Norman North GSA a success

by Sara Ritsch
Staff Writer

The kids of Norman North High School are pretty lucky to have what they have – an inclusive, accepting student body, principal and most importantly, a Gay Straight Alliance.

Jacob Gonzales, who runs the GSA, says they have a “pretty solid” group. There are overall somewhere between 30 and 50 students on any given day. Last year, they went through some trials electing officers to the group, but this year Gonzales looks ahead with confidence.

The NNHS GSA has been up and running since 2002-2003. Gonzales was an original member, although he did not attend every meeting. As he recalls, the counselor who initially sponsored their GSA was gay, and to the school and principal, it “wasn’t a big deal.”

“Now there’s a lot more to be active about and speak up for,” Gonzales says, referring to the year 2016.

NNHS GSA sees kids from freshman to senior year of high school, so about 14 to 18 years old. Gonzales has been their leader for about two years. When he started, the president of the club was a transgender boy named Dallas, who now goes to University of Central Oklahoma. “He was representing the transgender group,” Gonzales says.

“We have gays, lesbians and a lot of heterosexuals as part of our ally group. About 10 percent of the club is probably heterosexual. We have two strong bisexuals in the group, one who was dating a boy the first part of the year and a girl the second part of the year.”

Gonzales says the group is active within the club carnivals and fairs. They raise funds for good causes by serving their “Equalitea”, which is just tea. “It’s a positive atmosphere. Students respond very well,” he says.

The Norman GSA has a teacher who specifically advocates for students against bullying. “It’s good to have her on hand,” Gonzales says, although he has only seen a few instances of people bullying his students.

As far as transgender bathrooms go, Dallas, the former president and transgender advocate, helped trans students feel more comfortable at their school. Since there is only a female and male bathroom, Dallas requested to Gonzales that the trans students be able to use his key for the one-person restroom. “Since, I haven’t heard of any instances of transgender issues over using restrooms,” Gonzales says.

The NNHS GSA meets every Thursday before school during “Overtime,” where the kids go to their clubs for 20 minutes before class begins. Occasionally they meet at lunchtime – on certain instances they have speakers come to talk with them about the threat of suicide. The GSA participates in fundraisers for the school, and, as Gonzales says, “It’s neat to see these kids come together.”

The Gayly – September 12, 2016 @ 10:10 a.m.