Joseph A. Garcia / Star staff Zak Krevitt founded the Gay/Straight Alliance to improve understanding at Westlake High School and in reaction to the killing in February of Lawrence King at an Oxnard school.

For 16-year-old Zak Krevitt, the slaying in February of teenager Lawrence King made him rethink the progression that society has — or hasn't — made when it comes to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth.

"The fact remains that there are still people murdered because of how they look and who they love," said Krevitt, founder and president of the Gay/Straight Alliance at Westlake High School. "I became aware of a need to do all that I can to make the world, and school, a safer place for LGBT youth."

Fifteen-year-old Lawrence "Larry" King was shot inside a classroom at E.O. Green Junior High School in Oxnard during class on Feb. 12. Some say the reason was his sexual orientation and gender expression.

"The horrific murder of Lawrence opened a dialogue among the members of the Gay/Straight Alliance at Westlake High," Krevitt said. "Some of us went to the candlelight vigil in Los Angeles. I saw the need for an event geared toward the LGBT community where we could have fun and take pride in ourselves."

In response to Lawrence's death, Krevitt organized a benefit dance at the Thousand Oaks Teen Center in March that raised nearly $200 for The Trevor Project, a gay teen suicide help line. A free and confidential service, the help line offers trained counselors who are available 24 hours a day at 866-4-U-Trevor.

"The Trevor Project provides an invaluable service to LGBT teens across the country," Krevitt said. "No individual should be made to feel ashamed of who they are and who they love."

In addition to raising money for The Trevor Project, the benefit was also intended to foster and achieve a sense of pride among local LGBT youths, Krevitt said.

"I believe this can be done by building friendships, both within the LGBT community and within the community of straight individuals who support and accept us as equals," he said.

Krevitt spearheaded the club this year and, from the start, he has worked effectively with administrators and students to get the club up and running, said Steve Moes, an English teacher at Westlake High and club adviser for the Gay/Straight Alliance.

"Zak's decision to start a club whose mission involves promoting understanding between gay/lesbian students and their heterosexual counterparts is a courageous one, and I greatly respect him for that," Moes said.

Despite the progress that has been made in societal attitudes toward gays and lesbians, there remains prejudice, fear and misunderstanding, Moes said. "The recent school shooting in Oxnard is a painful reminder of this."

Student Sarah Weinberg, vice president of the Gay/Straight Alliance, said Krevitt is "very responsible and encourages people to really be themselves and open up to everyone."

It's refreshing to see teenagers identify an issue about which they are passionate and commit their time and energy to addressing it in a meaningful way, Moes continued.

"That kind of action inspires me, and I'm sure many students feel the same way when they see the work that Zak is doing here at Westlake," Moes said.

"What stands out in my mind about Zak," he said, "is his easygoing and friendly demeanor. Zak also carries himself with a kind of quiet confidence that seems to reassure others and encourage them to also be comfortable in their skin."

Krevitt said he realizes that some people still feel threatened by what they do not understand.

"While coming out of the closet is an extremely important part of all gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender teens' lives, it should be done cautiously and only when one feels comfortable," Krevitt said. "I urge parents and friends of LGBT youth to be understanding and accepting."

One of the things that seems to be missing from our public discourse is a genuine interchange of ideas, Moes said.

"As a language arts teacher, I want to give students the necessary skills to participate in this kind of discourse so that they can move beyond the barriers that divide us socially, politically and personally," he said.

"I see the Gay/Straight Alliance as another important way to bridge this divide, for through its meetings and events, it provides a safe and supportive environment for kids to communicate honestly and openly with their peers."