Rock Bridge High School’s Gay Straight Alliance held a bake sale at in front of the main office to fund-raise for their club and The Center Project, Columbia’s LGBTQ rights organization today. In front of the entrance of the school cafeteria, Mary Arnold, Jackson Calc and Hannah Hutton waited for people to buy their cookies and pins.

“We are fundraising for the Center Project and this school’s Gay-Straight Alliance club.” Mary Arnold said. “[The Center Project] is just an organization that raises money and supplies a safe place for LGBTQ kids out there.”

The organization was also showing support for the Mizzou football team’s defense Michael Sam, who recently said he was a homosexual and made national news as first college football player to be openly gay during their football career.

When the Westboro Baptist Church, a fundamentalist christian church infamous for their misanthropic views, came to University of Missouri last Sunday, they picketed in front of the campus because of Michael Sam’s revelation.  Arnold was there at the Mizzou students’ protest against Westboro Baptist Church.

“[Gay-Straight Alliance] advertised it, but I don’t know how many members showed up,” Arnold said. “I went there little bit.”

Regardless of the turnout, several GSA members say they see a turn in public attitude toward the LGBTQ community. Specifically, last November, Gov. Jay Nixon changed his position on gay marriage, now expressing his support for legalization.

“I think it is good that people are changing their mind and understand it better,” Jackson Calc said, “People were like understanding it better.”

Members of the RBHS organization said they also hoped Missouri lawmakers would legalize gay marriage with in the next five years.
“Hopefully soon. It was proposed but none of them passed.” Arnold said, “The more times come, the more it get passed.”
By Jay Whang
What did you think of the reaction to Michael Sam’s announcement?