Tommy Stands Tall by Gloria Velásquez

Author:Gloria Velásquez
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Arte Público Press
Published: 2013-08-04T16:00:00+00:00

TWELVE

Tommy

While Mr. Miller welcomes everyone back, I glance around the room, taking in the same group of students who were at our first GSA meeting. Albert is the only person missing. I thought he might come after we talked on Tuesday, but I guess I was wrong. Still, I’m glad everyone has returned except for Ankiza, who had to attend a Senior Class meeting since she’s one of the officers this year. Rina is the only new person today. Yesterday, she stopped me in the hallway to explain why she was coming, “I have an uncle in Puerto Rico who’s gay and Mom says the family’s always been in total denial.”

Welcoming the club members back, Mr. Miller explains, “Now that we’re an official club, we need to elect officers.”

Jean is exuberant. “I think Tommy should be the President since it was his idea to start the club. And if it’s okay with everyone, I’d love to serve as VP.”

“Thanks,” I tell Jean, feeling proud as everyone unanimously agrees with Jean’s nominations.

When Mr. Miller announces that we will need a secretary, as well as a student representative for the inter-club council, Marsea eagerly raises her hand. “I’d like to be the student rep since I’ve served on the school council before.” She turns to her friend, Ricki, asking, “Would you like to serve as secretary?”

Happily surprised, Ricki says, “That would be fun.”

By now, Mr. Miller has written the tentative names of the officers on the board so that we can vote. We take a few minutes to write our votes on scraps of paper, then we wait patiently while Mr. Miller tallies them. After a few minutes, he clears his voice and announces, “Congratulations to Tommy, the new President of GSA and to his Vice President, Jean Ornelas. Our club secretary is Ricki Sharpe and the student representative is Marsea Grant.”

Rina gives me a hefty slap on the back as Mr. Miller turns the meeting over to me. With my voice uneven, I thank everyone for their support. I firmly state, “One of the first issues on our agenda as a club should be to modify Roosevelt’s anti-discrimination policy.”

Nodding fiercely, Marsea says, “I know for a fact that the school district code only discusses discrimination based on race, gender and ethnicity. It says nothing about sexual orientation.”

“I believe you’re right about that,” Mr. Miller agrees.

“Then we absolutely need to change that,” Maya concludes, sounding just like her mom, the professor.

“How do we go about doing that?” Tim Zimmerman asks.

We fix our gaze on Mr. Miller, waiting for his response. “First we need to get a copy of the school district conduct code and then we need to meet with the principal to discuss what GSA is proposing. Mr. Marshall can advise us on how to proceed. I’ll set up an appointment to speak with him after school today.”

Marsea raises her hand to speak again, “I’d also like to see us organize some kind of diversity forum like we had that year when that awful prom incident happened.

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