WESTLOCK — A new community-wide gay-straight alliance (GSA) is in the works for Westlock, to further offer support for LGBTQ2S+ youth and allies.
The GSA is being created as part of the Pride Network, which includes parents and community members from different educational backgrounds, professions, age groups and locations across Westlock County.
“The current GSA at R.F. Staples, though amazing and has done so many cool things, is very limited on who they can offer support to and they can really open their doors only to students at R.F. Staples,” said Pride Network member Heidi Mills. “So there are kids and even other adults, who are needing something that needs to be more community-wide.”
Mills noted the Thunder Alliance GSA at R.F. Staples School has participated in community events, such as the rainbow crosswalk and the pop-up party, both in Westlock, but there is more support needed, which may include looking at creating GSA’s in other schools, she added.
“Joining forces and coming up with something that’s for all kids and community members to come together, under the Pride Network,” explained Mills. “The Pride Network would organize it and anybody can come if they want to.”
While details surrounding the community-wide GSA are still in the works, other parents have expressed a desire for something in the community their kids could participate in.
“I think this Pride Network just really wants to have something formed come the fall, where there is purposeful and intentional activities and safe space for kids (from the Westlock community) to gather,” said Mills, noting adults are also welcome. “We’re really hopeful that lots of kids come … our goal for the community-wide GSA is that (the kids) can take some control and power and do some activities or make their ideas happen.”
