The Silent Alliance ------------------------------------- by Sara Myers, G.S.A. Co-Officer G.S.A. stands for Gay Straight Alliance. It is surprising how few students actually know the words behind the acronym. Many students simply think it is a place for just gay, lesbian, and bisexual students. Some want to have no affiliation with them. While Santa Cruz County has proven to be a very accepting place to the gay community, few high school environments ever are. Not that we haven’t made an effort. Last April, the G.S.A. took part in a national day of silence. The event proved to be successful to some degree, but really only for those who got involved. This fall, the Drama Production class produced The Laramie Project, a show detailing real life account of the beating and killing of a gay college student Matthew Shepard and his town’s reaction to his death and homosexuality. While the show left audiences emotionally altered, it really did nothing to make our school and community a more comfortable place for the homosexual. Those who saw the show saw it because they already cared about the issues, it is the rest of the student body that should have seen it. Even worse, it made the heterosexual more homophobic, as do a number of television shows and movies like Rent. While all trying to make homosexuality more acceptable, they are all making it a something to laugh at. Aptos High has had a G.S.A. for the past two years, and for most of that time has gone unnoticed. The club consists of nearly eight members and is advised by the intelligent, and fashionable, history teacher Ms. Pughe. The G.S.A. does not see themselves as one of those clubs out to make a difference on a grand scale. Their meetings are designed to be a safe place to go where students won’t be judged, and if you’re lucky, they will give you free cookies. ...