Gay-straight group may get official club status in U-46

Abby Mungai considers it a step in the right direction.

The freshman Elgin High student, a member of the school's Prism club, still hears anti-gay slurs yelled in the school's hallway and at gym class.

She still knows classmates worried about being picked on because of their sexual identities.

But after years of being overlooked, a group whose mission is to provide support for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students may be given a nod by Elgin Area School District U-46 officials. The board is considering adding the Gay-Straight Alliance to the roster of official clubs and organizations in the district's high school handbook.

"I do think that's saying they really think it's a legitimate group, just like all the other we have ones here," Mungai said.

Pat Broncato, the district's attorney, said the suggested change came about after a discussion by members of the Parent-Teacher Advisory Committee.

Why, members wondered, if there were clubs at three of the five district high schools, was the organization not mentioned in the student handbook? Broncato said members also brought up the Human Rights Act, which identifies sexual orientation as a protected status.

Like Bartlett and Larkin high schools, Elgin High has featured a Gay-Straight Alliance club for several years.

Moderator Monica Ryan said the school prefers to call the group a Prism club, to be more inclusive to lesbian, bisexual and transgender students.

About 10 students, on average, participate in weekly Prism meetings.

Club members also attended a Safe Schools Initiative conference in Chicago this spring and organized Elgin High's own Day of Silence April 17, where students and faculty members silently protested anti-gay bullying and harassment.

As the club has laid down roots, Ryan said it has transitioned from a social group to one more focused on activism.

The club's official recognition, she said, "is very important. I think this is great. But it's also largely cosmetic in a way."

Next school year, members plan to petition the school board to add an anti-discrimination policy to its handbook, citing both gender and gender expression, said Ryan.

"These students are so incredibly brave," she said. "They just want to see the world be a better place."

Board members will vote on the change June 22.