South Salem High School Students attending Gender Sexuality Alliance Club. Photo taken by Jasmyn Cooper
South Salem High School has many different clubs, Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) being one of them. GSA meets in room 239 on Wednesdays from 3:30-4:10 p.m. Cara Fortey runs the club, and has since 2009.
“We do not have many kids here, you can see that. The first few years I did it I had a full classroom. South is unquestionably the most accepting school in the district and because of that,I think the need for the club has lessened,” Fortey said.
South students do not need to be in GSA, they already feel accepted within the South community. The main thing GSA focuses on during club meetings is community.
“A percent that we go over is important to the queer community. And, we usually do some activity or we work on something for the community,” Sage Beitzel ‘26 said.
GSA helps the South community find a place if they have not already found one.
“If you do not already have a group of friends that are queer, or do not know anybody that is queer, or if you are new to South, this is a school-sanctioned way of finding other queer people. It is really just about finding people and it is about making friends,” Beitzel said.
Other club members talk about what they like most about the GSA Club. They play different games to build community and connection between club members.
“I love playing games here. Like, last year when I was a sophomore, we used to play very vicious games of Uno,
said Ivan Tovar ‘26.
The fellowship and sense of community with GSA highlights its importance as a supporting community for students.
“GSA is a fun, chill way to meet new people and engage with the queer community at South. All are welcome, and all are invited!”, said Beitzel.
