Student Letters

I had asked an LGBT-friendly student from the high school (and my neighbor) what she thought of the idea of having a GSA at her school and if she would mind writing it and emailing it to me.  Yesterday, she surprised me with not only her printed reply, but a reply from two other students and said there may be a couple more on the way.  It touched my heart so much that they would take time out to help this cause (Yes, I got a lump in my throat when she handed them to me).  I'd like to add their letters to this blog. Although they proudly added their names to their letters, I will keep them anonymous here. 

(Senior)
The Gay Straight Alliance could do wonders for our school by giving students a support group to help them through high school.  High school can be a really hard place for teens dealing with being people that go against the social norm. This group could help struggling teenagers make friends with people who stand for the same moral values and make them feel like they are not alone.  Statistics show that teens that are gay are 5 times more likely to commit suicide than straight teens (Gilbert).  If we could create a club that makes these students feel like they are welcome in the larger community, we could change lives.  It could also benefit strong gay-rights supporters in our school that are not gay, by letting them find people who are just as passionate as they are.  I am a straight supporter of gay rights, and sometimes it is really hard to live in such a conservative environment. Sometimes I feel like everyone is against me in my opinion, and it's hard to always be told you're wrong. This club can help spread anti-hate by spreading love to people who just don't fit in.

Work cited:
Gilbert, Katleen. "Gay teens five times more likely to commit suicide." lifesiteNews. N.p., 29 April 2001. Web. 26 April 20013

(Junior)
The (stated school) High School needs a Gay Straight Alliance for several reasons.  The main reason being the fact that gay students need to know that they aren't alone in this world. I went through my entire schooling life thinking I was the only gay child in the state until I learned that many students around me where gay as well!  We didn't know each other even existed until we began to become friends and "Ally" ourselves together. But all to often I hear of boys and girls alike who don't have anyone to be their friend and know what it feels like to be different in the s school.  A Gay Straight Alliance would grant people that are just coming out, want to come out, or even straight people just wanting to show their support.  This alliance would help many students receive a place to belong and a place to be sheltered from the harshness of the world. For these reasons the (stated school ) High School needs a Gay Straight Alliance to become a better place.

(Senior)
Yes because I think it can make the school a lot safer and help stop harassment and discrimination. It can also help students learn about homophobia, transphobia, etc.

Thank you for your courage. I want the world to be a better place for you.

Trevor's Coming Out Video - LDS Student

A friend shared this video with me tonight. Trevor would make any parent proud. He bravely and kindly shares his story to let others know they are not alone -- as he once thought he was. Thank you, Trevor.

Click there>> http://youtu.be/3OjhsG9GKm8

Image credit: Tumblr

Reality Check

We were approached with an offer to possibly run a press-release about this project in the newspaper and was told this could be a big, big story if Scout's project was accepted by the BSA.

On so many levels, that's a wonderful idea and could maybe give the leverage needed to start the club.  It could send the message, too, that not all straight and/or LDS people are afraid of LGBT, and that there is a need for the LDS and LGBTQ communities to reach out to each other in peace, love, and acceptance where no one is trying to change anyone.  It may even send a message to the BSA that there's room for everyone.

But, media coverage could also backfire.  My child's future, safety, and mental well-being need more consideration as well as not jeopardizing the success of starting a GSA for our youth.  Hubby and I have decided to remove the project from Scout.  He has always had a great attitude about doing it, but as his parents, we need to protect him from any media (he's only 13).  He and his sister still want to help out in other ways.

The quest for a GSA will continue!  It is now my "eagle" project.  After educating myself and meeting the beautiful angels of the LGBTQ community as well as their supportive families, my heart is too involved to turn away now. About 2-7% of our kiddos will be born LGBT.  Statistically speaking, about 20-70 youth out of a student body of 1000 will be LGBT.  What types of messages will they be raised hearing about themselves and internalize?

I hope for them a place where they feel accepted and a place for allies and potential-allies learn to break stereotypes and other misunderstandings and to stick up for anyone who is bullied.  I want this to be a group full of brave leaders who choose the right over fear.

Where We Are So Far by Mom

Scout is preparing his paperwork to propose his project.  (Say that five times fast!)

Except for a couple of people in our LDS neighborhood, nobody knows about the content of Scout's project.  Even his scout leaders don't know, yet.  We thought it would be best to keep it quiet until we had enough information showing that starting a GSA club could be a real possibility.  We wanted to know we could do it before being told we couldn't do it.

Someone shared with me that usually the hardest part about starting a GSA club is finding a faculty advisor (FA) who is willing to dedicate time to the cause.  We have our angel!

We've also been in contact with a leader from the only other GSA in Utah County who has shown us the steps and our legal rights to start the club. (I hope to share those during a future post).

Many of these initial contacts via email and phone calls have been assisted by me.  It's important for Scout (who's 13 btw) to show leadership through this journey.  He writes the email that is sent through my account. He's made a couple of the calls, and has even presented his project idea in person to those we were seeking help from. (He was kind of nervous during those).  I fill in.  Some things at this point should be done by the parent.

We are not sure when he will seek project approval from the BSA.  The BSA will be voting the week of May 20 to see if they will continue to discriminate against gay scouts and leaders or not.  Should Scout present before that or after? We'll see.