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 OREGON GSA ONLINE!