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As the Glacial Drumlin School Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GDS GSA), our purpose is to provide a safe, affirming, and empowering space for LGBTQ, gender-nonconforming, and ally students. We will also seek opportunities to create a school community that increases awareness and acceptance of LGBTQ, gender-nonconforming, and ally students. We will serve as a resource to educators on ways of integrating more equitable practices into the school community.
What is a GSA?
What is a GSA?
A Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA) is a student-run club, typically in a high school or middle school, which provides a safe place for students to meet, support each other, talk about issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity and expression, and work to end homophobia and transphobia.
There are three typical functions of a GSA club: Support, Social, and Activist.
GSAs Provide Support
GSAs Provide Support
Many GSAs function as a support group and provide safety and confidentiality to students who may be struggling with their identity as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or questioning or those who are experiencing harassment at school because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. These groups often provide one of the few safe spaces for students to express themselves.
GSAs Build Community
GSAs Build Community
GSAs are also social groups. They provide a sense of community and a space for LGBTQ and straight ally youth to build a social network where their identity is respected. GSAs are a great way to build community at school and lessen the isolation that LGBTQ students might otherwise experience.
GSAs Help Increase Inclusivity
GSAs Help Increase Inclusivity
In addition to support, some GSAs work on educating themselves and the broader school community about LGBTQ+ issues in order to create a more inclusive and safe educational setting for all students.
Impact of Gender & Sexuality Alliances
Gender & Sexuality Alliances: Creating Safer Schools for LGBT Students and Their Allies examines research on GSAs and highlights major findings regarding school safety, access to education, academic achievement for LGBT students, and student access to GSAs in school.
Gay-Straight Alliances in School Benefit Health, Education of LGBT Young Adults
Findings reveal that the presence of a GSA, participation in a GSA, and perceived GSA effectiveness in promoting school safety were positively associated with young adult well-being and buffered against the negative impact of LGBT-specific school victimization.
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