The Gay-Straight Alliance club at my school does it's best, but, I feel like it's not very effective...?

[bernd]

The point of the club is to promote... gay-straight alliance. They want everyone to be accepted, but they don't make much of an impact. It's a pretty large club, but I am hesitant to join because there is definitely a heirarchy in there and I would be at the bottom and have little say. It's a pretty good sized club, but for the most part, they talk about how it's unfair that girls are allowed to wear pants but when a guy wears a dress it's considered crossdressing. (?) Anyway, that's fine I guess, but they do make attempts to do stuff, but I feel like it's a lot of talk and complaining rather than action. Maybe it's good to have a place to vent, but we can all vent to our friends, we don't need an angry gay venting club. I dunno. We have a Day of Silence where you remain silence for gay rights/gays who killed themselves due to bullying/gays who were beaten to death for being gay. (They do it every year and it changes, I'm not sure what it is this year, but something along those lines) It's great, but I feel like the message should be speak out and be heard, not be silent. Maybe that's just me, but I think that being silent is bad, and that no one's going to listen if they don't have to. I always participate anyway, because I above all want to show my support, but many kids do it just so they can avoid answering questions in class but talk to their friends at break and lunch.

What do you think? I think that my school is pretty tolerant, but I know that people still say f*g and call things gay when they mean it's bad. A lot of kids say stuff like that it's weird for two guys to do it or gross, but no one is very open about being anti-gay. Not that it's any better, since they still are homophobes and everyone still has to put up with that nonsense. I don't know. Many people believe it's a choice and all that crap.

[hussein]

Yet another person who fails to recognize the word phobia isn't what they think it means.

[langford59]

Yet another person who fails to recognize the word phobia isn't what they think it means.

Do you have any hobbies becides forcing your lifestyle choice onto hardworking families?

[lawly1]

LOL at angry gay venting club. you make very good points and, you want to make an impact on the school. You should talk to the club leader or teacher sponsor and talk about this exactly. You see the problem and want it to be fixed. You don't have to join the club but talk to someone with real power and make a real change.

[hawiovi]

It's good that you take part, but it's also important to speak up about what bugs you. People need to hear other ideas. It's also good to hear that your school is pretty tolerant. Of course there are going to be homophobes (in this case, "phobe" does NOT only mean fear.) But hopefully, the club can make a difference so that eventually, being gay is just another way for people to be and no one will think any differently about two guys being together.

[chason58]

Well I graduated the year my high school started its gsa. I'm gay but you have to realize not everything is going to be accepted until enough generations are brought up with that notion ingrained in them. Think about our generation. We take it as fact that men and women are equal, while older generations didn't necessarily hold that belief. The same goes for racism, and it'll probably be the same with gay people. It does make a bigger impact to be heard rather than to be silent. I read a movie called "raise your voice" starring Hilary Duff a long time ago. And even though it might be a bit dated now and I don't remember the details of the movie, the message still holds true. If you believe in something, it's better to be heard rather than be silent, in my opinion.

[calvert]

Well only you can make a change, so if you see a problem, why not speak up, be it you take some time to individually talk to the people whom are seen as top in the group for people when they are in their said group, tend to act different and rude compared to when they are alone.
As for day of silence thing, I think that being quiet is much more affective, rather than say, bringing up the problems for people will just lash back and say the lgbt are a bunch of babies, whom just like to complain and won't find a reason to take it seriously, which would bring up more unnecessary problem. Silence is golden and the silence are for the kids whom had to keep quiet for the rest fo their lives, in a way respecting them and showing that people do understand and care. It's a silent but powerful event in my opinion for at least in today's community, talking is constant, so to be a person whom doesn't speak, it is quite a wonder and stands out within a crowd of people whom alays are speaking. I know it can be frustrating to those people whom find homosexuals wrong and act rude just cause, but they do have a right to their opinion and eh, at least for me, I find that we, the lgbt community have made great impact upon at least parts of the world.

[cruz50]

Well only you can make a change, so if you see a problem, why not speak up, be it you take some time to individually talk to the people whom are seen as top in the group for people when they are in their said group, tend to act different and rude compared to when they are alone.
As for day of silence thing, I think that being quiet is much more affective, rather than say, bringing up the problems for people will just lash back and say the lgbt are a bunch of babies, whom just like to complain and won't find a reason to take it seriously, which would bring up more unnecessary problem. Silence is golden and the silence are for the kids whom had to keep quiet for the rest fo their lives, in a way respecting them and showing that people do understand and care. It's a silent but powerful event in my opinion for at least in today's community, talking is constant, so to be a person whom doesn't speak, it is quite a wonder and stands out within a crowd of people whom alays are speaking. I know it can be frustrating to those people whom find homosexuals wrong and act rude just cause, but they do have a right to their opinion and eh, at least for me, I find that we, the lgbt community have made great impact upon at least parts of the world.

i agree. if they have an opinion, let it be heard. speak out. dont be afraid to show your true colors. if your gay, your gay. ir your straight, your straight. it is a choice people make (sometimes people are actually born that way) and that choice is theirs to make. i dont think people should be so harsh. they should treat them with a little respect. ''cant we all just get along?'' lol hope this is a fabulous answer to your semi-question/comment! ;D

[wakeley58]

Join this social network to get started don't forget to share http://www.gayusanetwork.com/gaycommunity

[crom]

You should definitely join that GSA! My school is one of the most tolerant schools in the state of NY and we still have a very small alliance because of budget cuts. Even if there is an hierarchy, voice your opinions. You seem to be very well spoken so just say what's on your mind and people will listen if it is something that is really bothering you. I'm positive that the things you say will not be shot down because they will be benefitting the alliance.

Recommend to have guest speakers come to meetings or your school to get the LGBT community known. I would reccomend contacting these 2 really funny yet educational speaker from everyoneisgay.com They are excellent in what they do and specialize in talking to teens about the LGBT community and every aspect of it in an extremely entertaining way. I feel like being silent is a way of showing others what gays have gone through and how far we have come as a society. I hear what you're saying about not having a voice, but i think that it's really about being grateful that so many people do have voices nowadays.

Good luck with everything and i am so amazed at how incredibly insightful you are. I know you will do great things :)