Bedford Middle School has made an effort to be accepting of the LGBT+ community. We’ve all seen the rainbow triangles on the doors of the library marking it a safespace, and the guidance counselors are always there to listen. But maybe it’s time to ask ourselves what else we can do for BMS and for members of the LGBT+ community.

“Stop being so gay!” I overheard jokingly exclaimed in the halls. When someone says something is “so gay,” they say “It’s just a joke.”

But it’s not.

Using sexuality as a synonym for stupid is offensive, but not everyone realizes that. But, that’s the environment that exists: one that people can go around saying things like this without caring who hears, one where too many don’t know what they’re saying is wrong. People don’t choose their sexualities or gender, and they don’t come out to get attention.

Lauren Rinn, the guidance counselor here at Bedford, has had a few people come in to talk to her about their sexualities. “They just needed someone to listen,” she explained. “They weren’t sure how their friends would react.”

That’s scary. Coming out is a big deal, even if you know you’ll be accepted, but coming out without knowing if your friends will even be your friends after is enough to warrant an anxiety attack. Middle school students have enough to stress about without worrying about losing their friends because of a small, harmless part of their identity.

BMS may not be able to stop the derogatory language, nor ensure acceptance from friends, but we can make sure that LGBT+ members have a group of peers they know will accept them.

Starting a Gender & Sexualities Alliance at BMS will help LGBT+ students feel more welcome and less afraid, and it will make straight/cisgender students more open minded and careful of what they say without thinking. Even for non-members, it makes an impact on the school. The presence of GSA raises awareness of sexual and gender minorities. “Simply by existing in a school environment, a GSA speaks volumes about how a particular school community values diversity and how it is committed to making sure that all students feel not just tolerated but welcome in their school,” said Christopher Fray, the faculty advisor of the GSA at Staples High School.

There is no set agenda for GSA meetings. Many meetings the students end up talking or planning for a future event. GSA events can vary from picnics and movie nights to raising funds and organizing for people to come speak on important LGBT+ issues.

If nothing can grow in a hostile environment, the only way to fix that is to fix the environment. With the support of the administration, all students -LGBT+ and straight/cisgender- could thrive at Bedford. Having a GSA at Bedford has the potential to make everybody feel more welcome.