Monday, September 26, Colonia High School’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Group’s first Ally Week started.
At Colonia High, students set up a booth during all lunches for Ally Week. Ally Week encourages students to learn and get involved with the LGBT movement. Ally Week spreads the importance of supporting LGBT peers, including people that are afraid to come out.
This is a week dedicated to people who want to support their LGBT peers, and to learn ways to support them. The LGBT Club dedicates its purpose to helping people who want to speak up for their peers, but don’t know how to.
Ally Week exists to assist allies to be the best they can be for the LGBT Community. It helps non-LGBT people be better supporters for those part of the LGBT community. Ally Week allows all Allies a chance to be heard; by acknowledging question, comments, and concerns, LGBT peers can help address all parties involved.
LGBT Group’s President, Riley Osada said, “It’s a week for non-LGBT people to say they support the cause and are there for gay and transgender people.”
However, this week is not just for allies. Ally Week helps LGBT students just as much as it helps allies. It is statistically proven that LGBT students feel not only comfortable, but safe in classrooms with LGBT allies. True allies stand up for LGBT students and prevent harassment for their gender alignments or orientations.
Despite CHS’s inherently open-minded student body, reports of student harassment due sexuality and gender alignment are still being made. Students still hear slurs throughout school, and are reporting this as well.
Club director, Ms. Cheryl Galvin, said, “I really hope that it [ally week] will make students think before they speak, especially when they’re talking to someone from the LGBT Community.”
Ally Week is something that the whole club hopes will help people become more open-minded with LGBT people. Students have already reported feeling proud of the work they have done in advocating educating allies. Proud that the cause is spreading school-wide, students and teachers make sure to listen to what the LGBT club is saying.
Filled with joy, Ms. Galvin said, “They were just so proud that they were educating people.”
This the first time this event has come to Colonia High School. This might be because CHS’s LGBT Group only came into existence last year. It was founded by CHS Alumni, Hugo Baargeld. So far,the LGBT Group has assisted in the education for non-LGBT, and has attempted to make CHS a safer space for LGBT students.
Last year, the group took part in the Day of Silence, where students stayed silent for an entire day in protest of the silencing of the LGBT Community. The club has been advocating for the LGBT students since it’s creation.
Ally Week is just another way to advocate, and hopefully make CHS a more tolerant and open-minded school and to make CHS a school that doesn’t bully students for sexual orientation and gender alignment.
