Women's History Month Heroes: Ferial Pearson

GLSEN is proud to honor Women's History Month by celebrating contributions of women to the LGBT and safe schools movements. Throughout March we will be recognizing heroes who have made significant contributions to the LGBT and safe schools movements. Click here for more information, and keep reading all month long for new additions!

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Ferial Pearson (b. 1978), an English teacher at Omaha South High Magnet School in Omaha, NE, has served as the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance advisor for 10 years despite several threats of lawsuits. She helped grow the club from just one student to one of the nation’s largest high school GSAs, with over 150 students participating. Pearson also served on GLSEN Omaha’s chapter board for three years and helps coordinate LGBT inclusive dances for local GSA’s. In 2010 she was recognized by GLSEN and Sodexo as the “2010 GLSEN Educator of the Year”. When asked about her motivation for her work Pearson, a native of Kenya, responded, “I do it because growing up in Kenya I saw so many people not standing up for others, I saw a lot of atrocities because people were not understood and people would just stand by and let it happen…. I feel it's my duty as a human being to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.”

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We want to know who your heroes are! If you know a woman who has contributed to the LGBT and safe schools movement, post about them on the Gay-Straight Alliances Facebook page. You can also tweet your heroes to @DayofSilence using the #GLSENWHM hash tag!