The PGSA is a club where LGBT students at PHS can feel safe. Photo by: Abbigail Rose
There are clubs, charities, and organizations to show support to the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender community, and one of those happens to be the Plymouth Gay Straight Alliance.
The PGSA was established in 2012 to show support to LGBT rights. Since then the club has grown larger and captured more attention. Senior Tori Thompson says, “The PGSA is a club where gay and straight allies can meet and come up with ideas that make a difference.” Freshman Rem Miller says the club is a place where both gay and straight students are welcome, and that the aim is to break the wall of tension between everyone and help straight and [cisgender] people to understand LGBT students. The PGSA is a club that welcomes everyone.
The Plymouth Gay Straight Alliance’s main goal is to destroy the hatred and disappointment pointed towards LGBT students, and people in general. They are trying to raise awareness for this community. “We usually discuss news, such as the death of Leelah Alcorn or Iggy’s article, ‘Iggy Azalea Q&A: I’m Not A Fake Lesbian.’ We talk about what we can do to raise awareness of current issues or how they are harmful to the LGBT community,” Miller explains, “We’ve also had days where we just talk in small groups to each other and ask questions.”
There are a few posters advertising the club to students at PHS. Photo by: Abbigail Rose
The PGSA have also made some accomplishments. “So far,” junior Shayla Beagle says, “we have made goals to help contribute to the Trevor Project and other organizations and charities that help support the LGBT community. Our club was invited to take the opportunity of attending a pizza party at a local church who gave us their full support. Having support from a church, especially with religion factored in, is a big step for our community and club.” Thompson says that the club members have been able to talk to an LGBT pastor and go to a rally. She adds on that they may possibly get to go to an LGBT prom this year, or so she hopes.
Support is something that any movement needs. If there is no support, there is no movement. While not everyone may be in support of the club, there are others that are. PHS may be starting to be more open minded and supportive. “The school allows us to have the club and to hang small posters in the hallway, but that’s about it,” Miller says. Junior Johnny Solorio says, “I honestly think it is [raising awareness] because now [PHS] knows that there is a group supporting the LGBT community.”
The club has been at PHS long enough for news about it to get around. It can affect not only students that are members, but students that are not members. Freshman Jewel Brown says, “I think it really only affects the members of the PGSA club. However, those members can go and tell and teach what they’ve learned about in PGSA, spreading awareness throughout the school.” Beagle states, “I have seen a bit of change from students since the club has been around, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t stereotypes or close-minded people that don’t support what the club stands for. Possibly over the past year I have seen some acceptance of the students of the LGBT community.”
Ms. Wezeman is the teacher that sponsors and allows the club meetings to be held in her classroom, and senior Reneh Gambrel is the president of the club. Gambrel is the one who organizes the club meetings and what is discussed. She says that, “We’re just generally a warm, accepting group who wants to make the world better. [The PGSA] means a place for support in an environment that may not always be accepting.”