Pioneer graduates reflect on school’s Gay Straight Alliance – pharostribune.com
Sarah Pawlowski wants everyone to know that Pioneer High School has a Gay Straight Alliance (GSA).
The recent graduate, the valedictorian of her class, was an officer in the club, which her sibling, Bec Pawlowski, founded.
The GSA’s early days were contentious. A former principal originally rejected Bec’s proposal for the GSA. But Bec learned about the federal Equal Access Act, which requires schools to treat all non-curricular clubs equally. The GSA was allowed, but limited in what they could do or discuss.
“It was a really small membership group,” Bec said. “It was just me and some people I knew. The environment at the school wasn’t very welcoming to that. It was mostly just ‘I know you and you know me and I know you are queer so you probably want to come to this.’”
By Bec’s senior year, the GSA was allowed a homecoming seat and Rhae Williamson, a club founder, was a nominee for homecoming queen.
“The main focus of the organization was really just to have a safe space for people,” said Bec, who now studies theater at Indiana University-Bloomington. “It was a time to come and talk about different topics and to be able to provide information. We also allowed junior high members because obviously there is no time limit to discovering you are queer. We wanted to make sure it was opened to any student who wanted to come.”
GSAs are school clubs led by students, with support from faculty sponsors, in which students can share their experiences and connect with others who share similar experiences, as well as discuss societal issues.
There are currently at least 4,000 student-led GSAs across the country, according to Child Trends. A 2019 study by the Journal of School Psychology found GSAs were associated with more positive experiences and perceptions of school climate for lesbian, gay and bisexual youths, including a direct association with less truancy.
Williamson said their family was very supportive when they came out, but understood not every student was in the same situation.
“Other students, we would help make up lies for them, for why they were here after school,” said Williamson. “Like ‘oh! Theater, art or band.’ Because a lot of them were part of those clubs as well. This was their safe spot, also. It was safe from home. And that’s the main reason I wanted to do it. I wanted them to feel like they belonged.”
“We had a policy in the club that you don’t share who is involved,” Bec said. “We didn’t want other people’s parents who were not supportive finding out. We didn’t want that to be a situation where anyone got into danger.”
Sarah said her sibling was one of her biggest role models based on Bec’s efforts to create space for others.
“Bec has always been 100% themself since they came out,” said Sarah. “They have always been able to create that space for themself. Even in our own home, educating our family. To fight administration, stick to your guns and create that space for other people who don’t have it at home, I have a lot of respect for them doing that, obviously.”
Sarah said the GSA survived the COVID shutdown and has recently gained momentum thanks to its junior high school members.
“I’m excited to see what happens with that group as they age a bit more, mature, can actually sit still for meetings,” she said.
Sarah said the junior high school students were very passionate about their identities but didn’t know much about LGTBQ history. The GSA spent time learning about the gay pioneers who paved the way for a GSA to exist in the school. She hoped more acceptance will create opportunities for future group members.
“I think it is important to remember that even at places like Pioneer there are a lot of queer kids,” she said. “There’s a lot of homophobia at Pioneer. They throw (homophobic) slurs around like they are just normal words. It’s not comfortable for kids like me to be around. To have a group that is a safe space for people like me and the other kids at Pioneer — I think it’s important to have that support system, especially since a lot of them don’t have a safe space at home. It’s nice they can have something like that at school.”
Sarah said the administration doesn’t actively try to shut the group down but it still is not comfortable to talk with administrators about the GSA. Both of the Pawlowskis and Williamson said there were students and teachers who supported them as they built and grew the group.
Pioneer administrators did not respond to multiple attempts for a comment to this story.
“We as a group do exist but it’s not happily accepted school wide,” Sarah said.
“The club was a safe space,” said Williamson. “I hope it is still a safe space for those who want to join and maybe someday Logansport can have their own Pride parade.”
“It meant a lot to get that going,” Bec said. “It was a good time for me to figure out that ‘hey, there are opportunities to stand up for myself and other people.’”
Bec said they thought sure the group would fizzle out after they graduated. They were happy the GSA remained a place for LGTBQ students to feel comfortable and where they wouldn’t have to worry about harassment from their peers, even if it was just for an hour a week.
Sarah hoped future students will be respected and people will come to understand being gay is normal.
“There will always be gay people at Pioneer,” she said. “There always have been. I hope that they will allow the GSA to continue to grow.”