Constitution and By-Laws

of the
Abilene High School (AHS)
Gay Straight Alliance (GSA)
PREAMBLE
We, the undersigned, are an organization of like-minded students united to promote mutually
supportive relationships among all students and members of the surrounding community in the interest of
advancing student, faculty and community diversity. Furthermore, we believe that Abilene High School and its
community are strengthened by the diversity of people and ideology; each person has worth and should be
treated with equal dignity and respect. In order to promote these ideas, we strive to create a safe meeting space
in which to discuss lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and ally community issues. Along with this, the group
would host activities that educate the clubs members and the general public to increase awareness and
acceptance at school and in the community of Abilene.

FOREWORD
Abilene High School Gay Straight Alliance Club was founded at Abilene High School in 2014 to foster an
active and diverse culture at Abilene High School.

PURPOSE
The purpose of the Gay-Straight Alliance is to bolster individual expression, foster positive identities, promote
acceptance, and suppress discrimination.
ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of this organization will be Gay-Straight Alliance, hereafter referred to as GSA Club.
AHS Gay Straight Alliance Club Constitution and By-Laws

Created on December 18, 2014

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ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

Section 1:

The Purpose of the GSA Club is to foster an active and diverse culture at Abilene School and to

also provide an atmosphere of love and acceptance for all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or
gender identity.
Section 2:

The GSA Club provides opportunities for students to build friendships and

encourages an open outlook and diverse perception within the community.

Section 3:

Any funds collected by the Gay-Straight Alliance will be used to promote acceptance within

Abilenes community as specified by a majority vote of the members in accordance to school and district
policy.
Section 4:

This organization, its by-laws, and its purpose will be approved by school authorities and will

not conflict with the authority and responsibility of the public school officials.
Section 5:

The club will also attempt to normalize different sexual orientations. This is including but not

limited to advocating for the word gay as an acceptable internet search term at AHS and explicitly banning
discrimination in cases of sexual orientation along with race, gender, and financial status. By excluding sexual
orientation, the school district permits the idea that students can bully others because of their sexual identity.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1:

Membership is open to any currently enrolled Abilene High School student.

Section 2:

Only currently enrolled students are allowed to run for club officers.

Section 3:

All members may bring up new business during open floor session of regularly

scheduled meeting.

AHS Gay Straight Alliance Club Constitution and By-Laws

Created on December 18, 2014

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ARTICLE IV: OFFICER POSITIONS

Section 1:

The AHS GSA Club Officers will consist of: president, vice president, secretary, &

treasurer.
Section 2:

The Officers of AHS GSA Club shall be elected for a term of one year by ballot of the members

present, provided there be a quorum at the first annual meeting.

Section 3:

A quorum is 50% of current AHS GSA Club members.

Section 4:

Any of the officers may be removed by a three/fourths vote of the membership.

Section 5:

Vacancies occurring between elections must be filled by special elections at the first regular

meeting following the withdrawal or resignation.

ARTICLE VI: OFFICERS RESPONSIBILITIES

Section 1:

The President shall preside at all meetings and conduct them according to the rules adopted.

They shall enforce any due observance of this Constitution and By-Laws, decide all questions of order, sign all
official documents adopted by the club, and perform all other duties pertaining to the office of President.
Section 2:

The Vice-President shall assume all the duties of the President in his/her absence. In addition,

They shall organize club activities, plan and recommend programs/fundraising, and advance club interest and
activity as approved by the club.
Section 3:

The Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of all meetings, keep a roll of members,

carry on all correspondence, and read communications at each meeting. At the expiration their term, they shall
turn over all items belonging to the club to their successor. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep the
Constitution and By-Laws of the club and have them present at every meeting. They shall note all
amendments, changes, and additions on the constitution and shall permit it to be consulted by members upon
request.

AHS Gay Straight Alliance Club Constitution and By-Laws

Created on December 18, 2014

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Section 4:

The Treasure shall receive and keep receipt for all monies paid to the club, keep an accurate

account of all monies received and expended, and pay bills with proper authorization (by the club or its
officers constituting a business committee). At the end of each quarter, they shall submit an itemized statement
of disbursements and receipts. At the end of their term, they shall turn over everything belonging to the club to
their successor.

ARTICLE V: FACULTY SPONSOR

Section 1:

There must be at least one faculty sponsor.

Section 2:

The sponsor(s) must be an active faculty member of Abilene High School.

Section 2:

The sponsor(s) must be present at all club meetings.

