Mayfield students propose Gay/Straight Alliance Club
By JOEL DiTATA, The Leader-HeraldMAYFIELD - Six Mayfield Central School District students are proposing to start a Gay/Straight Alliance Club.
The group gave a presentation at a school board meeting Tuesday.
The GSA would be a student-run support group that would work to improve the school climate for all students, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity, according to the six student organizers.
The support group would meet monthly during the ninth period of the day, which is an activity period at the end of each day.
Members of the proposed GSA, Ashley Horning and Alysha Barker, said they saw a friend struggle after he told others he was a homosexual.
"One of our close friends came out to us in a note," Horning said. "He was harassed constantly and really had nowhere to turn except for his real close friends."
Barker said the harassment he experienced was not only offensive to him, but to her as well.
"He went through everything - comments, gestures, disturbing photos. He went through every sort of harassment except for physical," Barker said.
Horning and Barker said they helped their friend get through the turmoil. The GSA, they said, would aim to help students in similar situations.
Another member of the group, Erin Salie, has had her own experience with intolerance.
"I came out to my mother when I was a 15-year-old and she didn't accept it. I felt alienated, isolated and alone," Salie said.
Mayfield Junior Senior High School Principal Robert Husain said the proposed group is preparing a constitution. The group would be open to junior-senior high school students.
"This group has done their homework; they're very organized," Husain said.
District Superintendent Paul G. Williamsen said the school board may approve the formation of the group in January.
The Gay/Straight Alliance Club would stem from the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network.
GLSEN is a tax-exempt organization that strives to assure each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender expression, according to the group's Web site at www.glsen.org.
GLSEN has registered more than 4,000 GSAs. It has approximately 40 full-time staff members, a governing board of 20 members and two advisory committees at the national level, according to the Web site.
Joel DiTata covers rural Fulton County news. He can be reached by
e-mail at ruralnews@leaderherald.com
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CanadianSpice
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12-22-09 12:28 AM
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If I remember this right the daughter of Babs1970 was not in a bad reletionship infact Babs1970 had never even met the person her daughter was dating she didnt even know her so Babs1970 does infact tell lies just like her daughter does.
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GoGreen
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12-19-09 11:51 AM
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A support group for school children is a wonderful idea, however, why just limit it to their sexual preference? Many children in school are harrassed, bullied ect. for their "differences" ie: obesity, financial status, appearance, weak socialization skills, physical/mental handicaps ect. What about those children that struggle on a day to day basis. I would like to see a support group welcoming all struggling with obstacles in life. There's more to an individual than their sexual preference, focus on those aspects.
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Babs1970
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12-19-09 8:45 AM
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What my daughter has failed to mention here in this article is the physically violent, controlling relationship she was in at the time she came out to me,which was no shock. It was never her sexuality I disapproved of, it was the relationship she was in, she knows that. She also did not mention the effect that relationship had on her grades and mental health.she chose to isolate herself from her family because she did not like what we had to say about her relationship. Which would have been said regardless of gender.We have been rebuilding the trust which was broken over the last 2 years, rebuilding a closeness which had once been there. Now, With my being denied 1st the request to attend the school board meeting(by Erin), and now the opportunity to show my pride for how hard she has worked and how brave she has been, we have another bump in the road to get over, which we will get over. I am hurt and angry and feel the need to correct the way I have been portrayed here. -Barbara Salie
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Constantine
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12-18-09 8:31 PM
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Ashley, best of luck and I see no reason as to why your club would be denied. You and your friends are doing the right thing. As the parent of two teens myself I commend you and your friends for helping to make the world a litte bit of a better place to be in...Merry Christmas and Happy New Year...
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AshleyHorning
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12-18-09 3:23 PM
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Thank you all for your support, everybody worked really hard on the presentation and we also hope that the club gets approved. The other people not mentioned who should have been are Mackenzie Marotta, Emma Holly, Cassandra VanNostrand, and although she didn't get to present with us, Caitlyn Denton. In addition Mrs. Megan Hallenbeck and Mrs. Jennifer Sponable also deserve credit (if the club is approved they will be our advisors). Thanks again for the support :)
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Rick48
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12-18-09 12:53 PM
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This ia a good idea as there is no place for these people to turn to. People need support and this could do wonders.
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Musicel
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12-18-09 12:22 PM
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They must be a nice group of teenagers. Wishing them the best of luck in their endeavor to create tolerance and understanding.
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Constantine
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12-18-09 12:22 PM
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Students, teeenagers, taking the time to do something positive, to do the right thing...perhaps adults who knockk teens should pay attention to the fact that teenagers CAN do good things in life...
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Joseph
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12-18-09 11:29 AM
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Good for them. I hope the school approves the Club and maybe the elected officials of the country should attend it and learn something
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