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What is a Gay-Straight Alliance?
A Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) is a student-run club,
typically in a high school, which provides a safe place for
students to meet, support each other, talk about issues
related to sexual orientation, and work to end homophobia.
Many GSAs function as a support group and provide safety and
confidentiality to students who are struggling with their
identity as gay, lesbian, bisexual,transgender, or
questioning. In addition to support, some GSAs work on
educating themselves and the broader school community about
sexual orientation and gender identity issues. They may
bring in outside speakers to cover a particular topic such
as GLBTQ history. They may organize a "Pride Week" or "GLBTQ
Awareness Events" and offer a series of educational
workshops, panels, and pride celebrations. Many participate
in the Day of Silence, a day when participants remain silent
all day as a way of acknowledging the silence induced by
homophobia in our society. Some GSAs organize a "Teach the
Teachers" staff development day which focuses on teaching
school staff how to be better allies for GLBTQ students. For
example, GSA members would present scenarios about
discrimination or harassment and get teachers to brainstorm
how to respond to those situations.
Other GSAs are activist clubs and have worked to get
GLBTQ issues represented in the curriculum, GLBTQ 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
GLBTQ students and their straight allies. Lots of GSAs
organize barbeques or movie nights, go to the Gay Prom in
Hayward or the GLBT Pride Parade in San Francisco, and
attend conferences together. GSAs are a great way to build
community at your school and lessen the isolation that GLBTQ
students might otherwise experience.
How can I start a Gay-Straight Alliance?
1. Follow Guidelines:
Establish a GSA the same way you would establish any
other group or club. Look in your Student Handbook for the
rules at your school. This may include getting permission
from an administrator, finding an advisor, and/or writing a
constitution.
2. Find a Faculty Advisor:
Find a teacher or staff member whom you think would be
supportive or who has already shown themselves to be an ally
around sexual orientation issues. It could be a teacher,
counselor, nurse, or librarian.
3. Inform Administration of Your Plans:
Tell administrators what you are doing right away. It can
be very helpful to have an administrator on your side. They
can work as liaisons on your behalf with other teachers,
parent groups, community members, and the school board. If
an administrator is resistant to the GSA, let them know that
forming a GSA club is protected under the Federal Equal
Access Act.
4. Inform Guidance Counselors and Social Workers About
The Group:
These individuals may know students who would be
interested in attending the group.
5. Pick a Meeting Place:
You may want to find a meeting place which is off the
beaten track at school and offers some level of privacy or
confidentiality.
6. Advertise:
Figure out the best way to advertise at your school. It
may be a combination of school bulletin announcements,
flyers, and word-of-mouth. If your flyers are defaced or
torn down, do not be discouraged. Keep putting them back up.
Eventually, whoever is tearing them down will give up.
Besides, advertising for your group and having words up
such as "gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or
questioning" or "end homophobia" or "discuss sexual
orientation" can be part of educating the school and can
actually make other students feel safer -- even if they
never attend a single meeting.
7. Get Food:
This one is kind of obvious. People always come to
meetings when you provide food!
8. Hold Your Meeting!
You may want to start out with a discussion about why
people feel having this group is important. You can also
brainstorm things your club would like to do this year.
9. Establish Ground Rules:
Many groups have ground rules in order to insure that
group discussions are safe, confidential, and respectful.
Many groups have a ground rule that no assumptions or labels
are used about a group member's sexual orientation. This can
help make straight allies feel comfortable about attending
the club.
10. Plan For The Future:
Develop an action plan. Brainstorm activities. Set goals
for what you want to work towards. Contact Gay-Straight Alliance
Network in order to get connected to all of the other GSAs,
get supported, and learn about what else is going on in the
community.
USE THE RESOURCES AND IDEAS OF GSA NETWORK!
_____________________________________________
1.
Register
with us -- Become an official addition to the growing
directory
of GSAs in California. After registering, your GSA will
continually recieve materials, ideas, and services from GSA
Network.
2. Use the many resources online at this web site!
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For
more information or for hard copies of our resource sheets,
contact GSA Network:
Statewide Office: 1550 Bryant St, Suite 800, San Francisco, CA 94103,
ph: 415.552.4229, fax: 415.552.4729
Central Valley Regional Office: 928 N. Van Ness Ave.,
Fresno, CA 93728, ph: 559.268.2780, f: 559.268.2786
Southern California Regional Office: 1145 Wilshire Blvd #100, Los Angeles, CA 90017, ph: 213.482.4021,
f: 213.482.4027 |
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