GAYSTRAIGHTALLIANCE

TheGayStraightAllianceCommunity
EmilyChase
CIS110
UniversityofKentucky

GAYSTRAIGHTALLIANCE

Abstract

WhendecidingtoresearchaculturethatIamnotapartofIchosetolearnmoreabouttheGayStraight
AlliancehereattheUniversityofKentucky.Ilearnedaboutthisorganizationbyresearchingonline,
Observingameeting,andbyconductingtwointerviews.WhatIfoundisthatthisisacommunityof
completeopennesswhereanyonecanbewhoevertheywanttobe.Theorganizationisalsoextremely
supportiveofoneanother,andofthedecisionseachothermakes.Theyeducatethepubliconsocial
politicalissuesthattheyface,aswellasthetypesofthingsthattheystandfor,byholdingdifferentevents
oncampus.Thiscommunitypromotesequality,individualism,andfriendship.Anyonewhosharesthese
valuesandisinterestedingettinginvolvedoncampusshouldlookintojoiningthisgreatgroupofpeople.

Keywords:GayStraightAlliance,Community,Culture,Diversity

GAYSTRAIGHTALLIANCE

TheGayStraightAllianceCommunityattheUniversityofKentucky

Attimesitcanbehardtofindaplacethatyoutrulybelong.Especiallywhenstartingsomething
newinlife.Forexample,whenstartingcollegeitcanbechallengingtofindagroupthatyoufitinwith.
WhenresearchingtheGayStraightAllianceattheUniversityofKentucky,Ifoundthatmanymembers
joinedbecausetheyhadfeltlikethisbefore,theyhadatoughtimefindingpeoplewhosharetheirsimilar
interests,andthisorganizationwaswheretheyfoundbelonging.TolearnaboutthiscultureIresearched
theGayStraightAllianceonline,Iwenttotheirwebsite,andIalsowenttooneoftheirweeklymeetings
whereIgottointerviewtheCoPresidents.IfoundthattheGayStraightAllianceattheUniversityof
Kentuckyisafunwaytogetinvolvedandtomeetalotofgreatpeople.Theyhaveastrongcommunity
withlonglastingfriendships.Theyareagreatsupportsystemfordealingwithhardships.Also,theyhave
alotoffunactivitiesandeventsthattheyplaneachyear.
WhenfirstcontactingthePresidentsoftheGayStraightAllianceIwasnervous,Ididntwant
themtothinkthatIwasgoingtobejudgementalorethnocentricinanyway.Ifirstemailedthemand
saidthatIwasinterestedinlearningwhattheywereallabout,andaskedifIcouldinterviewthem.In
returntheytoldmetostopbytheirmeetingthatThursday.Ifoundoutanothergirlonmyfloorwas
researchingthegaycommunityasawhole,sowedecidedtogotothemeetingtogether.Wewereso
nervouswhenwegottotheactualmeeting.Weactuallystoodoutsidethedoorforalmosttenminutes
tooscaredtogoin!Oncewenoticedotherpeoplegoinginandout,wefinallygotthecouragetoopen
thedoorandenterthemeeting.Oncewewereinthereandgottoobservehowthemeetingworked,I
feltsosillyforbeingafraid.Inoticedinstantlyhowopenandsincerethisgroupwaswithoneanother.
Evenbeinganoutsider,Ifeltcomfortable.Manytimesafewoftheofficerscameuptometoaskifit

