When I first told my friends that I joined Northport High School’s GSA, I got a few confused glances and questions asking what the club was. Many of my friends, especially the non-LGBTQ+ ones, had never even heard of the organization. When I told my mom, a GSA member in the 90s’, about joining she remarked on the redundancy of even having one. But what is a GSA and why is it so important?
The first official Gay Straight Alliance, according to the GLBTQ Archive, began in 1989 in two private Massachusetts schools. Soon the state of Massachusetts Safe School Program adopted the club, and it spread across the country.
The GSA was intended to be a way to create a safe environment for gay and lesbian students in a time when bullying was rampant and representation was non-existent. In recent years, the club has become more inclusive of every flavor of LGBTQ+ student, becoming a respite from a school that often makes these students feel invisible.
The Gay Straight Alliance at Northport, especially in recent years, has seen a decline in notoriety and membership. Some people believe that LGBT students no longer face struggles and are mostly accepted in a school environment. However, is this the experience of most LGBT students? Can the GSA be revived, and more importantly, why is the GSA important? I interviewed three members of the Northport GSA to find out.
One student, Sage Konte, comes to GSA “…because I like being with people I can relate to. We’re all just there for each other, we’re kinda connected. You can be a part of a community. You get brought together with people you’d never expect to!”
Another member, Iziah says a good reason to join is that “You meet new people that don’t immediately hate you. And good food, good snacks.” As a person who prepares some of the snacks, he’s right.
When asked, all three of the members agreed that Northport needs a GSA. “Of course we do. I think the GSA should be here because it’s a place a person can go to be accepted; a place you can go when you feel no one is in your corner,” Sage explained.
They’re one of the more comfortable members of the GSA, being out in school and at home. However, this isn’t true for everyone. One of my interviewees, who chose to remain anonymous said this about coming out: “I’m really scared that if people find out I’m gay, I’ll be made fun of. I don’t want my day to be negative and I’m scared people will just be rude to me. I’m kind of scared to show that I’m myself. So many people make gay jokes and say the f-slur it’s hard to know if I’ll be bullied.” This is why, at least to most LGBT students, a safe place to be open is necessary.
Being gay in school isn’t all rainbows. Sage remarks that being queer “…is sad sometimes. There has been a lot of homophobia towards me. Since 6th grade, I have been called really horrible terms and people have stuck middle fingers at me just because I chose to love a different person than what’s ‘expected.’”
Most GSA members report being bullied, in fact, according to the CDC 43% of transgender students face bullying. This number is speculated to be higher due to a lack of reporting. When asked about the bullying issue, the anonymous interviewee stated “Nothing really gets done. nothing stops it, it happens and then nobody stops it.”
Iziah even recounts being called slurs in the hall. “ I don’t want other queer kids to come in as freshmen and immediately be called slurs.”
Another issue that I didn’t even know about was the all-gender bathroom. It’s not only out of the way, being down the A wing and the lower H wing, but they’re often closed due to hateful vandalism.
“I hope more people come to their senses,” the anonymous student remarked. Even though it’s 2023, it seems queer students are still somewhat othered and treated differently.
The GSA in my experience is a fun club full of unique people and great opportunities. Northport High School now has a place for queer voices, and now they’re being heard. When asked what their final thoughts were Iziah said: “Listen to what teenagers are saying. There’s a high chance we’re right.”
Sage remarked, “Respect each other in general, we’re all human and we should be able to speak up and be who we are without being in judgment or fear.”
As a reporter, and more importantly a GSA member, I didn’t expect to be surprised by what I would hear. However, hearing the perspectives of other queer students made me consider perspectives I never would have on my own. I’m grateful to the GSA for giving me a place to be myself and a voice to speak with, I’m grateful for the experiences shared with me, and a special thanks to Sage Konte, Iziah, and Anonymous.
