Young leader brings attention to GLBT rights at her high school

Irene Rojas-Carroll graduated from high school in June and began her freshman year at Brown University a few weeks ago. Before she left her alma mater, she took over and revamped El Cerrito High’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), and helped make the school a safe and accepting place for all people, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation. She created a constitution for the organization, developed an outreach plan and led efforts that held El Cerrito High administrators accountable to its GLBT students. She was even featured on the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle. Rojas-Carroll said that she owes her drive and commitment to both her parents. When she came out to her parents at the beginning of her senior year, they didn’t flinch. “I was nervous, but it was fine. They said, ‘Okay, we still love you,’” said Rojas-Carroll. “It was mostly a struggle within myself to find my own self-confidence and just be comfortable with who I am.”

[via ElCerritoPatch]