation:
Why the rainbow?
The rainbow represents all of our variations whether it is about orientation, identity, skin color, talents, or personalities. We are all part of the rainbow, and each has something wonderful to offer. The rainbow serves to recognize that.
Our school conducts morning announcements, and some refused to read our club's announcement. Our first one was funny to us but possibly a little over-the-top for our conservative audience, "Cavemen, Cavewomen, and everyone in between! Come join us for.... " So, the lesson to be learned is how to communicate with your audience without scaring them away.
Yes, I made this, and yes, that is indeed a meet tenderizer.
It was within my budget for a gavel and fun for laughs. <><><><><><><><><><><>
Our district requires all students of all clubs to have parents sign permission slips before the student can even attend any meetings. When our club first became official, the classroom was packed for the meeting. When we passed out the permission forms, over half of the students said there was no way their parents would sign. They looked so disappointed and haven't returned. Here is our form:
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Your student, __________, would like to be part of this year's Gay-Straight Alliance Club (GSA).
( )HS GSA Club membership is available for all interested persons belonging to the student body of
( )HS, whether gay, straight, transgender, or anywhere on the spectrum of identification. The purpose of GSA Club is to promote a supportive and affirmative environment that is friendly and respectful of all students of ( )HS regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. The goal for GSA Club is to end all forms of discrimination. Club activities will focus on service and support to students and the community.
( )HS is committed to providing its students with a safe and caring environment. Discrimination is the main cause of bullying among youth. Research suggests that the presence of a GSA Club in a high school reduces bullying and other discriminatory behaviors among the entire student body, even those not involved in GSA Club.
The GSA Club will meet on campus, once a week after school for approximately 1 hour. Please be aware that in our meetings, students may share their personal views and experiences, as appropriate to the discussion, activity or topic that day. Every effort will be made to respect family privacy, and there is no intent to discuss inappropriate issues or topics; however, the law requires that we remind you that unexpected subjects may arise as students express their feelings. (Ex. Religious beliefs, family relationships, politics, emotional difficulties, income, etc...). Also, if a guest speaker has been invited to attend a meeting, a 2-week prior notice to parents and students on the details of the speaker and the topic being covered will be given via e-mail. All upcoming events and meeting agendas will be posted on the ( )HS GSA Club's website.
The GSA Club advisor is ( ). Please call or email with any questions or concerns you may have at ( ) or ( ).
Please sign this form indicating whether you give permission for your student to participate in GSA Club this year. Thank you!
____ I give my student permission to participate in the GSA Club for the 2013-2014 year.
____ I do not want my student to participate in the GSA Club for the 2013-2014 year.
At the American Fork cemetery is buried Bryan Jordan Smith, a 21-year-old who took his life because he couldn't handle being gay, according to the note he left. Bryan was a graduate of American Fork High School. He had served an LDS mission and was planning on attending Joseph Patrick Academy of Hair.
If you think the story of a young man cutting his life short is singular in our state, you are sadly wrong. Every day two teens are treated for attempted suicide, according to the latest data from the Utah Department of Health. Students who are lesbian, gay or bisexual are eight times more likely to die by suicide, twice more likely to be physically assaulted by their peers, five times more likely to be bullied.
Martin Luther King once said that racism is the colored man's burden and the white man's shame. The way we've treated lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders in Utah -- in schools and in churches -- has been terribly shameful. For some of our local youth, like Bryan Jordan Smith, it's tragically become a burden too heavy to bear.
An American Fork High School counselor said that in more than half of the situations she had personally handled, involving attempted suicide or bullying, the students were harassed by their peers because they were accused of being gay, lesbian -- or just looking like one.
Because some families and clergies have wrongly believed that being attracted to the same sex is a choice, gay teens have paid a steep price: out of the roughly 700 LGBT teens who are currently homeless in Salt Lake County, a stunning 70 percent said they were kicked out of their homes because of sexual orientation.
