As the city of Austin celebrated Gay Pride Week a month ago, Vandegrift participated in its own celebration as students banded together to form their own Lesbian Gay Transgender Straight Alliance, or LGBTSA Club. The club was designed to offer a safe environment for all sexual orientations.

“I think it’s a place where people can come, gay or straight, and be themselves and have people who won’t judge them,” LGBTSA Club Historian Keely Freund said.

The club was started when Vandegrift students junior Keely Freund, senior Nick Birk, senior Seena Ounsinegad and junior Grace Weisz all had their own individual ideas to start a gay-straight alliance at school, but decided collaborate instead.

“All of us actually had separate plans of starting the club and stumbled across one another,” LGBTSA Club Vice President, Birk said.

After joining forces, they found a sponsor in Mrs. Eustice, the Pre-AP and AP Chemistry teacher, who thinks the organization can make a real difference at Vandegrift.

“It can provide support and a safe space for the students in the club so they don’t have to feel that they’re not normal or that they have to go through the things they’re going through alone. They have friends that can support them,” Eustice said. “Having the club and having people know there’s a club, there’s a discussion.”

The founders believe the LGBTSA club can raise awareness for social issues and promote equality at Vandegrift.

“It’s mostly about continuing to teach acceptance and to love all students on our campus. It’s learning that as long as you stay you, you can’t be wrong,” Birk said.

LGBTSA Club’s next meeting will take place Oct. 24, in Mrs. Eustice’s room during PIT. For those interested, sign up under LGBT Straight Alliance in the PIT Portal.