Millennials working to make world more accepting

Most Americans call the generation born between the years of 1980 and 2000 “Millennials,” and at times they are referred to as “Generation Next” for their forward-thinking mindset.

While some see this generation as lazy with a severe case of technology addiction, this generation has witnessed many landmark events: America’s first black president, the re-establishment of relations with Cuba after years of diplomatic isolation, and the legalization of same-sex marriage.

These milestones that the Millennials have experienced are inspirations to make changes where they believe change is due.

On April 17, the Whitefish High School club Gender-Sexuality-Alliance (GSA) hosted the annual “Day of Silence.” This is a day when students can choose to remain silent in order to draw attention to the silencing effect that bullying and harassment can have on members of the LGBT community. More than 50 students and faculty members showed their participation by pinning a rainbow ribbon to their shirt.

During lunch, Pride Foundation representative Paige Rappleye spoke to a group of students about ways to get involved with the movement for LGBT equality as well as information on how to be a good “ally.” An ally can be anyone. As Paige pointed out, supporting members of the LGBT community from all walks of life and speaking out on the issues that they face are just a couple of ways allies can show they care.

While this year’s Day of Silence was deemed a success by Whitefish High School’s GSA, they haven’t always received positive feedback. Senior GSA member Kate Ehrenberg remembered one year when a handful of students wore white ribbons to protest the day, but said, “this year I didn’t hear a lot of negative attacks, so that was encouraging.” She is hopeful that the future will bring less resistance.

“The point of GSA is to create an accepting environment in our school and people are starting to see that.”

This year GSA revived the “Alternative Prom,” last held three years ago. Schools from all over the valley were invited to attend as well as community members; the turnout was much more than expected or seen in previous years according to Annika Gordon, senior GSA member. More than 30 people came to the dance that Annika called “an inclusive and fun environment for everybody to be who they are.”

They hope to make Alternative Prom an annual event.

Emma Nixon, senior GSA member, believes that keeping GSA in a positive light will garner more respect and involvement among the students.

“In the past years we’ve been switching the students’ view of us from the ‘Gay-Student-Association’ to what we really are,” she said in reference to the club’s name.

Increasingly, more students are becoming informed on the true message of GSA: all people are deserving of respect regardless of how they identify. This is a message most Millennials are trying to spread through movements similar to this one.

Whether it’s a rally or protest or a quiet call to act on, there’s no denying that “Gen Next” wants to make the world a more accepting place.

— Cassidy Grady is a senior at Whitefish High School.