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What does the gay straight alliance do

Overview

Gay-straight alliances (GSAs) and queer-straight alliances (QSAs) are peer support networks run by students and supported by school staff and would be grounded in the principles of promoting:

  • equity for sexual and gender minority students
  • safe, caring and inclusive spaces for all students
  • healthy, respectful environments and relationships to prevent or get rid of bullying and discrimination

As peer support networks, GSAs/QSAs support LGBTQ2S+ students overcome feelings of isolation and alienation that are a fallout of homophobic and transphobic bullying. They empower students as they develop a sense of belonging in their school. GSAs/QSAs also help interested students develop allies for their LGBTQ peers and provide a safe place to support understand and learn how to offer support.

Supporting GSAs

The Education Act (Section 35.1) outlines the roles and responsibilities of school authorities and principals around supporting GSAs and QSAs - so that students can get the support they need - when they need it.

The act:

  • requires institution authorities to create welcoming, caring and respectful policies and make them publicly available
  • protects the establishment of GSAs and

    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 institution 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, homosexual, bisexual, transgender, and gender non-conforming (LGBTQ) students, as good as those who are perceived by others to be LGBTQ, are questioning their identity, contain LGBTQ friends or family members, or just care about LGBTQ issues.

    Why should I start a GSA at my school?

    GSAs help create schools safer for all students by providing support, educating others in your school about LGBTQ issues, and engaging in awareness activities like the national Day of Silence. GSAs also enable LGBTQ and vertical students to function together to get on issues that affect all students, including harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation, gende

    Elements of a GSA

    Download a PDF of this version here.

    The purpose of this outing is to discuss the other roles a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) can play and to assist students identify which activities and events they may want to plan over a given timeframe.  By identifying what “kind” of GSA you have, this task can also help the collective identify a mission statement for the club.

    To begin:  Draw the following Venn diagram on a whiteboard or large sheet of paper.  Note: Some will select to separate “social” and “support”, using four overlapping circles.  Utilize whatever picture works best for you.

    Explain that this picture is meant to represent some of the common “elements” of a Gay-Straight Alliance.  While every GSA is unique, many clubs intend activities that are social, educational and/or activist in nature.  It’s important to find a equilibrate that best fits your club, so that all the members’ needs are being met.  If your club only works on big advocacy events like Morning of Silence, students who are simply looking for a secure space to talk about LGBT issues might be discouraged from joining the GSA.  On the flipside, a club where students only talk might not be

    Supporting a Gay-Straight Alliance in Middle School

    As teachers, counselors, and administrators, we catch the words of bullies reported, comfort the bruises of victims, and view the bigger picture of prejudice that spans from classroom to soccer field to hallway. Too many times, episodes of bullying are based around students’ perceived sexuality or identities, and as analyze proves, our childish people are suffering.

    One way schools can combat these attacks is to host a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA). Sky-high schools across the country have answered the challenge to provide safe and supportive spaces for children. Slower to move, however, are middle schools.

    Why a GSA in Middle School?

    It’s important to mention that the tween years extend from ages 10 to 15. That spans upper elementary university into high institution, with the majority being the middle academy years. This is a key period for lesbian, gay, and bisexual students: The children in one survey reported being “attracted to another person of the same gender at about age 10.”

    The Trevor Plan reports several troubling statistics. Lesbian, homosexual, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) youths are “more than four times as likely t