The GSA (Gender-Sexuality Alliance) is no doubt one of the most welcoming clubs in Tualatin High School. If you attend any GSA meeting, you’ll be greeted by friendly faces, jokes and laughter and an abundance of students who fiercely support each other – you included. The Wolf interviewed club president Salem Blaettler, a junior, and secretary Onyx Forrester, a sophomore, during a meeting in late November. This was this reporter’s first time with the club (and an absolute blast, by the way).

What made you want to join GSA?

Blaettler: When I was a freshman, my brother had a lot of friends in the club, so he said, “It’s chill there, so you should show up,” so I showed up.

Forrester: I initially joined GSA because my brother was there as the secretary, and I stayed because I want to create a safe space, not necessarily as GSA, but through all of TuHS.

What is your favorite part of the club?

Blaettler: I really like meeting new people and knowing that there’s a safe space in the school for queer students.

Forrester: I like meeting more people who are queer and understand what that’s like. It’s refreshing to speak with queer people rather than people who don’t understand me.

What do you wish people knew about the GSA?

Blaettler: I feel like a lot of people don’t know that we exist. I get a lot of people who go up to me and say, “Oh, there’s a queer club at the school?” I think the performance [during Culture Week] was a big way that we got out there, though, and now people know us a lot more.

Forrester: I wish people knew that we want to do more than we are, but there’s a lot stopping us, and we need people’s help. We want to hold events like the lip sync dance battle without threats, but we need people’s support and knowledge to be able to do more.

Everyone is welcome to join the GSA. They meet in room 103 on Thursdays after school, and you can follow their Instagram (@tuhs.gsa) for more information.