The More, the Merrier at Salve GSLBA

By: Mary Grace Donaldson
Posted In: News

Newport, R.I.- Salve’s Gay-Straight-Lesbian-Bisexual Alliance attracts students from all majors who are united for a common cause. The club has participated in rallies for LGBT issues ranging from a local anti-Prop 8 rally, to sending a representative to the National Equality March in Washington, DC. But it’s not just the cause that makes the club cohesive.

“If you don’t have friends, join my club,” said Evan Gallo, a junior at Salve and president of GSLBA. Gallo went on to talk about the familial nature of GSLBA. The 40 students who attend weekly meetings not only discuss current LGBT related events but also to support and learn from each other. Even with increasing acceptance of the LGBT community, homophobia is still alive and well. Club members who have faced homophobic acts are encouraged to turn to this special group of peers for support. However, Gallo even encourages homophobes to join the club, as they will learn something from other club members. Gallo says that GSLBA collectively accepts everyone, and all of their opinions. They are there to make life better for everyone, as “everyone is a minority.”

Both Gallo and club secretary Alli Jean, who is also a junior, have been enthusiastic about the gay rights movement even before arriving at Salve as freshmen.

“It’s the Civil Rights issue of our generation, Jean said. “Everyone should care about it.” Jean has been involved with GSLBA since her freshman year, as it seemed like a forum for her to express her passion for the cause. Gallo had been a part of his very enthusiastic GSA in high school. The group participated in the Day of Silence every year, which Gallo also brought to Salve in hopes of creating a campus-wide event. Day of Silence pays tribute to those silenced by the evils of homophobia by encouraging students to remain silent until a ceremonial breaking of the silence takes place. As freshmen, just Gallo and Jean participated in the Day of Silence. When Gallo took over as president of GSLBA, it became a very impressive campus-wide initiative.

Gallo and Jean both describe the club as a social medium. Any club member, even those who cannot attend meetings regularly, is invited to attend club-sponsored social events. October’s “Gapple Picking” was hugely successful. Club members and friends spent a Saturday evening at Sweet Berry Farm in Middletown. The only prerequisite for social events is being a part of the club’s e-mail list.

The club also sponsors movie nights, for which Gallo will rent out the Wakehurst Student Center’s movie theatre to view LGBT related films. Due to limited seating, movie nights are limited to members who attend meetings regularly. GSLBA continues to sponsor campus-wide awareness events, such as the Day of Silence, National Coming Out Day and Ally Week.

Quite a long shot from as few as five people attending meetings held in a dorm room during Gallo’s and Jean’s freshman year. Salve GSLBA is now a registered GSA with GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network), establishing that they hold weekly meetings with a strong membership. Other clubs on campus use GSLBA as the standard for how a club should run. The club maintains regular contact with adviser Johnelle Luciani, RSM. A Rogers High School student is creating a GSA for her senior project and is using Salve GSLBA as a model. As a testament to the club’s popularity and to the leadership of Gallo, Jean and the remainder of the club’s executive board, GSLBA was one of the only clubs on Salve’s campus that was not suspended due to budget concerns.

Salve GSLBA meets Wednesdays at 7 p.m. in the Wakehurst Student Center, room 204. A minimum of attendance at 12 meetings per academic year is required to be eligible to vote in club executive board elections. Those who cannot attend weekly meetings are invited to attend social events provided that they receive club e-mails. For more information on joining GSLBA, contact Evan Gallo at dorchestra@gmail.com. For both information and LGBT discussion forums, join “SALVE GSLBA” on Facebook. Be on the lookout for upcoming GSLBA-sponsored projects, including Day of Silence 2010.