By Anna Hope Emerson’16, Feature Editor

Recently, you may have noticed an eye-catching rainbow rectangle on many of the doors around the Newark Academy campus. These colorful stickers are a result of the work of Newark Academy’s Gay Straight Alliance club. Part of a larger movement by the GLSEN, or Gay and Lesbian Student Education Network, these “Safe Space” stickers are a way for teachers and faculty to show their support for the LGBT+ students at Newark Academy, and thus their support for freedom of sexual orientation and gender expression as a whole.

These stickers have already been implemented by tons of schools across the nation, and are especially popular on college campuses. Upon the suggestion to give out these stickers, the response from the faculty was overwhelmingly positive. Many faculty and staff members were eager to show their support. “They’re a great way for teachers to show that they are there for their students”, said Amani Garvin’15, co-president of the GSA. “I think the stickers make it a bit easier to walk through the school and know that you have people on your side”. Mr. Beckman, faculty advisor of the GSA, agreed when he stated “They show LGBT students—and all students—that Newark Academy is a welcoming place for them and that they are an important part of our diverse community”.

The idea of support is central to the Safe Space movement. Despite Newark Academy’s progressiveness, “I think some people don’t feel comfortable talking about LGBT topics because they are afraid of being made fun of or judged”, said Meghna Padmanaban’17. “The safe spaces are a great way for them to be provided with an extremely accepting, open, and supportive environment. It’s so important for students to know that adults are available to them if need be, for example if they don’t have support for their gender or sexual orientation at home”. In addition to providing help to students that need it, the stickers also strive to open other people’s eyes to issues and topics to which they may not have been previously exposed.

In this day and age, a “progressive school” would be one that includes open discussion about LGBT related topics. And Newark Academy is on the right track. The GSA has been working tirelessly for many years to facilitate these types of open discussions, most recently in their open discussion about what it means to be an ally. The stickers exemplify Newark Academy’s attitude towards LGBT issues, which is one of acceptance. “When people come to see the diversity all around them, and come to know LGBT people in their community as individuals, they are really open-minded and accepting,” said Mr. Beckman. “It is my biggest hope for the future that these stickers, in addition to other GSA sponsored programming, will continue to inspire productive, if at times challenging, dialogue about LGBT issues and even greater acceptance of the LGBT community.”