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.

"I know a lot of people who need a safe place to go, a safe environment to talk about their feelings, what they're going through," Medford said. "(That's) my personal experience and that of people that I know."

The policy proposal before the school board distinguishes between curriculum and non-curriculum clubs. Curriculum clubs are organized by school officials and are tied to classes, such as the Spanish club. A gay-straight alliance would be a non-curriculum club, Hudnall said.

Parents would have to give written permission for their students to join clubs. School principals would determine whether a club meets the necessary requirements and would ensure they follow rules such as orderly conduct and discipline.

District officials decided to adopt a formal policy, anticipating some parents will be upset over the club.

"We feel there may be consequences," Hudnall said. "Or there may be some issues brought up."

The proposed policy will conform to state law, which prohibits schools from discriminating against students on the basis of race, religion or sexual orientation.

"I personally feel like it would be a wonderful thing for Provo High, and not just for the gay students but for straight students (as well)," said Utah County resident Millie Watts, who with her husband co-chairs Family Fellowship, a support group for parents of gay children. "Sooner or later, everyone knows someone who is gay. They have a gay friend or gay relative."

The Salt Lake City School District entered the national spotlight after it banned all clubs in 1995 to prevent a gay-straight alliance from forming at East High School. After lawsuits and massive student protests, the district reversed its decision and returned clubs to schools.

In 1997, there were only 100 gay-straight alliances nationwide. Today more than 3,000 are in operation, representing one out of every 10 U.S. high schools, said Valerie Larabee, executive director of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center of Utah.

Stan Burnett, director of Youth Programs for GLUT Community Center of Utah, said Provo's gay-straight alliance would add to about seven active clubs in Utah schools. The Provo group is one of five new clubs statewide currently working on getting started.

"I wouldn't see it as a change in the county but more as a change with the kids who are willing to take a stand," he said.

When students want to start a gay-straight alliance, the GLUT Center helps students with strategy and points them to Web sites and other material, but "it's up to them," he said.

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Contributing: Deborah Bulkeley

E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com