"We prepare students to engage in the world that is and to help bring about a world that ought to be."

Fifth Annual Ally Week at Friends

Recently in celebration of Ally Week, the Gay Straight Alliance led fellow students in Grades 8 - 12 and the extended Friends community in a discussion about the use and misuse of labels. 
Recently in celebration of Ally Week, the Gay Straight Alliance led fellow students in Grades 8 - 12 and the extended Friends community in a discussion about the use and misuse of labels. Some participants attended because they identify as part of the LGBT community, others joined as allies supporting their friends or children in GSA and others came because they were confused by terms like “transgender,” “queer” and “asexual” and sought a safe space to learn.
 
The forum—led by students—proved welcoming and productive allowing all attendees to share personal experiences and learn from others. One student compiled a series of clips from popular television shows and movies, ranging from “Shrek” to “Ugly Betty,” which gave fodder to the group discussion alongside the facilitators’ words of encouragement.
 
“Come on, it’s a fishbowl discussion, the water is shallow,” said a GSA leader.
 
Participants sat in a circle in the Meetinghouse and responded to a series of questions like “How have labels affected you?” and “Do labels have different meanings for different generations and cultures?” Members of the outer circle silently listened and posed questions anonymously through note cards.
 
After two thoughtful fishbowl discussions, the group migrated to the Library for a potluck dinner prepared by the GSA students. See photos from the event here.
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Friends Seminary actively promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism in all its programs and operations, including admissions, financial aid, hiring, and all facets of the educational experience. To form a community which strives to reflect the world’s diversity, we do not discriminate on the basis of race or color, religion, nationality, ethnicity, economic background, physical ability, sex, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation. Friends Seminary is an equal opportunity employer.

FRIENDS SEMINARY
222 East 16th Street
New York, NY 10003
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Friends Seminary — the oldest continuously operated, coeducational school in NYC — serves college-bound day students in Kindergarten-Grade 12.