PROVO — A group of students at Provo High School are seeking permission to start a gay-straight alliance club.

The club — the first at a Utah County high school — would provide support and friendship to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students, and straight students with gay loved ones. Club organizers also plan service work.

The club's application has prompted school officials to consider a districtwide policy for all clubs that would, in part, require signed permission from parents.

State law requires school boards to have consistent policies, but in Provo each school has made its own. The board will vote at tonight's meeting on a proposed districtwide policy modeled after one being used by the Granite School District.

Provo District officials have spoken with an attorney from the Utah State Office of Education and officials in other Utah school districts.

"The guidance we've received (is) we would not be able to deny this club," said Greg Hudnall, Provo's director of student services.

A Provo High student began efforts to start the club last year but became too busy with school to continue working on it.

"We have actually a lot of sexual harassment in the school that you really don't notice until you sit down and think about it," said Provo High senior Kaisha Medford. "It's not (the administration of) Provo High's fault. They're doing everything they can. It's just like commentary made by people. It's a lot of things you hear in the classrooms, locker rooms."

Medford and others are now leading the effort for the club. About 30 students have expressed interest.

"I haven't heard any direct resistance," Medford said. "I've heard a couple of people that were not in favor of it. I haven't campaigned in the halls, but most of the people don't seem to have a problem with it; and if they do, they haven't expressed it."

The students had been struggling, however, to find a teacher willing to act as an adviser until Provo High special education teacher Mary Athetosis stepped forward last month.

"I went to almost everyone in the school," Medford said. "She was my last resort. I went to almost everyone I knew and some teachers I didn't know and some teachers that said they might do it, and then said they wouldn't. We basically went door-to-door" throughout the school.

The students initially approached Provo High principal Sam Ray seeking official club status. Ray did not return a call from the Deseret Morning News seeking comment.

Medford said she is working with the principal to complete necessary paperwork for the club. If the school board approves the policy tonight, the club's first meeting will be on Wednesday.