GSA forms in Prairie du Chien
Prairie du Chien GSA strives to
empower, educate
By Ted Pennekamp
A new student activity club has recently formed in the Prairie du Chien School District and is seeking to offer a sense of belonging for all interested students. The Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) was approved as an official club by the board of education at its Jan. 8 meeting and is in its beginning stages, said Adrienne Udelhoven, one of the club’s advisors.
“We have not had our first meeting yet, so we don’t know about member participation,” said Udelhoven, who noted that the formation of the GSA Club came to be through the collaboration of a community volunteer.
Heather DeBruin and Udelhoven are the advisors at the high school, while Tracy Feye and Michelle Kirchman are the advisors at Bluff View Intermediate School.
“We want our high school and middle school to be a safe place for every student when they walk through our doors,” said Udelhoven. “Our schools have a lot to offer students to get involved and have a sense of belonging. One area we felt was missing was an inclusive club such as a GSA.”
Udelhoven said there is a real struggle and safety issue when it comes to students who identify differently than heterosexual or cisgender (the opposite of transgender).
“In forming the GSA Club our hope is to remove the stigma about homosexuality and transgender and ultimately create a safe environment for those students,” said Udelhoven.
The GSA is not just for those students who identify as LGBTQ+, but also for straight students who want to make change and support their LGBTQ+ friends and family, Udelhoven said.
The acronym LGBTQ+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Questioning (the + sign).
“It is hard not fitting into the ‘mold’ or ‘conforming’ to the views of what an ‘average’ teenager is supposed to be,” said Udelhoven. “It’s even harder for youth who identify as LGBTQ+. The GSA Club will empower all participants with non-judgement and to help create change, educate and build tolerance for all who are ‘different’.”