East High’s Gay-Straight Alliance Earns State-Wide Honor
East High’s Gay-Straight Alliance earned state recognition for their celebration of diversity at their school.
Congratulations to the Gay-Straight Alliance at East High School on being named the GSA of the Year today at the Iowa Conference on LGBTQ Youth.
One of many reasons the group was honored included how they organized students to respond when a “hate group” announced a picket at their school. Students from East and throughout Des Moines came together for a “Love Rally,” using it as an opportunity to celebrate the diversity of their school and community.
Below is the nomination of East GSA’s submitted to Iowa Safe Schools, sponsor of the 10th Annual Governor’s Conference on LGBTQ Youth:
Our inaugural GSA of the Year Award winner is East High School GSA in Des Moines! The GSA will be presented the award during the Lunch Session of the 10th Annual Iowa Governor’s Conference on LGBTQ Youth on April 3rd. The GSA will also be conducting a workshop during the Conference to demonstrate the work they have done to create a safe school for all!
From the East High GSA Nomination Form:
The East High School GSA has committed themselves to changing the school climate in order to create a safe learning environment for all LGBTQA youth that walk its halls. This has been a slow movement, with many hurdles. The school, at times, seems to accept, yet GSA members are still suffering an environment filled with hate language and unsupportive adults.
Since the start of this year, GSA members have posted much literature on the walls of the halls with a simple message. YOU CAN SAY LGBT without shame. LGBT stands for something, and it is not some students’ meaning of “gay” nor is it something that should be used against any student. Each member has made ribbons and sold them for a fundraiser that proved there are MANY allies walking through our school. These ribbons are still being worn today.
Most recently, the Westboro Baptist Church, based in Kansas, decided to picket our capitol and our school. They showed at the capitol, but decided to not come to East. Before their exit from Des Moines, the GSA had many discussions of what we wanted to do. The students knew that Westboro stands for HATE. Hate against the LGBT community.
The EAST GSA pushed for student voices being heard to respond to Westboro’s hate. The students posted signs that said “East is Diversity” on the West lawn and made rainbow ribbons with the simple message “East is Diversity.” These ribbons were handed out for free to all who wanted to show their support.
These students have proven that they are going to be heard. These students are strong. These students are brave. These students are an example of the strength that EVERY LGBT person has.