GAYSTRAIGHTALLIANCE

wasokaythatthemeetingwasrunninglong,iftheycouldhelpmewiththeinterviews,ifIwasenjoying
it,howIwasdoing,andtheyeventoldmeIshouldcomebacknextweek.Themeetingendedupbeing
alotoffun,Iunderstandwhysomanypeoplemeetsuchgreatfriendsthroughthisorganization.
TherearemanyreasonstojointheGayStraightAllianceattheUniversityofKentucky,afew
ofthesereasonsareforthefriendshipandthecommunity.Thepeopleinthisorganizationareextremely
niceandopenminded.Whenattendingtheirmeetingtheyurgedmetobeinvolvedandtotalkand
participateintheactivities.WhenspeakingtomembersIlearnedthatmanypeoplehavemettheirbest
friendsbecausetheyjoinedthisgreatgroup.Everyoneisextremelyacceptingofwhoyouare,evenif
youdontknowwhoyouareyet.Thissenseoffriendshipiswhatmakestheircommunitysostrong.
Aftereverymeetingtheygotoafamilydinnertogethertohangoutevenmoreandcatchuponeach
otherslives.ManyofthepeopleintheGayStraightAlliancehavesimilarinterestswhetheritbedueto
acommonasexualidentityorontopicsofpoliticalandsocialjustice.Themembersareextremelyopen
togettingtoknowyouandpullingyouintotheircommunity,yettheydontforceanyoneelsetobe
open.Ifyouareamorereservedpersonalitythenyou
canjustobserve,yetknowthatyoucantalkoneonone
withanymemberandtheywouldlovetolistentoyou.
Theclubalsohasagreatsenseofsupport,theyareopen
withtheirproblemsandlovesharingideasonhowto
dealwiththem.TheGSAfacesmanyhardshipsandthis
strongsenseofcommunityhelpsthemembersdealwith
them.

GAYSTRAIGHTALLIANCE

AnotherwayIsawtheirimmensesenseofcommunitywaswhenIwenttotheirfacebookpage
andsawthedifferenttypesofthingsthattheyposttoeachother.Manydifferentpeoplepostthings
aboutwhattheyhavegoingon,andeventsthatotherpeopleinthegroupshouldgoto(UK
GayStraightAlliance,n.d.).Theyusethispagetocommunicatewitheachotherasawholeandtoget
theirmessagesouttobesharedwithothers.TheGayStraightAlliancefacebookpagealsohasmany
photosofthemembershangingouttogetherandenjoyingthemselves.Youcantellhowsillyand
comfortabletheyarewitheachother.
WhenIconductedmyinterviewsoneofthequestionsIaskedeachpersonwasWhatdoes
GSAmeantoyou?thefirstpersonIinterviewedsaidbecauseofthecommunity.Specificallyhesaid
thatbeingapartofacommunity,andbeingapartofsomethingbiggerthanmyself,andbeingapartof
acommunitythatcanhelpothers(T.Baxter,personalcommunication,October2,2014).Another
responseIgotwasbecauseofthesupportthattheGayStraightAlliancemembersprovide.Shesaid
thatherfavoritepartwasbeingapartofasupportsystemthatmakesmefeellikeImapartof
somethingbigger,andapartofafriendlygroupofpeoplewhoknowwhoIamandwhatImtalking
about(J.Filippini,personalcommunication,October2,2014).Ilovedtheseresponsesanddefinitely
understoodwhattheyweretalkingabout.
Everyonefaceshardshipsintheirlivesandwefindsupportgroupsandfriendstohelpuswith
them,thepeopleofGSAdojustthatforeachother.Manypeoplecanbeignorantandselfishandnot
thinkofotherpeoplesfeelings.Theycanuseinsultslikequeerordyketobecrueltosomeonethat
isdifferentthanthemselves.ManyofthepeopleinGSAhaveheardallofthesetoomanytimes.There
arestereotypesthatgoalongwithgenderidentityroles,andforthosethathaventchosenarole,orare
onegenderbutidentifywithadifferentgender,lifecanbeveryconfusing.TheGSAclubisaplace

