Alliance at CVU High School. I
had second thoughts about our
need for the club because we seem to

be a mostly open and accepting

school. I wasn’t sure if we really had
a need for a “safe place.” However. I
thought it‘ was important for gay, les-

I just started a Gay-Straight

, bian, bisexual, transgender, question-

ing, and allied kids and teachers to
have the opportunity to connect with
others like them. .

My_ friend and I went to
see our student activities advisor and
then talked to the advisor of our pre-
vious GSA. We figured out the logis-
tics and announced it in multiple
ways. I made some posters by hand.

The Monday before our
Thursday meeting, I went around the
school during “early block” (7230)
hanging posters in popular places
with extra tape to discourage people
from tearing them down. By the time

Most of my

»-+-friends- are

supportive of

e G LBT, people,
 yet none of

them came to

our first meeting.

I walked by at 10:00, two of the
posters were gone. Another poster
that I hung on Wednesday lasted

only one block.

I expected people to protest

the GSA, especially in the cowardly,

 

 

anonymous form of tearing down
posters. I also wasn’t that upset
about the work that went into them,
but it was the principle of the thing
that really bothered me. Do people
actually think that tearing down
posters will stop us from being here?
It accomplishes nothing, because
GLBT people are still here, we have
allies, friends, and families to sup-
port us, and we still
have our strong, proud
community.

Tearing down our
posters, using homo-
phobic slurs, and
threatening us just
reinforce the fact that
we need a GSA in our
school — in all schools.
Thankfully, we don’t
have nearly the shun-
ning and violence that
I have heard about in
‘other schools.

However, I still
see people who have
no understanding of
queer issues bashing
our “lifestyle,” and
trying to act educated
on the topic. This is
one of the things that
irksme the most. People who have
no connection to GLBT issues
should not be the ones others go to
for information. They should not be
decision-makers for people who are
knowledgeable and personally con-

hy Dbes It Matter?

nected to the issue. Hopefully, a
GSA can combat ignorance bypro-
moting connection and education.
Another issue I’ve had
with starting a GSA is getting
straight people to come in support of
us. I know most of my friends are
supportive of GLBT people, yet none

. of them came to our first meeting.

People seem afraid to show their
support. They think that if they are
supportive, others will think they
identify with the queer community.

' This sort of, defeats the purpose of ,

the Gay-Straight Alliance.

’ «Yes, the GSA is there to
provide a safe place and the ability
for GLBT youth and teachers to con-
nect, but it is also there to educate
straight people about the effects of
homophobia, With more support
from straight people, homophobia is
better combated because their sup-
port will show in the straight com-
munity. Thus, less accepting people
see that it’s okay to be supportive of
those different from them. And they
will learn that showing support
doesn’t mean they’re gay.

Of course, thereare some
people who don’t want to change
their opinions, no matter what we do
to show that it’s okay to be GLBT.
But the queer community has to be
willing to educate them. When they.
use slurs or violence, we should
speaktout and_ inform them of their
misjudgment. If we keep promoting
education and end the silence on
queer issues, we can prevent future
problems.

So we’ll continue having
GSA meetings on Thursday mom-
ings, we’ll continue hanging posters
(this time they’re going to be photo-
copied for easy replacement), and
we’ll continue spreading the message
of equality and acceptance of GLBT
people. And it really does matter. V

Lauren Parker is a junior at
Champlain Valley Union High
School in Hinesburg.

Trans Living

contd from previous page

. rately and wholly reflect our own

lives.

On November 20, 2003, at
Burlington City Hall, the
Transgender Day of Remembrance
will take place again. For newcomers
it can be the beginning of a powerful
and affirming tradition and for those
retuming,‘a renewed vigor in an old

faith. We may go to stand vigil or to
be visible, to mourn or to find com-
munity. We may go‘ to reclaim what
is misrepresented in media transla-

tion; to memorialize and honor the ’

loss of ‘loved ones, friends and_fami- *

ly; and to take a unified stand against
anti-transgender sentiment and
violence. , -

And finally, we can go to
claim our inheritance: the brilliant
lives of transwomen, transmen, drag
queens, sex workers, activists, advo-
cates, military personnel, police per-

sonnel, transvesti, partners, lovers,
high school students,’ singers and an
‘unending list of testimonies brought
forth to‘ life. V »

The Transgender Day of
Remembrance will take place at City

4 Hall in Burlington on November 20,
2003: candlelight vigil at 6pm; visi-
bility procession through Church
Street at 6:30; an indoor memorial
service and speakout at Conto_is ‘

' Auditorium at 7pm. All are invited to
attend any or all events.’ ' I

nd the
with Toshi Reagon

~~—n .3

l3“\ 4  -

Sunday, November 16 at 7 pm

‘Sweet Honeyts the voice ctexpertenee. . . striking
a chord tor tzeedom and still harmonizing alter all
these years." (Bowman Sun)

“[1'oshl Reagan] is one of the great voices or this
generation.” (Village voice)

Entwinlng stirring voices across‘ musical genres and generations, Sweet Honey
in the Rock marks its 30th anniversary with a program at their most deiinitive
songs. With poweriui voices and soaring harmonies, Sweet Honey addresses
issues oi our time through moving chants, spirituals, raps, blues, and ballads.
Toshi Fleagon—daughter at Sweet Honey founder Bernice Johnson Reagan-
joins this celebratory event with her lunky blues-rock outlit, Big Lovely.

Presented In association with
The Ilnlrnnlly oi Vermont‘: “Prulilenfs Initiatives tor Illvnnity”

sponsored by 'wl_l_1~l'Il|_.‘l_._E§_l‘._sE - Media Swnort lrm 
153 Main St., Burlington, VT

‘ FLYNNCE H 802.863.5966

tickets at www.flynncentor.org or call 86-Hynnl

 

 

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