Gay rights have been a controversial topic in the United States for many years. The lesbian, gay and transsexual (LBGT) community has battled issues from equal employment opportunity to marriage rights in the U.S. since a German immigrant founded the Society for Human Rights in 1924. C of C’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) is more than willing to confront the issues. The GSA, with new president junior Meagan Roach, is aiming to raise awareness and acceptance of the LBGT community here at the College and throughout the Charleston area. “It is critical to have [GSA] at any college campus. The club provides comfort and a safe environment for students. It’s a group one can identify with, to ensure that they feel they are a valued member in the community,” said Susan Payment, GSA’s advisor and Director of Student Life. The goal of the club is to offer a tolerant environment, an open ear and mind, and a connection for those in the LBGT community to their straight allies, Roach said. “We act as a support group to people in the LGBT community, and as a bridge between the gay and straight community,” Roach said. “We strive to promote civil rights issues for everyone, not just those who are part of the LBGT community, while also providing a means of socializing to make friends with people that have a lot in common and can relate.” For the fall 2009 semester the club is working to create a campus-wide drag show, host movie nights, offer support sessions and welcome speakers such as openly gay major league baseball umpire Dave Pallone, Roach said. “This year is incredibly different for GSA. We’re really putting the focus on community outreach by bringing in speakers, like Dave Pallone, and planning other events,” said Vice President Nina Raheja in an e-mail. GSA is working with other organizations around campus, including Student Life, Residence Life, the Cougar Activities Board, Multi-Cultural Association and the Student Government Association, in an effort to garner more publicity for GSA and encourage students to join. “[We] hope to strengthen our network, increase visibility, establish a working relationship with other departments, and overall broaden our resources from volunteers to funding,” Payment said. The club focusing on activism this year, Roach said. “GSA has become more of an activist than originally intended. We’ve participated in Prop 8 protests, World AIDS Day, National Coming Out Day, Day of Silence and more,” Roach said. “We want to give people a voice.” Despite the different roles that GSA plays at the College, they will continue working and growing as an organization fighting for the rights of the LBGT community. “We are here, here to help,” Roach said. “I see GSA as being as prominent an organization as any other organization [in the future]. I also see it growing very much, I hope anyway.”