The GSA club at Littleton High School has continued to create a welcoming environment for students of all identities. Formerly referred to as Gay-Straight Alliance, it is now referred to as Gender-Sexuality Acceptance in its recent rebranding.
The club focuses on creating a safe and fun environment for both members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies. Members advocate for and discuss issues affecting the community and the issues that they face. Sophomore Eamon Lujan thinks the community the club creates is important for those reasons.
“Mental health problems are rampant amongst LGBTQIA+ youth. When coming out, people can lose their family, friends, community, jobs, and entire support system. Sometimes a club like GSA acts as the only real support system someone will have. We want to be that support system for people to fall back on. We also intend to create a sense of belonging for people,” Lujan said.
Sophomore Lily Rogers, enjoys the space it creates for students and the activities that they participate in, “GSA is a great club to join for both activism and community. It’s a very open and understanding space, and a great place to make friends, while also working to improve our community and make a better place for LGBT+ students”, adding, “It’s an amazing place to make fast friends and talk with people who might be going through the same struggles you are or at least are willing to understand those struggles. Everyone here is pretty close friends, and we’re always happy to meet new people.”
Many of its plans have been interrupted by COVID but club members still remain hopeful for what they can accomplish in the community and activities they can do in the future. Apart from the usual activities that it participates in like discussion, it has many plans to increase the variety of activities they do.
Lujan is optimistic for the future plans of the club, “GSA as a club is currently just an open forum for discussion, questions, and solidarity. When we all finally get back to normal sometime next year (hopefully) we have a couple activities and ideas already planned. We are planning on having a district-wide queer prom, an ‘elementary school’ Valentine’s Day thing where you get a box and decorate it and bring candy like we used to back in elementary school, and maybe have a couple chill events too like a movie night or some kind of outing at like, a bowling alley or arcade or something along those lines.”
The club is open to everyone and currently meets virtually on Wednesdays at 9 am and are adding an additional meeting time of Fridays at 4:30. If you are interested in learning more, their google classroom page gives access to further information and the link to join meetings. It can be accessed using code “ftjue7i”. Students and staff members are encouraged to try out a meeting at any point of the year to see if it interests them.