Section 3:

The role of the sponsor is to oversee club meeting, activities and fundraising

efforts, provide guidance and direction, and assist the treasurer in keeping track of the budget.

ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS

At the first meeting of the school year, officers will determine any regular hours for officer meetings. Officers
may also schedule executive sessions as needed. Every meeting hereafter will consist of positive activities,
info sessions, or decisions specified by the club at its earlier gatherings. The group may also participate in
extracurricular activities with Equality Kansas, PFLAG, and other likeminded organizations if approved by
school authorities and in correspondence with the authority and responsibility of public school officials.

ARTICLE VII: FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

AHS Gay Straight Alliance Club Constitution and By-Laws

Created on December 18, 2014

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Money collected from any fundraising activity or donations will be used to foster an active and diverse culture
at Abilene High School and to also provide an atmosphere of love and acceptance for all individuals,
regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

ARTICLE VII: DUES

Dues will be decided on at the beginning of each school year.

ARTICLE VIII: ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION

All members will be encouraged to attend; they will not, however, be required to by any means. Although
incentives for participation may later be decided upon, there will be no consequences for inactivity. The
purpose of the club is to provide a safe environment for students when they require it and provide information
for any student seeking it, so it will not require its members to attend meetings over those of other
organizations. Our policy will be, Students may come if they want. The club will inform them of when the
meetings are, and they will decide whether or not they feel compelled to attend.

ARTICLE IX: ACADEMIC CONNECTION

"Hey, Faggot." Statements like this echo through the halls of Abilene High School almost
daily. According to PFLAG, a nationally recognized parental support group for Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, and Transgender youth (LGBT), "Gay teens are 8.4 times more likely to report having attempted
suicide." In many schools across the United States, students are creating Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) groups
to combat this. Amidst adversity and bigotry, these clubs provide security to members of the LGBT spectrum
with peer support. A group promoting tolerance became a necessity for our school district in 2013. Topeka,

AHS Gay Straight Alliance Club Constitution and By-Laws

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Hutchinson, and Salina all received national attention for their prejudice. According to salina.com and
kansas.com, Salina recently neglected to pass a law that would ban one's discrimination within a school
system because of his or her sexual identity. In February of 2013, Hutchinson and Salina voted against
offering legal protection from discrimination to members of the gay community. Furthermore, the infamous
Westboro Baptist Church, one of the most nationally recognized hate groups, bases itself in Topeka, Kansas. In
contrast to individual cities, the entire state of Kansas has been recognized in the media for its attempt to allow
discrimination against LGBT citizens. These blatant acts of bigotry in the state showed that the time for
change and action had arrived. In addition to surrounding cities disregarding the issue of equality, a GayStraight Alliance proved itself necessary in the school system because of issues within the district. Abilene
High School has deliberate policies in action that ostracize members of the LGBT community and perpetuate
the stigma that identifying as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transexual deserves consequences. For instance, the
words gay and lesbian are banned as unacceptable search terms at AHS along with words such as porn,
naked, and sex. By associating gay and lesbian with these words, the school promotes the idea that LGBT
community members are inherently promiscuous, dirty, or unacceptable. Furthermore, in the student
handbook, LGBT students are not guaranteed protection. Although the school prohibits bullying in general, it
explicitly bans discrimination only in cases of race, gender, and financial status. By excluding sexual
orientation, the school district permits the idea that students can bully others because of their sexual identity.
In a statistic published by PFLAG, "the average GPA for students who were frequently physically harassed
because of their sexual orientation was half a grade lower than that of other students." Obviously, when
students are bullied, their grades suffer as a result. Abilene High School students often bully their peers by
frivolously using words like "faggot" that dehumanize and denigrate LGBT students. With this ever-present
bigotry, LGBT students tend to hide themselves away from the world. Through the creation of GSA, we
encourage everyone to fully embrace their individuality; after all, how can anyone be truly happy when they

AHS Gay Straight Alliance Club Constitution and By-Laws

Created on December 18, 2014

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feel pressured to hide aspects of themselves? For educational purposes, happiness, and the security of its
members, the GSA strives for equal protection for all sexual orientations. The GSA never meant to challenge
authority. Rather, its focus was on eliminating the need for it. In a perfect world, there would be no need for
the organization; in conservative Kansas, however, the club promotes equal opportunity and education, an
aspect that recently became a necessity.
ARTICLE X: RATIFICATION
This constitution may be amended at any regular or special business meeting by a majority vote of present
members, providing that the revision has been read to the group prior to the vote.

AHS Gay Straight Alliance Club Constitution and By-Laws

Created on December 18, 2014

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