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WHEREAS, Gay-Straight Alliances are student clubs that work to improve their school's climate for all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression-and, in fact, a straight high school student in 1998 was the first to establish one: seeking to educate fellow students about anti-LGBT bullying and harassment, she approached her history teacher and proposed, "You're gay and I'm straight, so let's call it a Gay-Straight Alliance"; and
WHEREAS, Gay-Straight Alliances function just like any other club, incorporating faculty advisors, holding regular meetings, and hosting events open to all who wish to attend, and, according to the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN), as of 2008 there are at least 4,000 registered Gay-Straight Alliance groups in schools all over North America; and
WHEREAS, Brashear High, located in Beechview but made up of students from all across the City, saw its first Gay-Straight Alliance formed for the 2011-2012 school year, and on National Day of Silence, April 20, 2012, more than 250 Pittsburgh Brashear students, faculty, and staff remained silent throughout the day to draw attention to, and to represent, the many thousands of students nationwide who have been bullied, killed, or have taken their own lives because of their peers' hostilities to their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression; and
WHEREAS, student members Kaylee Hudson, Avalon Barilla, CJ Carson, Lauren Zurawsky, Jasmine Mitts, Alexander Kizzie-Barry, Rachel Barone, and Athena Xenakis made the day possible through promotion and collecting pledges for participation well in advance of the day; faculty advisors Devin Browne, Kelley Gavlik, and Daniel Kribel lent their assistance, along with support from Pittsburgh's GLSEN chapter; and co-principals John Vater, Kimberly Safran, and Angel Washington were excited to participate along with hundreds of Brashear students, many of whom reported that this year's Day of Silence was more powerful than in years past due to the organization and presence of the newly formed Gay-Straight Alliance.
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THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh recognizes Brashear High School's Gay-Straight Alliance for their efforts to make their school, and by extension our City as a whole, a more welcoming, inclusive place for all students.
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Tuesday, June 26, 2012 to be Brashear High School Gay-Straight Alliance Day in the City of Pittsburgh.