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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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I have no experience of these. They never existed in my day. If they had I would have been too afraid to consider attending a meeting. And Jordan's thread has made me think about them.
So what IS one (I've been to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_straight_alliance and http://gaystraightalliance.org/ )? They didn't help.
It is an ALLIANCE, I got that much. So this means that gay kids and str8 kids are allied in some sort of activity.
But how many str8 kids dare to be members? What attracts them to attend? If they don't attend then it's just a "Look at the queers" club, isn't it?
If you run one or are part of one, what does yours do? Is it successful?
If you're at a school with one but don't attend it, what stops you?
What do they do? What should they do? What makes it valid to have one and be part of one? Don't give me "First amendment" stuff, give me reality! And remember that only the USA has this first amendment stuff!
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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GSA's.... at least in theory.... Promote awareness of youth issues.
The "G" part of the name, as you already know, indicates a fosus on "gay" students.
The "S" part of the name is a bit more elusive. It is for the little kid that gets picked on because of his size, or the goth kid because of his schtick, or the emo kid because of his schtick... Or basically, any kid that is part of the fringes of classical images of student/school life.
The "A" indicates that they meet to work together to promote a safe atmosphere within the context of school and otherwise community life.
What it is not is a place where egos are puffed up for the benefit of a few individuals at the expense of the other members of the group as well as the expense of potential members.
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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Marc wrote:
> What it is not is a place where egos are puffed up for the benefit of a few individuals at the expense of the other members of the group as well as the expense of potential members.
Neither, I very much hope, is this place!
"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. ... Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night devoid of stars." Martin Luther King
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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We are not talking about this place......
I believe the conversation is regarding GSA school organizations.
Which of course, this is not.
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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I take it from your last paragraph that sometimes a charismatic person or group can make themselves the main focus, and that this is detrimental. I think we should leave that aside. That type of thing destroys groups and fosters a weird atmosphere.
My feeling is that the "A" is the key letter here. But the objective you (and the web sites) state is self limiting. Such a group cannot do this simply by saying "This is what we do, we foster an atmosphere of inclusion" or whatever it does. I would not join such a club.
I feel that the "A" has to ally gay and str8 kids within an atmosphere of inclusion to do things other than "look at the queer kids". Otherwise all that it produces is a freak show.
I would join an alliance that went and did stuff. I mean real stuff, not dances or movies. Real kid stuff, not unlike a more inclusive concept of the scouts, but without uniforms and hierarchy and Baden Powell ideology.
Then the "G" and the "S" start to fade into the place where they ought to be: insignificance.
Am I wrong about this?
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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I think you're right on the mark, Timmy.
Diverse people working side by side for a common cause should help to bring down barriers as they come to know one another. Perhaps, as a group, you could make posters to help Red Cross blood drives, put together aid packages for people involved in catastrophes or other worthy projects. Is there a park or old cemetery that needs some 'hands on' renovating or cleaning? Could you help clean up graffiti? The list could almost be endless.
Youth crisis hot-line 866-488-7386, 24 hr (U.S.A.)
There are people who want to help you cope with being you.
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Not to nip pauly's wonderful idea in the butt
but most of these things are already done by other clubs
walk a thons... blood drives ect...
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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I think you are speaking from a sample size of one GSA, there, Jordan. I very much doubt all are that insular.
What does yours do? Tell us why we would join it? How many gay and how many str8 members do you have? What's in it for the str8 kids?
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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I want more excitement than that. Plus, here, kids under 18 can't bleed and gay folk are not allowed to give blood.
I want a mix of community and fun. I want a reason for friendships to form that are not sex or orientation based.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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Gay's arent allowed to give blood here either.
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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Yes, gays are allowed to give blood here unless you test for HIV or some other transferable desiese.
If you stand for Freedom, but you wont stand for war, then you dont stand for anything worth fighting for.
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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Not here.
If you tik the box that asks if you are gay they give you the door.
[Updated on: Sun, 31 August 2008 04:56]
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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I would have thought that one of the prime functions of a GSA was as a dating agency because you can safely know who's out.
Hugs
N
I dream of boys with big bulges in their trousers,
Never of girls with big bulges in their blouses.
…and look forward to meeting you in Cóito.
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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But that is a "gay club". Where is the "Straight" or "Alliance" element in that?
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Then you should report the local red cross to the authorities for discrimination. What they are doing is illegal. I talked to a friend who is the red cross chairman in this state and he says all the blood they collect is tested for desiese and this includes HIV and no donar is turned away. If your blood test positive then your name goes on a list and you can never donate.
If you stand for Freedom, but you wont stand for war, then you dont stand for anything worth fighting for.
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The policy comes from the federal government (FDA)
"Gay men remain banned for life from donating blood, the government said Wednesday, leaving in place — for now — a 1983 prohibition meant to prevent the spread of HIV through transfusions."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18827137/
(\\__/) And if you don't believe The sun will rise
(='.'=) Stand alone and greet The coming night
(")_(") In the last remaining light. (C. Cornell)
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I think I understand the theory now, but in practical terms I still consider it would have that element. An important function of societies is to meet people on a social level and the mutual interest is both a pretext for meeting and a sharing of that interest. Behind any voluntary and regular meeting the idea that the people who go there must enjoy themselves is paramount.
Hugs
N
I dream of boys with big bulges in their trousers,
Never of girls with big bulges in their blouses.
…and look forward to meeting you in Cóito.
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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I'm sure dates will be arranged that way  I'm equally sure that, for some, that will be a primary purpose, and one well fulfilled by the meetings. I can even imagine a str8 couple meeting there and finding they like each other enough to date.
I just don't see it as a primary objective. ::-)
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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I don't recall anyone here mentioning The Mailcrew who have a wonderful site full of good stuff and mostly relevant to Jordan's original question.
Love,
Anthony
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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They can be found at http://www.themailcrew.com/
I think the only reason no-one has mentioned them is that our new college students are away in college and too busy even to know which way is up yet, or so I assume.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Fingolfin
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Likes it here |
Location: Slovakia
Registered: August 2008
Messages: 265
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I'm not sure but I'm afraid that you pass over something all the time. These are just kids we talk about. That means they need such activities. What percentage of kids like sports just for fun? In my times (like 5 to 15 years ago (I'm 25 now)) all kids played football, hockeyball, basketball and such just for fun with their friends. How many kids do like playing games? There are loads of modern board games not only for children (like Carcassonne, Lascaux, Settlers of Catan etc.), many collectible card games (Magic: the Gathering, World of Warcraft, Pokemon, Vampire: the Eternal Struggle etc.), games you play just using your fantasy and a bunch of rules (Dongeons and Dragons, World of Darkness...). A lot of these games have official competitions, meetings of players and such. Maybe this is the way...
Marek
It is better to switch on a small light than to curse the darkness.
- Vincent Šikula, Slovak writer
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