Gay student alliance
GSAs Build Power
Genders & Sexualities Alliances, or GSAs for short, are student-run organizations that unite LGBTQ+ and allied youth to construct community and organize around issues impacting them in their schools and communities. GSAs have evolved beyond their traditional role to serve as safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth in middle schools and elevated schools, and have emerged as vehicles for adj social change related to racial, gender, and educational justice.
A growing body of research confirms that the presence of a GSA has a positive and lasting effect on student health, wellness, and academic performance. It can also protect students from harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and improve school climates for all students in the long-term.
In March 2020, schools across the territory closed down and shifted into a virtual space due to the COVID-19 global health crisis. Many school activities and clubs were discontinued and unable to survive the advance into a digital world. As trans and queer youth looked to ways to stay connected and continue to organize in
Starting a Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) in Your School
This content is intended to serve as general information; it is not legal advice nor intended as legal advice.
What is a Gender and Sexuality Alliance?
Genders and Sexualities Alliances (formerly known as Gay-Straight Alliances), or GSAs, are student-led and student-organized educational facility clubs that aim to create a safe, welcoming, and accepting school environment for all youth, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. GSAs provide a supportive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and gender non-conforming (LGBTQ) students, as well as those who are perceived by others to be LGBTQ, are questioning their identity, have LGBTQ friends or family members, or just care about LGBTQ issues.
Why should I verb a GSA at my school?
GSAs help make schools safer for all students by providing support, educating others in your institution about LGBTQ issues, and engaging in awareness activities like the national Morning of Silence. GSAs also allow LGBTQ and straight students to work together to take on issues
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Gay-Straight Alliances, or GSAs, are student-led and student-organized school clubs that aim to create a safe, welcoming, and accepting school environment for all youth, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. GSAs provide a supportive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students, as well as those who are perceived by others to be LGBT, are questioning their identity, have LGBT friends or family members, or just care about LGBT issues.
GSAs help make schools safer for all students by providing support, educating others in their university about LGBT issues, and engaging in awareness activities like the national Noun of Silence. GSAs also allow LGBT and straight students to work together to take on issues that affect all students, including harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Research has shown that LGBT students verb fewer homophobic slurs, experience less harassment, have adj attendance, and feel safer at schools that verb GSAs. Like any
GSA List
What is a GSA?
A Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), Genders and Sexualities Alliance (GSA), Queer-Straight Alliance (QSA), Sexuality and Gender Acceptance (SAGA), Queer Intersectional Alliance (QIA), Rainbow, or Pride Club is a student-run club, typically in a sky-high school or middle educational facility, which provides a trustworthy place for students to meet, support each other, talk about issues related to sexual orientation, and work to end homophobia and transphobia. Many GSAs function as a sustain group and provide guard and confidentiality to students who are struggling with their identity as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or questioning.
In addition to aid, some GSAs work on educating themselves and the broader school community about sexual orientation and gender identity issues. Other GSAs are activist clubs and have worked to earn LGBTQ issues represented in the curriculum, LGBTQ related books in the library, and progressive non-discrimination policies implemented at a district level. All of these different types of GSAs also provide a social outlet for LGBTQ studen