This school year Hellgate is welcoming back the Gender & Sexuality Alliance Club, ending a hiatus from a year prior. The Gender & Sexuality Alliance or, more commonly, GSA is a student-run, constitutionally-protected, national club that works to unite students of all gender identities to collectively assist their community.
Sometime within the last year or so Hellgate’s GSA (Gender & Sexuality Alliance) mysteriously disappeared. Hellgate student Kobe Espinoza decided to take action and start Hellgate’s GSA back-up.
“I want Hellgate to be more known as welcoming and outgoing,” said Espinoza. Espinoza’s goal for the club is to give support to members of the LGBTQ+ community – whether that be discussion about life experiences or moral support for those considering coming out.
Having space to talk openly about gender and sexuality and be massively helpful for teens who are discovering their identities. “I think GSA is important for our community because there’s a lot of bullying happening for being a part of the LGBTQ, and I think we need a space,” said Espinoza.
A common misconception that prevents recruiting new members, Espinoza mentioned, is that students believe they can’t be a part of the club if they aren’t LGBTQ+. “Hellgate should know that the new and improved GSA club will be welcoming anyone, no matter if you’re straight or you’re a part of the LGBTQ+,” said Espinoza.
Espinoza aims to create a safe space for LGBTQ students, after he faced ridicule for his identity. “I wanted to restart the GSA because I used to live in Arlee and it was a real homophobic place, I wanted to create a space where people could feel comfortable in their skin and in how they identify themselves,” said Espinoza.
The advisors this year are Assistant Principal Britt Hanford and English teacher Darci Coffman. The advisors’ role is to simply supervise the activities and discussion of the club. Additionally, Hanford said they are able to “bring access to resources, organizational assistance, and lots of enthusiasm.”
This is Hanford and Coffman’s first year advising for GSA, after being approached by Espinoza for the position. “Now that I am an administrator, I am going to have to get creative and deliberate about making connections with students,” said Hanford. Admittedly, the administration and student body have been disconnected in some ways, with the Student Government being the only club that is in constant contact with them.
Despite this, GSA has the opportunity to change the relationship between students and administrators in a more progressive and supportive manner, especially as Hanford pledges to have the club sustain its student leadership. “My initial goal is to foster discussions about the focus of the club and where students want to take it,” said Hanford, “I’m most excited to see who shows up and hear what they want to accomplish!”
The club will meet monthly in Ms. Coffman’s room, room 357, with no sign-up required. “Students can look forward to having fun and making new friends,” said Espinoza. So be on the lookout for new announcements if you’re interested in GSA!
