In the wake of the suspension of Charlotte Anderson Elementary art teacher Stacey Bailey, members of the Gay-Straight Alliance organization decided to take action by sitting in on the school board meeting last Tuesday.

“It made me angry and sad knowing that an adult can’t speak about their relationship at school,” freshman Alex Escobar said. “Other teachers that are straight don’t face the same punishment.”

Many members of GSA did not know about the lack of specific protections in the MISD bullying policy for LGBTQ+ students and teachers, which is something Stacey Bailey was attempting to amend prior to her suspension.

“That is what upsets me the most,” freshman Hailey Macklin said. “Knowing that a group of people isn’t protected just because of who they love and how they identify.”

In hopes to change these policies, members of GSA will be spreading the word about the situation and ways others can help them reach out to administrators.

“I’m going to tell my friends and spread the word on social media,” junior Samantha said. “I’ll even create a hashtag so others can track our progress.”

In addition to sitting in on the school board meeting, members have also decided to raise awareness for the lack of these protections in other ways.

“We will be writing letters and sitting in on the school board meeting,” junior Holly Bristow said. “I will be notifying my friends.”

GSA will be encouraging peers to help bring awareness to these issues and assist them in bringing about change.

“America stands for freedom,” freshman Aiden Leddy said. “I think the reason there are no protections is because nobody wants to deal with the issue at hand.”

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