The LGBTQ+ and Allies Club is Back

By Rebecca Altmann ‘24

The LGBTQ+ and Allies Club was brought back to GOA this year. Restarted by senior Hayley Lampert, the club explores LGBTQ+ issues and supports students, making change at GOA. 
“A student who is questioning their sexuality or gender identity may very likely feel alone and not well supported,” Lampert said. “Because coming out is such a big thing for so many people, it is critical to have a place in this community for that person to feel 100% safe in, so that they can realize who they really are in a stress free and happy manner.” 

The club, led by co-presidents Lampert and senior Rose Kibel, meets every other week on Zoom. The members usually discuss various issues, such as how to be a good ally, in a variety of ways. Oftentimes, they will talk about an article or video on the subject. 
Kibel said that one way to be a better ally “is to learn about the issues. Once you begin to understand the challenges that people in the LGBTQ+ community face, it can help you understand them better and become a better ally.”  
 According to Kibel, one of the main issues the club has discussed is healthcare.
“It is very difficult for people in the LGBTQ+ community to get good healthcare,” Kibel said. “Many people have had bad experiences at a doctor’s office or have heard other people’s stories and decide that they cannot go there. This stops them from getting care that they need, which is not fair nor good for them.” 
Recently, the club invited a speaker from the Trevor Project, the leading national organization for providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ people under 25. In the future, the club would like to donate to the Trevor Project. 
Lampert thinks it is important to change the ”stigma that this club is just for people who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. I wanted to start to break away from that view and create a large club filled with many allies.” 
The main goal of the club, Lampert said, is to create a safe space and “to teach students how to be the best allies they can and to use their voices at every opportunity.” 
“I want to use my voice when I hear people say things about the community that aren’t true or are hurtful,” Kibel said. “I also think it is important to use my voice and tell people that I am an ally. I think when there are more allies, more people will step up and become allies too.” 
In the future, the club would like to expand student engagement and hopes to invite other speakers to address issues related to the LGBTQ+ community. To get involved with the club, students can go to meetings and help to come up with new topics for the club to discuss. 
Overall, Lampert would like the club to “show a small Jewish community that their help in changing the stigma can cause more of an effect than they realize.”