What’s It Like to Be a Gay Teen in Westwood in 2018?

June is LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and others) Pride Month. Westwood High School (WHS) has had a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) for over twenty years. Although it is now simply called the GSA, it was originally called Spectrum, and was known as such until approximately 2007. According to WHS teacher and faculty advisor to the GSA Anne-Marie Sklarwitz, “[the change occurred] to be more explicit that [the GSA] is intended to be a space for anyone who identifies as LGBTQ+ or as a straight ally.”

WHS’ GSA is very active and its members lead a number of events every year: Ally Week, Day of Silence, and LGBTQ+ History Month. Sklarwitz says that “The group holds trivia days outside the cafeteria, and gives out rainbow pins, ideas for how to be a good ally, and suggestions for ways to advocate for those who have less privilege. The group creates posters of famous LGBTQ+ people and their accomplishments and contributions throughout history and in our current time. The group also serves as a place to connect with others who want to support each other and their family members and friends.”

Attendance at GSA meetings can vary from anywhere from fifteen students to one student. Unofficially, some members of the GSA take advantage of other community resources for LGBTQ+ youth, such as WAGLY and OUTMetrowest. WAGLY is a regular meeting for LGBTQ+ high schoolers, and OUTMetrowest sponsors WAGLY as well as offering other LGBTQ+ community support. GSA members also attend GLSEN’s annual conference and Youth Pride.

Westwood High School’s handbook explicitly forbids discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Sklarwitz reports that WHS’ administration handles issues which may come up either concerning supporting LGBTQ+ students at school or ensuring that LGBTQ+ students and those who come from LGBTQ+ families are represented in the curriculum. She also states that “The faculty and administration are extremely supportive of all GSA events, and they shine brightly with their rainbow apparel and GSA shirts and pins whenever we request that they participate!”

If you are or know of an LGBTQ+ youth in Westwood who could use support beyond the GSA (or who cannot attend GSA meetings) there are resources for counseling at Westwood Youth and Family Services. The Trevor Project also has support and resources.