The Pride flag, a common symbol for many GSA's across the country. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.
The Gay Straight Alliance has been a part of Malden High School for about 30 years. It was started by a woman named Marguerite Gonsalves who was a former English teacher as well as the former head of the teachers union. Christine Grillon is the advisor of the club as well as co advisors Brian Morrison and Anika Krause. Officers of the club include co presidents Sophomore Walter Cruz and Junior Kat Jabbarin.
The Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) is popular in many schools across the nation. It was started in Malden High School in the 1970s to provide a safe space for LGBTQ members at the time. Through the years, GSA became a popular club to join, especially for a lot of incoming freshman and for the LGBTQ community all over Malden High School.
The club has also received a lot of attention from the staff of MHS. Many members of the staff have done and continue to do things to help out GSA as well as the LGBTQ community in Malden as a whole. Some key staff members include Dana Marie Brown, Julie Fox, Christopher Mastrangelo, Edward Lombardi, Mary Liberge, and Barbara Scibelli. However, credit can be given to the whole staff as it was given much support by them throughout the years.
The club has had many events to support it and continue to create new events to hold such as Bake Sales, Meet and greets, and even Poetry slams at the Malden Teen Enrichment Center. They have shown their support for Malden’s LGBTQ community creating a whole section for books relating to LGBTQ in the Malden High School Library, an idea credited to Ms. Liberge. Also, GSA is trying to get permission to have the LGBTQ flag flown on the flagpole outside Malden High School. The GSA is also planning to rebrand themselves in the near future. They are hoping to partner with the Fine Arts Club to help create a new logo for them as well.
It still stands today that the mission of the GSA is to provide a safe space for members and non members of the LGBTQ community. They want students at Malden High School to feel welcomed, celebrated and accepted.
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