A ceremonial ribbon cutting Friday marked the beginning of a new safe haven for gay and lesbian students at one Bushwick high school.

The Queer-Straight Alliance was created at Bushwick School for Social Justice in an effort to change people's attitudes towards gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-gender students. At the kickoff party, students read poems to express their feelings about their sexuality. One student said the group is important because regardless of sexual preference, people should be treated as human beings and respected.

The creation of the organization comes at the culmination of Pride Week. The organization is the first of its kind in Bushwick.