Connecticut Gay-Straight Alliance: Speak up on bullying
By Russell Blair with myrecordjournal.com
When Shaun Gilhuly joined the Gay-Straight Alliance at Sheehan High school as a freshman, he was one of a handful of members.
“We had about four or five people, and the first year, we didn’t do too much,” Gilhuly said.
Now a senior, Gilhuly is president of the club, which has grown to 46 members. This school year, Gilhuly said the group is expanding its message, focusing on issues that affect not just lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered students. This year, the club has taken a stance against bullying, an issue Gilhuly said can only be tackled with student involvement.
“We’ve developed,” he said. “We have an expanded message; the club has changed to be more about human rights. We’re not just a gay club anymore; we’re trying to do something.”
On Oct. 11, the club observed National Coming Out Day, and last week, participated in Ally Week. Throughout lunch waves, club members accepted donations from students who signed a poster board with the reason why they are choosing to be an ally against the bullying of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered students.
Gilhuly said that the message is important: you don’t have to be gay to stand up for those being bullied for their sexuality, just as you don’t have to be Hispanic to stand up for those being bullied for of their ethnicity. Gilhuly said about 90 percent of the GSA members are straight.
Members agreed that bullying was wrong, and said that hearing that message from fellow students was an important step toward addressing the issue.
Nicole Ware, a sophomore, said she thinks bullying is the product of lack of understanding.
“People think that being different is wrong, but it’s not,” she said.
Ware said that seeing people sign the posters who weren’t members of GSA, but were still standing up against bullying, was a powerful message.
Amber Schumacher, a junior, said that she thinks bullying at Sheehan has abated since her freshman year. She said she thinks bullying stems from people picking on those who are different.
“People are made fun of for their race, religion, political views – any reason, really,” Schumacher said. “We want to show kids that we are just like them, that we’re going through the same high school experience.”
Aubreyanna Murray, a freshman, said the club has been sharing stories of bullying with other students, often with surprising results.
“When we start telling our stories, telling people about our experiences, they get kind of quiet,” she said. “I think it starts to click for them. Hearing it from their peers is more effective than from those in authority.”
Sophomore Madeleine Bennett thinks bullying still happens at Sheehan, but shared Schumacher’s sentiment that things have gotten better. She said the GSA is spreading the idea that “it’s OK to be who you are, and you shouldn’t judge.”
Sheehan Principal Rosemary Duthie said the school is stepping up its efforts to educate everyone about bullying and the new bullying law passed by the state legislature. Duthie said the school was working to have students feel more comfortable reporting incidents of bullying so they can be addressed in the proper fashion.
“The challenge is making them feel comfortable with us to address the problem,” she said.
Gilhuly said he has been bullied himself for a variety of reasons, but he’s stayed strong and wants to be a voice for people who are afraid to stand up. For his college admission essay, Gilhuly wrote about his experiences.
Freshman Jordan Fengler said Sheehan’s teachers offer support, but their messages aren’t as well received as those of other students.
“People don’t listen to the teachers,” he said, “but when their peers say it, they step back and they think ‘Oh, that’s real.’”
Duthie said there have always been student groups that spread the message that bullying isn’t right, such as the Peer Advocates, but she is happy to see the GSA and other student groups joining in.
“Other organizations, like the GSA, are lending support to a message that has already been there,” she said.
Gilhuly also said that students are more likely to listen to their peers and that when it comes to bullying, a small comment from a peer can go a long way.
“It can be something as simple as saying ‘knock it off,’ ” he said. “You can’t stop everyone, but if you can stop 10 people, and they go on and stop 10 people. … It all adds up.”
Makynlee Hanna said it’s important for people to stand up against bullying, even if it affects someone they don’t know.
“Kids need to speak up, it doesn’t matter if you know someone or not,” the sophomore said. “The school is supposed to be safe. Kids don’t come here to be judged or picked on.”