Want to do something worthwhile during lunch on Thursdays? Come join Ashland High School’s Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) club in Ms. Spear’s room (H-15). The GSA provides a safe environment for dialogue and acts as a support group for students. As the title suggests, the club is welcome to anyone who is interested; gay or straight, the doors are open. The two main events that the GSA puts on each year are the fresh-
man health class presentations, and the Gender Bender dance. The health presentations serve as an opportunity for freshmen to learn about sexual preference and gender stereotypes. These talks are given to all freshman throughout the year. Similarly, the Gender Bender dance is a fun way for students to promote gender awareness by dressing up as the opposite sex. All proceeds of the dance go to the Lotus Rising Project, an Oregon com-
by James Edson
munity organization that promotes equal rights, and the Trevor Project, which provides resources to teenagers in the LGBT community. The dance will be held on November 23, at 8:00 pm at Science Works. Come dressed as the opposite gender! Girls, it’s time to get out your bow ties and boys, make sure your skirt length is school appropriate.
Act responsibly, have integrity, show respect. That’s the AHS honor code. This applies to the treatment of all AHS students, whether they are gay, lesbian, straight, bi-sexual or t r a n s g e n d e r. People have the right to wear what they want, to eat what they crave, to listen to their favorite style of music and to date whom they want to date, which includes someone of the same gender.
On Saturday, October 12, downtown Ashland was filled with people dressed in the colors of the rainbow to express their gay pride and support. Ashland is one of the most openly supportive communities of the gay and lesbian population. We hold the Gay Pride Parade every year, group meetings and clubs, like the GSA. However, the rest of the world does not always show such respect to things that are considered “different,” like being gay. Disrespecting or bullying another person because of their sexual orientation is considered a hate crime and the punishment can be severe. But unfortunately, no penalties or
by Hannah Borgerson general laws of humanity stop people from making vulgar/ offensive gay jokes, excluding people in social settings or unfairly penalizing gay employees in some job markets. All of these things happen, and more often than not, go unnoticed or dismissed by bystanders. “Being respectful to people, in any situation, should be something we strive to do all the time,” Lily Huston, president of GSA, states. Therefore, as people and more specifically as AHS students, it is our job to be courteous of people’s sexual preferences, regardless of our own personal opinions.