Gay-Straight Alliance students organize
The GSA welcomes all open-minded students
Matt Paff
Issue date: 10/16/09 Section: News
Since 2002 the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) has operated at NGCSU, according to Laura Clay, Vice President of the GSA. Clay has been a member for three years.
"The Gay-Straight Alliance is an organization where open-minded individuals come together to discuss issues in the GBLT(Gay, Bisexual, Lesbian, Transgendered) community," said Clay.
The goals of the GSA, according to the GSA Web site, are to promote an atmosphere of acceptance between gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students. It is an organization where anyone, regardless of sexual orientation, may make new friends and learn about equality, understanding and empathy.
The GSA has two faculty co-advisors, Dr. Tamara Spike and Dr. Chuck Robertson.
Maintaining a student group focused on sexual orientation at NGCSU is a challenge, according to Clay. "It tears at my heart to see our fliers ripped and torn down or to see negative comments written on our posters."
As recently as fall semester 2009, some GSA posters advertising club functions have been removed from several buildings or, according to Clay, have been defaced with the expletive "Fag".
"This is a pretty conservative campus," said Clay, "and with the military presence there are a lot of high testosterone levels around."
The GSA currently has 20 active members. Members are not necessarily gay, said Clay. "Everyone is welcome to attend the meetings whether the attendee is straight, gay, bisexual, lesbian or transgender."
In 1998 a gay college student at the University of Wyoming, Matthew Shepard, was beaten to death by two men who later confessed that the motive for the crime was Shepard's homosexuality.
Three years ago Judy Shepard, Matthew Shepard's mother, spoke at NGCSU about her son's murder as part of a GSA sponsored event.
The GSA has grown since its birth when, according to Clay, "the members met in secret at an off campus location."
Now the group meets each Thursday at 12:45pm in Dunlap 208. These sessions are, according to the GSA website, designed so that gay students can find an atmosphere of acceptance and tolerance. Students can let down barriers and, finally, be themselves.
The GSA is sponsoring a "Sock-hop" swing dance in the Student Center great room at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 23. As with all GSA events everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, is invited.
Clay encourages attendees to compete in the craziest sock competition.
"You don't even have to know how to swing dance. We'll teach you," she said.
"The Gay-Straight Alliance is an organization where open-minded individuals come together to discuss issues in the GBLT(Gay, Bisexual, Lesbian, Transgendered) community," said Clay.
The goals of the GSA, according to the GSA Web site, are to promote an atmosphere of acceptance between gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students. It is an organization where anyone, regardless of sexual orientation, may make new friends and learn about equality, understanding and empathy.
The GSA has two faculty co-advisors, Dr. Tamara Spike and Dr. Chuck Robertson.
Maintaining a student group focused on sexual orientation at NGCSU is a challenge, according to Clay. "It tears at my heart to see our fliers ripped and torn down or to see negative comments written on our posters."
As recently as fall semester 2009, some GSA posters advertising club functions have been removed from several buildings or, according to Clay, have been defaced with the expletive "Fag".
"This is a pretty conservative campus," said Clay, "and with the military presence there are a lot of high testosterone levels around."
The GSA currently has 20 active members. Members are not necessarily gay, said Clay. "Everyone is welcome to attend the meetings whether the attendee is straight, gay, bisexual, lesbian or transgender."
In 1998 a gay college student at the University of Wyoming, Matthew Shepard, was beaten to death by two men who later confessed that the motive for the crime was Shepard's homosexuality.
Three years ago Judy Shepard, Matthew Shepard's mother, spoke at NGCSU about her son's murder as part of a GSA sponsored event.
The GSA has grown since its birth when, according to Clay, "the members met in secret at an off campus location."
Now the group meets each Thursday at 12:45pm in Dunlap 208. These sessions are, according to the GSA website, designed so that gay students can find an atmosphere of acceptance and tolerance. Students can let down barriers and, finally, be themselves.
The GSA is sponsoring a "Sock-hop" swing dance in the Student Center great room at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 23. As with all GSA events everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, is invited.
Clay encourages attendees to compete in the craziest sock competition.
"You don't even have to know how to swing dance. We'll teach you," she said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 10
Davey
posted 10/19/09 @ 1:25 AM EST
Does GSA accept individuals who identify as Asexual, Intersexed, and Questioning? Just wondering, since I know many organizations in the GLBTQ community do. (Continued…)
Ali
posted 10/23/09 @ 9:50 AM EST
Way to go Laura Clay!!!!! :D
Laura
posted 10/30/09 @ 11:34 AM EST
Davey: Everyone is welcome with any sexual orientation even if you're a plant (asexual), intersexed, or questioning.
Davey's friend
posted 11/03/09 @ 11:59 AM EST
Laura - I realize it was tongue-in-cheek, but really? Referring to an asexual person as a "plant"? How is that welcoming to anyone?
Davey
posted 11/03/09 @ 8:03 PM EST
With this type of attitude, I will not be returning to any more GSA meetings or events. Making light of someone's orientation is not funny, especially when your own friends make fun of you and say that asexuality is stupid and fake. (Continued…)
Kelly
posted 11/06/09 @ 6:35 PM EST
Considering we have all graduated from highschool, I wouldn't expect that kind of behavior (ripping down flyers, writing 'fag', etc) from anyone here. (Continued…)
Becca
posted 11/13/09 @ 11:40 AM EST
Um guys, the only organism that is completely asexual are plants. That's because they can reproduce that way. You may not be attracted to men or women but you can't reproduce with yourself. (Continued…)
Carrie
posted 11/15/09 @ 6:36 PM EST
Becca: Asexuality is an orientation. Asexual REPRODUCTION is something that plants do. Though I hate to pull out that bastard child of Britannica that is Wikipedia, here goes: Asexuality (also known as nonsexuality) in its broadest sense, describes lack of sexual attraction, or interest in or desire for sex. (Continued…)
Chris
posted 11/20/09 @ 11:24 AM EST
I don't think that Laura was making fun of asexual people, I just don't think she has ever heard the term before. I think that being the Vice President of GSA shows that Laura doesn't care about sexual orientation. (Continued…)
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