The Alpine School District this week approved the creation of a Gay Straight Alliance at American Fork High School. It was not the District's idea but one that came from local moms, students and counselors who care enough about their community to create a safe place for all students.
The GSA club, the second in Utah County, aims at promoting a "supportive and an affirmative environment that is friendly and respectful to all students regardless of sexual orientation." GSA members say they plan to collect supplies for the homeless youth in Utah, take anti-bullying initiatives and do service in the community to help all people.
My opinion? We should have done this years ago. The club stands to become one of the most Christ-like clubs at the high school, having the potential to save lives. I wish Bryan Jordan Smith were here to see it.
We began our club year with a service project by collecting needed items for OUTreach Resource Center, an organization who helps the homeless youth in Utah. (The article below explains more.) The students did a great job working together to set up collection boxes and flyers.
Donation Totals
New Socks:140 pairs
New underwear: 45 pairs
Knit hats:5
mittens/knit gloves:18 pairs
Hand/toe warmers:39
Coats:3
Sleeping bags:5 new
Back Packs:5
Smaller bags:8
Deodorant sticks:18
Soap:10
Body butter:1
Toothpaste:2
Toiletry Kits:11
bar of soap
toothbrush
toothpaste
washcloth
pancho
Combs:12-pk
Condomsbox
Mini notebooks:5
mechanical pencils:10
#2 pencils:32
Glue sticks:2
Crayons:1 box
Pop-top cans of food:25
Other cans of food:14
Energy or Protein bars:72
Chocolate bars:12
Single-serve powdered drink mixes:43
Jack Chan DVD, "Twin Dragons":1*
Below is the accompanying article to this link HERE:
You know the kind of holiday gifts that make teens yawn? New socks, new underwear, gloves, deodorant. At A.F. High School, they make up the perfect list for a compassionate service project.
In one of its first actions, a high-school club is collecting supplies for the homeless youth. The Gay Straight Alliance, an American Fork High School club that aims to promote a respectful environment for all students, has recently set up a number of collection boxes for its winter service project.
The benefactors will be any of the 5,000 youth who experience homelessness each year in the Beehive State. Youth who are homeless have become a new focus nationally and in Utah because they fall easy prey to exploitation. Over a third of the youth will experience abuse after becoming homeless.
"Homeless youth experience an immense amount of dehumanization on a daily basis," said Cai Noble, who has lived on the streets as a youth and is now the founding director of Operation Shine America, an outreach organization that raises awareness of the homeless youth epidemic in America. "When we reach out to homeless youth with donations it not only saves lives; it shows homeless youth that others value them as a part of their community."
Rachel Peterson, a graduate student researcher at Utah State University, said that parental rejection is often the cause for youth homelessness. She once met a homeless 12-year-old boy who had told his family that he didn't fit into their belief system. The family told him to leave and to come back when he had his act together.
"Half of the youth report being kicked out of the family home because of their orientation or gender identity," said Peterson. They end up in squats, abandoned buildings or camp in canyons.
Now as the cold weather is fast approaching, the GSA high-school club is asking for help from the community. It is looking to collect new socks, new underwear, backpacks, sleeping bags, hand warmers, deodorant and pop-top cans of meat such as chili, single-serving powdered drink mix, chocolate bars and energy bars.
For the project, drop-off boxes have recently been placed in the school's main office, library, counseling office, room 104 and in several teachers' classrooms. Donations can be dropped off until Tuesday, Dec. 10. Then they will be delivered to a non-profit organization in Utah that works directly with homeless youth, OUTreach Resource Centers.
So, you thought you could never make a teen smile with a gift of just socks or underwear? The GSA of American Fork High School would like to convince you otherwise.
If You Can Donate...
Bring donations to A.F.H.S. Main Office until Dec. 10.
New socks
New underwear
Backpacks
Sleeping bags
Hand warmers
Deodorant
Pop-top cans of meat
Single-serving powdered drink mix
Chocolate bars
Energy bars
*{That's strange. It doesn't say anything about a Jackie Chan dvd.}
Salt Lake City
Image Credit: Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune
