By: Esme Khalid and Tanya Ajalli

This past week, April 6-10, McLean’s Gay Straight Alliance club (GSA) teamed up with the McLean Theatre Company for a week dedicated to informing and educating Highlanders on issues that the LGBTQA+ community faces.

“The club’s mission for this week was to erase hate and to get people to recognize that there is homophobia at McLean,” said sophomore Gigi Iyob, president of the GSA.

The McLean Theatre Company’s production of “The Laramie Project” revolves around the case surrounding the murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay university student who was tortured and beaten to death for his sexuality. The production caught the attention of GSA members as well as students at McLean.

“Theater’s production of the Laramie Project is extremely important to us because it tells the story of one of the many murders of someone in the community. We thought that a lot of people from GSA would be very excited to be a part of the play, so we teamed up for a Bazaar and just support,” Iyob said.

The club meets every Tuesday in room B167.

“The GSA is a safe place to come out, and if someone needs help, we are there. Loving who you love is NOT something to be ashamed of. Being who you want to be is nothing to be ashamed of. Equality is important,” Iyob said.