On Thursday, Sept. 1, Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Club held its first meeting of the school year. GSA is a student-led club that educates students about the LGBTQA+ community, as well as provides a safe space for those in it. GSA meetings often give presentations about topics concerning the LGBTQA+ community.

“I’m really excited to get to meet all the new GSA members this year,” GSA President Claire Lawrence ‘23 said. “I love seeing all the new faces each year.”

During the meeting, attendees ate homemade chocolate chip cookies brought by Vice President Max Lacey ‘24 while GSA Club officers introduced themselves with a slideshow and presented information about the club, including club rules and what meetings will look like.

In May, NBC News reported that state lawmakers proposed a record 238 bills that would limit the rights of LGBTQ Americans, with half of them targeting transgender people. With this and other recent anti-LGBTQA+ laws sweeping across the country, Lawrence wants to make sure that GSA can provide a safe space and support for its members. 

“I want GSA to be a place where people can feel comfortable and happy, especially since it can be really hard being LGBT right now,” Lawrence said. “I hope members can relax and have fun in the club.”

GSA meetings occur weekly on Thursdays, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in room D1324. The next meeting will be on Sept. 8.