The Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) chapter at school recently took a field trip to Norfolk’s Chrysler Museum in order to build relationships within the club.

GSA hopes to make the Chrysler field trip an annual tradition, and this trip will hopefully be the start of that tradition.

GSA president and senior Wesley Mckee has been a part of the chapter for the past few years and was excited that the group was asked to return to the Chrysler for a second year.

“We decided to go back because it is an amazing experience and because of how welcoming everyone at the museum is,” Mckee said.

Mckee was inducted as GSA president over the summer and she plans to use this opportunity to help make the school a more tolerant community.

“Although immense progress has been made, there are still issues that need to be resolved, and I want to help as much as possible,” Mckee said.

The day at the Chrysler officially commenced with introductions including the President of Hampton Roads Pride Michael Berlucchi.

Berlucchi started the group’s experience with an exercise in which he asked each person to state one item on their person that somehow defined them, then ending the exercise by complimenting each individual of the GSA chapter, in effort to show not only individuality, but positivism.

“Keep doing what you’re doing, I would never have had the confidence to join a club like this in high school and I am very excited to see what you guys have in store this year,” Berlucchi said.

Berlucchi also implored the students to continue joining and supporting groups like GSA even after they graduate.

“GSA is a club that is inclusive of anyone, regardless of their orientation. The purpose of this group has been to act as a safe and welcome place for everyone while also educating others of the LGBT community,” Mckee said.

GSA already has plans for the future. In December, the group plans to host an Awareness Assembly to help educate students outside the club about GSA, its purpose, and why it’s important.

“This assembly is going to be the first of its kind at Cox. We feel that this assembly will provide an open conversation to this sensitive topic, and enable more schools to address these issues,” Mckee said.