GAYSTRAIGHTALLIANCE

whereyoudonthavetoworryaboutstereotypesorawayyouresupposetoact,youcanbe
whoeveryouwanttowithoutbeingjudged.Somepeoplecanbeignoranttoapersonsprivatelife,they
canbullyorharassapersonbasedonwhattheyseeorhear,withouteventryingtounderstand.Oneof
thegirlsImetatGSAtoldmeabouthowherownsisterheardarumorabouthersexualidentityand
nowusestheinformationtoharassandbullyher.Ifthegirlmakeshersisterangry,hersisterwillsay
wellifyoudontdothisthenIlltellMomandDadaboutwhatIheardIwasintotalshockwhenshe
toldmethis.ShetoldmethattheGSAorganizationisaplacewhereshegoestobeapartofa
communitythatreallyunderstandsher.IcoulddefinitelyunderstandbecauseIgotthesenseofhow
supportivetheclubwasofeachother,fromjustgoingtoonemeeting.
TherearetworulesattheGayStraightAlliancemeetingsandoneisthatyoucantusegender
names,Ithoughtthiswasgreat.Theydidthissothatyoudontaccidentlyoutsomeoneormake
someonefeeldifferentinanyway.Whentalkingaboutasex
youdontrefertomaleorfemale,youjustsaywhatever
yourethinkingwithoutitpertainingtoagenderrole.This
waythecommunityisopentotalkaboutanythingand
everyonecanparticipateintheconversation.Thesecond
ruleofthemeetingsisthateverythingthathappensinthe
meetingsstaysinthemeetings.Inoticedthesignassoonas
Iwalkedintothemeeting.ItreadsWhathappensoverthe
rainbowstaysovertherainbowtheyhangitonthedoorto
representthatthesemeetingsareprivateandnotashowtobe
talkedabout.AswellasthesignIwasalsotoldaboutthisrule.

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WhenIenteredthemeetingwithmyfriend,almostassoonaswesatdownamemberthatwassitting
onthefloorraisedtheirhand.WhentheyspoketheysaidtotheLadieswiththenotebooksnothingthat
issaidinherecanleavethisroom,youcantwritedownourstoriesatfirstIwasverysurprisedwhen
hesaidthisbecausethatwasnotmyintentionatall.Iunderstandthatsincewehadnotebookshe
thoughtweweregoingtotalkaboutthethingsweheard,andhejustwantedtomakesurethatthat
didnthappen,butatfirstIfeltverysingledout.Whenstayinglongerandhearingwhatthemeetingwas
like,thenIactuallyunderstoodmorewhyhehadmadeitclearthatthemeetingswereprivate.The
membersshareverydeep,sad,andhurtfulstoriesofsituationsthattheyhavebeenin.Itwasavery
touchingexperiencetowitnesssuchhonestyandopennessthisgrouphadwithoneanother.
Thisstrongcommunityandexcellentsupportenvironmentlovesspendingtimetogetherand
teachingothersaboutthethingsthattheystandfor.Theydothisthroughouttheyearbyhostingdifferent
events.WhoeveriscomfortableexpressingtheirfeelingsabouttheLesbian,Gay,Bisexual,Transgender
(LGBT)communitygetstogethertotellothersabouttheirvalues.Manypeople,andmyselfincluded,
areinterestedmoreinthepoliticalandsocialjusticeaspectofwhattheGayStraightAlliancestandsfor.
WhichispromotingequalrightsforeveryonePeoplethatrecognizewiththeLGBTcommunitydont
haveasmanyrightsasstraightpeople.Theycantevenmarrytheonetheylove.TheGayStraight
Allianceorganizationwantstoeducateothersonthefacts,andthattheyjustwanteveryonetobe
treatedthesame.Theywanttobeabletolovewhoevertheywant,andforittoberecognized.The
organizationletsothersknowwhattheypromotebyspeakingoutoncampus.
TheGayStraightAlliancehasmanyeventsthatshowtothecommunitytheirvaluesandthe
typesofthingstheystandfor.OneoftheireventsiscalledTransgenderRemembranceDay.The
GayStraightAlliancestandsoutsidetheStudentCenterandreadsbooksandarticlesabouttransgender

