Twice a year, Heritage’s Genders and Sexualities Alliance (GSA) organizes a Heritage Academy opportunity for interested staff members to learn more about the queer community and how they can better support queer students in the classroom/school. This fall’s Heritage Academy was held in Ms. Glorso McCabe’s room.
Ashlyn S. ’27, feels that the Heritage academy is important because “it recognizes students and gives teachers an opportunity to be more inclusive.”
Six GSA members put on presentations covering a wide variety of topics, from how teachers can create a more welcoming classroom environment to educating teachers on hate speech and what to look out for.
“I think that overall it went really well,” Kimi T. ’24 says. “Even though there were less people than last year, most of the newer teachers came, which I think was important.”
Besides being a safe space for queer students and allies, the GSA wants to give students opportunities to get involved in community activism. Everette B. ’27 believes that education on queer issues is the best way to stop homophobia in the future.
“There’s a lot of hate and ignorance [surrounding the LGBTQ community] and if you can kind of take away that ignorance you can take away the hate because people will understand why what they’re doing is hurtful,” He explains.
GSA plans to hold a second Heritage Academy sometime in the spring semester, open to all students and staff members interested in attending. Please be on the lookout for upcoming announcements on the Heritage GSA Instagram page @heritagegsa_club. Anyone interested in presenting in the next Heritage Academy or just looking for a place to belong can come by room 3977 on Thursdays from 3:35-4:45 p.m.