Students: Principal nixed gay tolerance club

The purpose of a Gay-Straight Alliance club at a school is to create a welcoming environment and promote tolerance.

But some students seeking to establish such a group at Valley Stream South High School said they ran into objections from the school principal.

They were joined by about 100 students at a protest Thursday, even as the Valley Stream Central High School District declared it had already approved the club.

The group chanted "GSA! GSA!" and held signs with messages such as: "Don't hate because you're straight."

"We feel we've been discriminated against," said Kelly Egan, 18, a senior and GSA proponent. "I don't understand why we can't have a club."

Gay-Straight Alliance groups organize meetings and anti-bullying initiatives. One signature event is the Rainbow Ribbon campaign to promote acceptance. There are more than 90 alliances at schools throughout Long Island, including one at Valley Stream North High School in the same district.

"We just want a GSA like every other school," said club proponent Joseph Kofler, 17, a senior.

Egan and Kofler said when they proposed the Valley Stream South club to counter the use of anti-gay slurs, they were told it was not needed because those terms were not always meant as insults. The students said they felt intimidated by school officials who threatened disciplinary actions.

"The principal suggested they have a forum on words instead," said David Kilmnick, chief executive of the Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth, a network of advocacy groups. "It's very apparent that the school district is violating student rights."

Valley Stream South Principal Maureen Henry did not comment, but schools Superintendent Richard Marsh said the principal only suggested they join an existing club promoting diversity because student groups had been formed and budgeted for at the beginning of the school year.

"At this point in time we do not understand the need for this demonstration," said a statement from the district. "A Gay-Straight Alliance at South High School would certainly enhance our strong extracurricular club program."

Samantha Fredrickson, of the Nassau Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said her organization supports the students because they are protected by First Amendment rights and federal law guaranteeing "equal access" to extracurricular activities.

Allison Dash, 18, a senior who joined the rally, said she and many of her peers welcomed an alliance that would make all students feel welcome. "It's unfortunate that we have to protest to get a club like this in this day and age," Dash said. "I feel our generation is more accepting of differences."