STHS Pride Club Creates Safe Haven for the LGBTQ+ community

Felipe Morales Perez
The Raven Post
Published in
2 min readSep 11, 2023

The Pride Club at STHS has returned after a summer hiatus, once again offering a welcoming space for LGBTQ+ students and allies.

Sponsored by IB English teacher Ms. Dugé, the club originally restarted on January 13, 2022, following the departure of its previous sponsor, former English teacher Mr. Denny.

Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash

However, it was quickly picked up by Ms. Dugé viewing the existence of the club as a crucial support group for STHS LGBTQ+ youth and a civil rights issue.

“They deserve to have a community and safe space.” — Ms. Dugé

During weekly club meetings, members discuss LGBTQ+ current events and history, listen to music, and talk pop culture. It’s a relaxed, affirming environment.

And Tango Makes Three (2005) is a heartwarming story about two male penguins who create a family together. This book is used in the STHS Pride Club to teach students about the importance of acceptance and diversity.

The club hosts around 7 long-term members and hopes to grow in the future.

While the club doesn’t hold major events, partly because most LGBTQ+ celebrations take place in the summer, Ms. Dugé said privacy is also a factor.

“Some students aren’t comfortable with everyone knowing they’re in the Pride Club." Ms. Dugé

Interested students can join the club on Wednesdays during flex periods, if spots are available.

The return of the Pride Club provides LGBTQ+ students with community support and a much-needed safe space during their formative high school years.

It promotes the values of diversity, inclusion and identity that are so vital for teens navigating their complex lives.

Anyone interested in learning about the club should reach out to Ms. Dugé in P403.

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