In any school setting, it is necessary to have a safe space for students to be comfortable being themselves. Luckily, Masconomet’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance provides a place where both LGBTQIA+ students and allies can make connections and reach out to the community on the importance of queer and trans rights.
“When I came out in eighth grade, I was incredibly lucky to have other queer friends my age and supportive parents,” said senior president Leo Peiken. “GSA and spaces like it have not only offered me acceptance and friendship, but a chance to delve deeper into understanding my own identity through workshops and history lessons.”
GSA members engage in a wide variety of activities during weekly meetings. From learning about LGBTQIA+ history, to watching queer media such as “Brother Outsider,” there is no shortage of activities empowering and celebrating queer folk for students to partake in. However, one of the most impactful things that the GSA does is organizing the Day of NO Silence.
“For many years, GLSEN sponsored a symbolic Day of Silence to call attention to the silencing and self-silencing of LGBTQ+ people,” said GSA advisor Shannon Murphy. “Now is the time when allies need to use their voices to protect their friends, neighbors, and loved ones. When Fenway Health, a medical group in Boston that was founded specifically to serve marginalized groups including LGBTQ+ community members, stops offering gender-affirming care to youth, we are in fact well beyond the time to speak out.”
The Day of NO Silence is a day-long demonstration every April, designed to protest and speak out against the discrimination and harassment of queer students. Previously, the event was known as the Day of Silence, where participants would go the whole school day without speaking to symbolize the oppression LGBTQIA+ students face on a daily basis. Beginning in 2024, the word “NO” was added to the title in order to oppose the ongoing attempted erasure of queer people from the public, especially trans and non-binary folk.
“The GSA has been an incredible safe space for me since my freshman year,” said senior vice president Mercury Renault. “As a young trans teen, being able to interact with older trans teens gave me hope for my future.”
Masco’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance meets most Fridays after school throughout the year. For queer students looking for a safe space to meet people like them, or allies wanting to get involved in the LGBTQIA+ community, the GSA is the perfect place to spend an afternoon.