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stories.Theythenhaveaquiettimetorememberthepassingoftransgenderswhotooktheirownlives
becausetheywereharassedsomuchforbeingdifferent.ThiseventshowsthatGSAbelieves
everyoneisimportantandequal.AnothereventtheGayStraightAlliancehasiscalledComingOut
DayThishappensonOctobereleventhandisactuallyanationaleventthatpeoplerecognize
everywhereintheUnitedStates.AttheUniversityofKentucky,theGayStraightAlliancehasthose
whohaveacknowledgedandexpresstheirsexualidentitycelebrateitandeducatethepublic.Members
willholdsignsandpostersoutsidetheStudentCentertoinformstudentsonLGBTissues.
Anothereventthathappenedlastyear
wascalledOUTspoken.TheGSAteamedup
withFuturesWithoutViolence,theUniversity
ofKentuckyLGBTTaskForce,and
Outsourcetomakethiseventpossible.
OUTspoken:LeavingtheSecondCloset
Behindwasaneventopentothepublicon
JohnsonCenterField,thepurposewastobring
survivorsofLGBTinterpersonalviolencesuchas
rape,sexualassault,partnerviolence,stalking,harassment,andhatecrimes.Theeventalsohadaguest
artistMaryLambertwhoisknownforhersongShekeepsmewarmwhichisasongabouta
relationshipbetweentwoqueerwomen.TheGayStraightAlliancehastheiryearlyeventslike
TransgenderRemembranceday,andComingOutDay,butarealsoplanningmorethingstolook
forwardtoeachyear.Thisgrouphasamazingvaluesthateveryoneshouldrespect.Nosingleindividual

GAYSTRAIGHTALLIANCE

isbetterthananother,andnooneshouldbetreateddifferently,orbejudged.TheGayStraightAlliance
isagreatgrouptogetinvolvedinifyoutoosharethesevalues.
SomeotherwaysthattheGayStraightAllianceletspeopleknowtheyexistarebytheir
differentwebsites.Theirmainwebsitestatestheirvalues,wheretheymeet,andalsohasacontacttab
whereyoucanreachouttothem(UniversityofKentuckyGayStraightAlliance(n.d.).Anotherwebsite
isaguideabouttheGayStraightAllianceandaboutOUTsourceaswell.Thereismoreinformation
aboutwhypeoplejointheGayStraightalliance,whotheyareexactly,andwhateventstheyhavegoing
onaroundcampus(GSAandOutsource(n.d.).Athirdwaytofindthisorganizationisbygoingtothe
WilliamTLibrarywebsiteandsearchingthroughtheorganizationsthatareofferedhereattheUniversity
ofKentucky.Thereisalittlebioonthewebsiteaboutwhotheorganizationisandhowtocontactone
ofthepresidents(Davis,n.d.).
Ifyoufeellikeyoudontbelonganywhereyet,andyourelookingtogetinvolvedoncampus
theGayStraightAllianceisagreatplacetostartmeetingnewpeople.Theyreastrongcommunitythat
isveryopenanddiverse.Youdonthavetobegayorstraight,butjustanallythatwantstosupport
otherpeople.IfyouhaveeverbeenavictimtobullyingorharassmenttheGayStraightAllianceisa
waytocopewiththosethingsandtolearnmoreaboutwhatotherssimilartoyouhavegonethrough.
TheGayStraightAlliancehasmanyfuneventsthathappenoncampusasawaytoeducateothers
aboutwhattheirorganizationisallabout.ThisculturewasalotoffuntolearnaboutImetalotofnice
peopleandImgladIgottolearnmoreaboutthem.IknowthattheGayStraightAlliancewillcontinue
togrowandproducemoregreateventsforourcampus.IfyoueverseetheGayStraightAlliance
aroundcampusstopandlistentowhattheyhavetodaybecausetheyhavetrulygreatvalues,and
chancesareyoullmakeanewfriend.

GAYSTRAIGHTALLIANCE

References

Davis,E(n.d.).LGBTQstudentorganizations.DiversityattheUniversityofKentucky.Retrieved
fromhttp://libguides.uky.edu/content.php?pid=624563&sid=5165912

GSAandOutsource(n.d.).Retrievedfromhttp://ukgsaoutsource.wordpress.com

UKGayStraightAlliance(n.d.).Retrievedfromwww.facebook.com/groups/2203976820/

UniversityofKentuckyGayStraightAlliance(n.d.).Retrievedfrom
http://ukbluegsa.wix.com/ukgsa#about/c1adp

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