Walking in to Jerry Donald’s classroom, ready to attend what I believed to be a pivotal point in Middletown High School history, I saw more people in attendance at this gay straight alliance (GSA) than I could have expected.

There were about 20 to 25 people at this meeting. Guidance counselor Sue Blair opened the meeting with her always-friendly hello and explained how just a few years ago when she first attempted to create a GSA, only three people showed up for the meeting. She believed this was because of fear, which is acceptable, but she told us how happy she was that we all had the courage and strength to express our opinions.

       Blair then left the floor to the “leaders,” Kathryn Byrum, Charles Dague, and John Brown. They explained that the club will be sponsored by PFLAG, and will take a field trip, hold events and do fun activities such as making shirts. The field trip will probably to see the new movie “Milk.”

       All in all, it was a very successful first meeting; this group will be very important for Middletown, not only the school but the community, to have.