The Alliance Club was formed to create a safe space for members of the LGBTQ community at South High. The club is sponsored by Lisa Mahler and meets during ELO on every other Thursday. 

“I wish we didn’t need to have one. Truthfully, I can tell you in the data itself, we know that all the various demographics of students at South High those who are affiliated with the LGBTQ+ community feel the least accepted, the least like they are safe and because of that, because of the way their peers have treated them as a collective, as a community, we need to create a space,” Mahler said.

The Alliance Club was established four years ago and has 20 to 30 members currently. 

“Whatever drama or dispute you have with anyone stays outside the class the minute you enter it. It’s all gone,” Yoseline Garcia (‘27) said. 

To join the Alliance Club, students have to enter during one of the meetings or join the Alliance Club Google Classroom. Members do not have to be part of the LGBTQ+ community to join. Other safe spaces in Salina for LGBTQ members include Ad Astra or the Salina Public Library. 

“We do a lot of group activities, and everyone has an opinion, everyone gets a say. And basically we all kind of just talk and discuss very different things,” Serenity Boxum (‘25) said. 

If someone feels unsafe or needs help reaching out, they should talk to any of the school counselors, teachers or social workers in the building

If you or someone you know is struggling, you can call the LGBT National Hotline at 888-843–4564 or the LGBT National Youth Talkline at 800-246-7743 or visit the LGBT National Help Center.