Promoting tolerance

Andrew Wainer

Members of the Student Alliance Group at Fountain Valley High School say

they have won wide acceptance from students and administrators.

This is a different picture than that painted by the Gay-Straight

Alliance Club at El Modena High School, which is suing the Orange Unified

School District for preventing them from meeting on campus.

“We have not had any problems surrounding the group,” said Michael Poff,

Student Alliance Group faculty advisor at Fountain Valley. “It is very

quiet here.”

Although the group created controversy when it formed six years ago, they

now meet on campus on a weekly basis without incident, Poff said.

Student Alliance Group President Kaeti Humphrey said the group’s purpose

is to provide students a safe haven to discuss issues surrounding

sexuality, without the fear of harassment.

Humphrey said the group has a core membership of 15-20 students, at least

half of whom are straight.

“Many of our members are interested in the group because they have a

friend or family member who is dealing with sexuality issues,” Humphrey

said.

The group meets for about an hour each week.

Although Humphrey said there is little animosity toward the group at

Fountain Valley High, she did say friends at other Orange County schools

are often forced to deal with harassment and aggression.

El Modena High has become the most recent local flash point for

controversy, due to allegations that the district has stalled the club’s

approval on campus.

Humphrey said she supports the efforts of the students who are fighting

to get the club established. “I think they are very brave and facing a

lot of opposition they should not have to deal with.”

Humphrey said the club is a good vehicle for promoting tolerance and is a

benefit to the entire school community, not just gay students.

Question: How do you feel about clubs, such as the Student Alliance

Group, meeting at schools?

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