Lee County High School staff sponsor new GSA club

On September 29, 2022, The Trojan Way reported that a GSA club was added to the 2022-2023 Lee County High School student handbook in Georgia. GSA originally stood for “Gay-Straight Alliance” but now stands for “Genders & Sexualities Alliance.” The GSA Network’s website explains that the goal is to turn students into political activists for LGBTQ and transgender issues:

GSAs have evolved beyond their traditional role to serve as safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth in middle schools and high schools, and have emerged as vehicles for deep social change related to racial, gender, and educational justice.

The 2022-2023 handbook on the school’s website does mention “GSA Network” as a club. The handbook explains that the club “is a next-generation LGBTQ+ racial and gender justice organization that empowers and trains trans, queer, and allied youth leaders to advocate, organize, and mobilize an intersectional movement for safer schools and healthier communities.” The club’s description continues to explain that the goal is for “trans and queer youth” to “become leaders who can advocate for themselves and their needs” and “organize in coalition with other youth and community groups to fight for racial and gender justice.”

The Trojan Way explains that the club is sponsored by a counselor at the high school and a social studies teacher. Parents Defending Education confirmed this by checking with the high school’s staff directory.