Gay-Straight Club Case Study

In 2011, the Board trustees of a Catholic School in Burlington gave up to reject gay-straight clubs in its school. This made a sensitive and complex issue of homosexuality, which people argued about if the decision of the board was right. In my point of view, the decision of the Board 's was right. The gay-straight club is not only good for Homosexual students but also good for the school. Firstly, this policy is able to encourage lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students to come out. The gay-straight club offers these students a safe place with rights. For example, the rules of the club "combat" other students ' "bullying" to the LGBT students"(Duncan par. 2). Certainly, homosexual pupils who are under the protection
of the club will feel safe in the school, because club is like a big family belonging to the club members. Thus, they do not need to worry about becoming visible in the school. This is because the family will protect them. In addition, these students could get positive affections from the gay-straight club. Research shows that this kind of club makes homosexual students have "higher self-esteem", have fewer problems with "depression" and "suicide attempts"(FORD par. 1). Because of this protection, LGBT pupils suffer less visible and invisible marginalization from the people in school, which means they have fewer pressures than before and become positive. Therefore, allowing gay-straight clubs to be set in the schools is a good thing for homosexual students to show their real feelings. Secondly, gay-straight club is a great advantage for the school as well.
The club may help LGBT students improve the marks. Homosexual pupils who participate in this club will be "less harassed by their classmate", "miss fewer school", and get "higher" marks than LGBT students are not in this club (Hernandez par. 2). It is true that the students who have different sexual orientation from the others are the minority group in their schools. To avoid the visible and invisible marginalization from the majority group and the feeling of becoming outsiders, some of them could not come to school, which is bad for their academic marks. If they join in this club, they will be protected every day in school and may pay more attention on studying, which makes the average mark of the school higher. On the other hand, this club also helps the school create a better environment for all the students by "promoting equality for all people"(Gtlnevada par. 4). Every one is different in this world. The goal of the GS club is trying to show pupils that there is a kind of people who love homosexuals, and hopes them can accept this with tolerance. If most of the students do, then the school will be permitted with an atmosphere of friendship. As you can see, these are the reasons why GS club is also good for the
school. In conclusion, I agree with allowing to set GS club, because it has benefits both to LGBT students and the school. The Club protects the students in need and reduces their negative feelings. The school also can get a good reputation from the club by increasing the average marks of the pupils and creating a friendly climate around the school. These reason make me feel that giving up ban on the GS club is right.

Works Cited
Duncan, Arne. Key Policy Letters from the Education Secretary and Deputy Secretary. U.S. Department of Education, 14 Jun. 2011. Web. 16. Sep. 2014

FORD, ZACK. Study: Gay-straight Alliances Mitigate Depression, Promote College Success. ThinkProgress, 15 Nov. 2011. Web. 16 Sep. 2014.

Hernandez, Michael. Youth Blog > Happy 25th Birthday, Gay-Straight Alliances! The LGBT Health & Development Program, 16 May 2014. Web. 16 Sep. 2014.

Gtlnevada. Gat-Straight Alliances is Public Schools. Teen Ink, n.d. Web. 16 Sep. 2014.