GSA, Once Strongly Opposed, Blends Into Daily Life

Parents of students at Hononegah High School raised a ruckus last summer when a Gay-Straight Alliance club was proposed for the school. Despite their protests, the Board of Education approved it starting last September, and the club has been, well, just another club that happens to have both straight and gay kids.

From the Beloit (IL) Daily News:

Citizens fiercely opposed Hononegah High School forming a Gay-Straight Alliance last summer, but since the Board of Education approved it in September the club has fallen under the community's radar as members meet weekly, sometimes just to play games or organize school-wide movie nights.“

It was such a big deal when it started that now I suppose when we're not causing some controversy people forget we exist,” said Brian Carrell, GSA president.

Public hearings on the GSA attracted dozens of citizens - most lived within the district boundaries, but a few traveled from out of town - who argued the organization would promote sexual activity among teens and worried the club's presence would change the school's climate because homosexuality would be constantly reinforced.

But, after talking with Carrell, it seems as though what the club's opponents feared have yet to come to fruition.

“It's not discussing sex,” the 18-year-old senior said. “It's not anything that would be inappropriate in a school environment.”

Although the alliance reached out to non-members by hosting a Friday movie night - “Pirates of the Caribbean” was shown - the group tends to keep to itself, meeting Wednesdays in a classroom.

Depending on how busy the members are, meetings may last for 90 minutes while others may break up after 30. Some days the teens just play games and eat snacks, but they've also discussed stereotypes and how sexuality is portrayed in popular culture. For example, the group discussed the positives and negatives of J.K. Rowling revealing that her “Harry Potter” character, Albus Dumbledore, is gay.

Attendance varies each week, but about 15 teens anchor the group, Carrell said, noting that aside from advertising the meeting times on posters throughout the school, the members haven't actively recruited.

“We want them to be there because they want to be there,” he said.

Once again, it's kids that show adults how to get along with one another.