A famous historian once said that situations that require much energy and perseverance always prove to be worth while. Maybe that is the case for Hillsborough High School’s new Gay-Straight Alliance. Seniors Carlos Giron and Wendy Hou are co-founding the club.

According to Giron, the Gay-Straight Alliance is a club designed to allow students of all sexual orientations to gather in a common location to discuss not only issues relating to sexual orientation but also to spread awareness.

Such organizations have generated controversy at other schools, but Giron explains, “It’s not about the controversy. We want to spread awareness and acceptance, not tolerance. Tolerance implies some kind of inferiority, and we do not want to promote that.”

Senior William Anderson said he does not plan on joining because he doesn’t want to promote the club. “You shouldn’t support it. Some people will find it offensive.”

Co-founder Hou believes that “gay” often carries a negative connotation. “It comes from a social stigma about homosexuals.”

Students such as freshman Michael Davis worry about joining GSA because of this. “I’m afraid of what people will think because I joined.”

Hou said that students do not need to be homosexual or bisexual to be a member and encourages others to reflect on the Black Civil Rights movement. “No one today would look back on that time period and say it wasn’t worth it. [African-Americans] risked being jailed, maimed, and killed,” she said.

Senior Catherine Medina and freshman Megan Pancoast both support the club and believe it will help spread awareness. “With more awareness, the students will understand society,” Medina said.

“There is a GSA at Newsome High School, and I heard it was very big,” AP Bertha Baker said. “However, I think the nature of the club in general has gotten blown out of proportion.”

Unlike the events that occurred at Newsome High School, the formation process of the GSA has not sparked that much controversy outside of school. In 2005, a couple complained to the school board after their daughter informed them of Newsome’s GSA. Consequently, the principal of Newsome had to implement a “parental permission” rule to join the club.

That led the district to consider requiring parental permisison for students to join any clubs.

Giron and Hou both hope to begin a small wave that will grow into a tsunami of wide-spread acceptance for the gay community. “I would [join the club],” junior Alina Bush said. “I know gay people, and it’s a good way to support them.”

In the midst of the club approval process, social controversy, and praise, Giron and Hou have one more wall to climb over. “We still need a sponsor,” Hou said. Giron believes that many teachers have turned down the opportunity to sponsor the club because they would rather be low-key about the matter in order to be more professional and not appear to take sides on the issue.

“It supports other gays and it gives straight people an insight on being gay,” senior Anthony Nguyen said. “I tried to get signatures to start a club like that but we didn’t have enough people.” Nguyen plans to join GSA once a sponsor is found.