From a tiny and crowded Spanish classroom to an open, secluded area, the Gay-Straight Alliance club welcomes in members of the LGBT community and allies alike. The Leaders of the GSA are trying to draw in new members by hosting a talent show in April.

“[We’ll be selling] tickets, and we’ve been talking about doing a bake sale,” co-president senior Madilyn Veach said. ”We [are donating to] Glisten. It focuses on student youth LGBT, which is very good for high schoolers. We [decided to pick] a local [cause] rather than a bigger organization.”

All proceeds will be put towards the cause; however, the club is also hoping to use the show as recognition for the GSA.

“The talent show is a fun thing for us to produce and get more well-known because [we aren’t] a very well-known club,” president senior Brooke Rupp said. “It’s a place for people in our school to show their talents because [some aren’t] involved in choir or theater.”

The club is accepting every applicant that shows any dedication to the show, no matter the talent they choose to audition with. Along with the expected singing and dancing acts, GSA is looking forward to showcasing new and unique talents.

“I’m really, really hoping to get a lot more creative writing and theater,” Rupp said. “I want to hear poetry. short skits, and short stories.”

Outside of the talent show, GSA meets every other Monday during Tiger Paws to discuss a variety of topics within the LGBT community.

“GSA is trying to [help] young kids who are struggling with their gender identity, sexuality and even those who are allied with them,” Rupp said. “[We] are supporting them to create a safe space for them to find friends and support.”

Since the club has gotten much smaller over the past few years, students are closer due to various group activities and discussions. The club leaders hope to achieve this bond with a larger group of students in the near future.

“I’d really love to be able to get a good blend of people into the club,” Rupp said. “[During] one of the few meetings I [went] to my freshman year, they did a lot of small group discussion, but no one knew each other and no one was really close, so discussions didn’t get anywhere even though they had amazing topics.”

Veatch said the open and accepting atmosphere at the meetings drive home the goal everyone within the GSA strives to achieve: “to spread love, acceptance, and to give people a space where they feel comfortable to accept themselves.”

“There is a stigma against people in the LGBT community,” Veach said. “I think that if we spread positivity starting [the Club], maybe it could spread to other places.”