The Manitou Springs High School (MSHS) Gay Straight Trans Alliance (GSTA) is persistent about raising awareness for the less fortunate kids within the LGTBQ+ community. In spirit of Halloween, the club held a movie night showing of “Rocky Horror Picture Show” to raise money and toiletry items for Urban Peak LGBTQ+ youth homeless shelter. The showing was hosted at the 515 in correspondence with Natalie Johnson, one of the candidates for the Board of Education.

In the past, GSTA has raised awareness of the less fortunate through Urban Peak’s Night Out for Youth Homelessness, where GSTA members and various students spend a night outside on the streets in Downtown Colorado Springs to raise awareness for homeless youth. In April, they also participate in the GLSEN Day of Silence to raise awareness of bullying and harassment in schools. The GSTA even has a clothing swap, where students donate clothes, allowing transgender youth to pick out clothing they feel most comfortable in that they might not have access to at home.

The goal of the movie showing was to raise money and other various donations, like toothpaste, shampoo, mouth wash, etc., as well as bond with other LGTBQ+ youth and allies. The GSTA executive board planned and attended the event, as well as members of the Coronado High School GSTA. Coronado’s GSTA President, Avery Young, brought his fellow members to show support. The MSHS GSTA is working on building more of a connection with Coronado and the rest of the community.

“We didn’t have a huge amount of participation, but overall I would say the night achieved it’s goal, even if it was on a smaller scale than we had foreseen,” said Aubrey Hall (12), President of Manitou’s GSTA.