Heather Latter
In an effort to have all students feel included at Robert Moore School, administration has allowed for a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) club to be started there recently.
“The students asked if they could have a club and we provided an opportunity for it to happen,” explained principal Bill Daley.
“We’re in a time where we want all students to feel safe and accepted regardless of their religious beliefs, ethnic background, or sexual orientation,” he stressed.
The club, which meets under the guidance of teacher reps, is for students in Grades 6-8.
Daley indicated there are students at the school as young as Grade 6 who identify with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) community.
According to mygsa.org, a GSA is “a student-run group that provides a safe place for any and all students to meet and learn about all different orientations, to support each other while working together to end homophobia, and to raise awareness and promote equality for all human beings.”
One of their first events as a club was organizing a walk in support of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia earlier this month.
Grades 6-8 students took part in a walk around the school yard carrying their flag.
“We are celebrating diversity and recognizing the significance of inclusion as we walk in support of all human rights,” said one of the club’s members.
Daley noted the club is open to everyone.
“Students aren’t going to be able to achieve their full potential if they’re not feeling accepted and secure in the school,” he remarked, adding he’s proud of the students for coming forward and asking to start up a GSA.
“The majority of the students in the group are offering support,” Daley added, noting only a few have identified as being gay.
“They are a really neat group—very supportive of each other,” he said.
While the high schools in Fort Frances, Rainy River, and Atikokan have established GSAs, Robert Moore is the first elementary school in the district to do so.
In fact, there aren’t many elementary schools in the province that have one—most clubs are at the high school or university level.
“I hope that we can be a role model for other schools,” Daley remarked, stressing the perception of the LGBTQ community needs to change.
“We’re talking about positive school climate,” he said. “All kids should feel like they are included in the school and this is a segment that sometimes doesn’t [feel included].”
Daley added he’s encouraged by the staff members who have gotten on board to support the GSA.
He said while staff are expected to facilitate a club if requested by students, he knows there is a more important reason to support this particular one.
“If we say as a school that we are going to be inclusive, then we have to be inclusive for everybody,” he stressed.
And Daley is certain the new GSA club is moving the school in the right direction.
“I think we are in a much better place today then we were 20 years ago, and in 20 years we’ll be in a better place then we are now,” he remarked.
For more information about GSAs, visit mygsa.org
