DSA raises awareness about LBGT issues
0Written by Christian Wright
To raise awareness about the LGBT community, UPIKE senior Allyson Gibson founded the Differing Sexualities Alliance (DSA) in an effort to stop the unending “acts of judgment” as she described them. The group, Gibson explains is “a supportive community on campus” for members to discuss “current issues that relate to or impact the group.” It is open to all members of the UPIKE community, no matter what your sexuality is.
Gibson said she felt the need to found the group after seeing the way people in the area treated her sister JaLesia, an open lesbian. The ignorance and intolerance people showed toward them and their family sparked a fire within Gibson.
She founded the group in hopes of educating those in the area who would try to spread hate as well as providing a safe haven where members of the LGBT community and its allies.
The first meeting this semester was Sept. 3 in Chrisman. With more than 20 students, those who attended described it as an “awesome turnout.”
So far, the DSA has gathered “tons of support” from people in the area, according to Gibson, though she expects plenty of opposition to come their way. She described her attitude towards that opposition as “water off a duck’s back.”
“At the end of the day,” Gibson explained of her resolve, “I’m here to support them.”
The next planned meeting of the Differing Sexulaties Alliance is Wednesday, Sept. 24 in Chrisman Auditorium at 6 p.m.