Alex Anderson

Alex Anderson faced verbal abuse and pain at Des Moines East High School after coming out to classmates. She was called derogatory slurs and shoved down a flight of stairs. Alex found little support from her school and was told by employees that she must have provoked the bully and tripped down the stairs.

Desperate for a support system, Alex was determined to start a Gay-Straight Alliance at East High School. She met resistance finding a sponsor and receiving the support of school administrators. Finally, after asking the school if she needed to hire a lawyer to review the situation, Rachel was allowed to start a GSA at East High, creating the support system she and others needed. She also was active with the GSA at Central Academy.

Alex will attend Grinnell College and plans to take a leadership role with the Stonewall Resource Center at Grinnell College and continue fighting homophobia.