A year ago last February, Maine South senior Anna Rangos left her English class in tears after fellow students criticized her for an article she authored in the school paper about transgender issues. Since then, Rangos and the school's gay-straight alliance (GSA) have worked tirelessly to create awareness of both their club and LGBT issues throughout the school and community.
Much of that effort has been placed with trying to provide LGBT sensitivity training for Maine South teachers and faculty. Maine South principal Shawn Messmer approved the GSA's proposal to bring in professionals from Chicago's About Face Youth Theatre, but its application to receive grant money from a foundation through Maine Township was denied. The club has continually struggled to secure the necessary funding.
"We've been going off education grants and it's been really frustrating because there's not much we can do as students," Rangos said. "We've gotten turned down from a few probably because there's not as much administrative support as there should or could be."
The GSA's faculty sponsor, Jennifer Sarashinsky, has had to shoulder much of the grant workload. She said the sensitivity training has the support of the administration, but part of the problem has been that most grants are typically not given to specific student clubs.
"The principal and other staff members think it's valid and something that needs to happen. We've just run into some logistical problems," Sarashinsky said. "It's not like we're hitting complete brick wall, but it's taking longer than any of us would have hoped."
Sarashinsky estimated that the club needs to find at least $1,000 to pay for About Face, which is substantial when considering the budget of most student groups. The students could raise the funds themselves, but are already busy fundraising for other events, such as the upcoming GSA Dance April 8 for LGBT youth from all over Chicagoland.
Senior GSA member Ashley Sanks has worked closely with Rangos in their four years together and said that Rangos' bullying last year spurred the club on to making a big difference this school year.
"For first three years nothing got done and this year/end of last year we got sick of not making a change and allied together," Sanks said. "I remember when Anna came running in bawling and crying, and I think that was a catalyst for all of us. Anna's really strong and it was tough to see her at that point of weakness."
Earlier this year, the GSA marched in the annual homecoming parade for the first time, which turned out to be a largely positive experience. Students along with friends and allies from the Park Ridge area and greater Chicago came to join the effort, passing out rainbow ribbons and Skittles to a mostly supportive crowd.
"I think it's just a matter of being visible and we want to be visible within the community," Rangos said. "And people know that LGBT kids are in our high school and if there are younger kids just starting to realize that they're gay, we're letting them know we're there."
Outside of school, Rangos has also been involved as an LGBT activist. Her involvement in the Illinois Safe School Alliance helped her earn a spot as one of two teenagers on the School Bullying Prevention Task Force. Assembled by the Illinois Prevent School Violence Act, the task force was created for the purpose of addressing bullying policy and procedure in Illinois schools with recommendations that were submitted to Governor Pat Quinn and the General Assembly March 1.
Sarashinsky said that Rangos has done an excellent job dealing with the issues that she's had to face during this last year, but still has room to grow.
"Anna is an amazing young woman who has really worked to make her environment a better, more accepting place," she said. "I think that Anna has room to grow in realizing that change does not happen as quickly as one would want it to and that sometimes it takes more persistence and patience."
Rangos plans to stay in Chicago after she graduates this semester. She's hoping for acceptance to DePaul University where she would like to major in Women's and Gender Studies with the intention of eventually attending law school.
