GSA continues to gain momentum as an important club at TJ.
Beginning on its seventh year, TJ’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) is combining with the drama department to make RENT what they hope will be the best play yet.
Social Studies Teacher Linda Estlund is one of the sponsors for the club, and this is her fourth year helping to run the organization. This year, Estlund says, the club will be a little different. “There are more adult sponsors, more members, and we are hoping to be a whole lot more organized,” Estlund said. The other adult sponsors this year are Teacher Suzanna Hurja and Parent Karen Jefferson.
The GSA club is a student-run organization which provides a safe place for students to meet, support each other, talk about issues related to sexual orientation, and work to end homophobia and other instances of prejudice, discrimination, and intolerance. Estlund believes that students should have someone to talk to when struggling with their gender identity (including, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender lifestyles). Their obligation as a club is to work as a support group and provide safety and confidentiality for students.
This year GSA plans to be more active within the school community. GSA wants to be involved with the RENT Project because the play addresses issues on discrimination and prejudice against a variety of life choices. “We are also hoping to bring in outside speakers to talk about particular topic,” Estlund said. The alliance is also going to learn about the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (GLBTQ) education and history.
“I took on this club because when I was ten years old I had found out my uncle was gay,” said Estlund, who explained that she was very aware of the struggles and prejudice he faced, and she didn’t want anyone to have to go through that. Estlund was very close with her uncle and she says he was the whole reason she wanted to be apart of GSA.
“We really don’t have any events planned yet, we are just introducing ourselves for right now,” Estlund said. “For now the club is just working on a calendar for upcoming events throughout the school year.” In April the group is planning on joining in on the Day of Silence, which is held by students every year to bring attention to anti-GLBT, name-calling, bullying, and harassment.
There are twelve members in GSA, and they are always looking for more members. If you are interested in joining TJ’s GSA, feel free to attend any of their meetings during lunch on Wednesdays in room 232
