A group of students from Chatelech Secondary School have formed a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) to combat bullying, promote social justice, and to change the language in the school's hallways.
"We just wanted to leave something for the school, somewhere where gay, lesbian and transgendered kids could feel safe," said Grade 12 student Terri Hopkinson, who helped found the group -the Rainbow Brigade - five weeks ago. "And also to stop homophobia, like the phrase 'that's so gay' -just stop it from spreading and from hurting people."
Students Ali and Bella Casey, who are twin sisters, put it in simple terms.
"Me and Bella do know a couple of gay people that our brother is friends with and we know a couple ourselves, and they're all so nice and I don't understand why people are harsh about it," Ali said.
Humanities teacher Paddy McCallum, one of the two teacher sponsors along with art teacher Ellory Robertson, said the GSA's top goals are social justice, safety and suicide prevention, as well eliminating the use of homophobic language in the school.
"Most importantly it's about students feeling safe and creating a safe environment in the school, not only for gay and lesbian and transgendered kids, but for all kids," he said.
McCallum said the group has drawn approximately 20 students, spanning from Grade 8 to 12, including a spectrum of sexual orientations.
"I'd say we have 30 or 40 per cent who are in some form of questioning -their identities, their sexual identities, their sexual orientation -and a group of very supportive, thoughtful, straight kids who want to be here to support them," McCallum said.
So far, the students have organized a day of silence in April to raise awareness for gay rights. Also, McCallum said, the students have obtained a grant from Pride BC to kickstart some awareness-raising initiatives, such as a pamphlet that they've created, plus bracelets which they'll be selling which say 'Rainbow Brigade' and the group's slogan: 'Proud To Be Me.'
GSA president James Shaw said he's hopeful the group will be able to co-ordinate with QMUNITY Gab Youth in Vancouver, to plug into a larger LGBT community and participate in some larger events like the Queer Zombie Prom in June.
And the group knows it has its work cut out for it.
Maya Schutz, who will be GSA president next year, said that being in a small, tight community like the Sunshine Coast adds extra pressure for young people working through questions of sexual orientation.
"You know everyone and your mom knows everyone," she said. "You can't walk down the street and see someone in drag here. You could in Vancouver."
And Arielle White, who will be GSA vice president next year, said it won't be easy to change the school hallway culture, where words like "gay" and "fag" are used as pejoratives.
"I'm hoping it will, but I think we're not going to see change for a few years at least," she said. " I think it's going to take a lot longer."
But the students say they're by no means giving up. Not only that, but they're seeing their initiative catch on elsewhere with other Coast teens.
"Elphi is now wanting [a GSA]," vice president Erin Burnham said. "As soon as we started ours, they were kind of like, 'Why don't we have one?'"
