“As an ally, you are actively practicing having open arms.”Ī close friend has disclosed to Perez that he is gay, and Perez has openly LGBTQ relatives. “A lot of are under the impression that they are not accepted.” He joined the group because “as a straight male I thought it was important to stand up for a group in my school who may not be comfortable,” he says. “I was interested to hear Pope Francis say are welcomed with open arms,” Perez, now a senior, says.
His religion class at Xavier High School, a Jesuit boys school in Manhattan, discussed sexuality and the pope’s response. Andrew Perez joined his high school’s gay-straight alliance (GSA) because he believed in Pope Francis’ message of love for all people.