GSA returns to high school

According to a study done by the Trevor Project in 2024, more than one in 10 (12 percent) LGBTQ+ young people in the United States attempted suicide in the past year. So many teens and children who are part of the community feel unseen, unheard and alone. School groups like GSA (Gender and Sexuality Alliance) are spaces for teens to meet other people like them and to share their stories with peers who understand.

Cedar Falls High School hasn’t had a GSA since moving into the new building, and at the old high school the club (called SAGA then) was down to only a few members. A couple months ago, senior Willow Riley decided to bring it back. 

First, she went to librarian Abby Hendrickson to ask about using the library as a meeting space. She got permission, and Hendrickson agreed to be the faculty advisor for the club, meaning she would attend meetings and supervise, but the club would remain entirely student founded and led. Next, they organized a date for a first meeting and began putting up posters. The meeting was on Wednesday, Dec. 17, and many more students turned up than expected. A total of 23 students gathered in the library to introduce themselves, drink hot chocolate and learn about each other and the club.

Riley said that being part of the GSA was a big part of her life in junior high, but when she got to high school she was discouraged from joining by homophobic peers, and eventually the club was discontinued altogether. 

“Being a part of GSA back in junior high improved my quality of life drastically,” she said. “I had a strong sense of who I was and what I wanted to do, and I wholeheartedly believe that it was because of the healthy environment of GSA.”

Riley said that groups like GSA are important to young adults because they can create a stable community and support system for lots of LGBTQ teens who don’t have outside of school support. She said that she hopes to be a part of creating that safe space for all students, but especially incoming sophomores because she has firsthand experience of what a difference it can make.

At the meeting, Riley talked briefly about the current legislations being proposed and passed, and she talked about by our government. She acknowledged that a lot of LGBTQ teens may be experiencing fear and uncertainty in the current political environment, and that the goal of GSA moving forward is to be not just a hangout space, but an opportunity to educate young members of the LGBTQ community on how legislation is affecting them.

The group will meet during tiger time every Wednesday after break, and it will open the room to discussions about all kinds of relevant issues for young adults. Currently there is a form open in the Schoology group for anyone interested in leadership positions.

“GSA is open to anyone who wishes to come,” Riley said. “If you’re curious, stop by one of our meetings as long as you’re being respectful.”