Solidarity Week

November 6-10, 2023

From "Ally Week" to "Solidarity Week"

According to the Gay-Lesbian-Straight Education Network (GLSEN), solidarity is a voluntary collective action by different people based on finding common objectives and solutions. Solidarity work happens when you show up to help and support others experiencing some form of harm by centering their leadership, decisions, needs, requests, and ideas. 

Solidarity work happens in many forms and on many different issues. The important part of understanding solidarity work, is that collective action is powerful in enacting change, in fact, solidarity can either be the biggest threat to oppression, or one of the biggest allies in upholding and reinforcing it. How you show up...or don’t, makes all the difference. 

GLSEN_Solidarity_Week_2022_Student_Guide.pdf

Solidarity Week Student Guide

Here it is! Everything you need to know about Solidarity Week. This guide will share resources, the history of Solidarity Week, and ideas to use in organizing your school’s Solidarity Week virtually! Also, don’t forget to register, you could receive giveaways, invitations to webinars and speaking engagements with special guests, news, ideas, and resources for organizing this week of action.

Originally known as Ally Week, this program was created by students from GLSEN’s Jumpstart program and launched in 2005 during the week leading up to National Coming Out Day. GLSEN is launching a name change for this program from Ally Week to Solidarity Week in 2020.

Solidarity Week is a student-powered campaign dedicated to building collective support for LGBTQ+ students and educators. This week-long program helps people learn about and practice solidarity with different identities.

Collective organizing for Solidarity Week at your school is a great way to start the year by discovering why and how you can support LGBTQ+ folks at your school.

Black LGBTQ+ Focus Day (Monday, November 6, 2023)

LGBTQ+ Disability Justice Focus Day (Tuesday, November 7, 2023)

Intersex Youth Focus Day (Wednesday, November 8, 2023)

LGBT2SQ+ Native American and Indigenous Focus Day (Thursday, November 9, 2023)

LGBTQ+ Immigrant Youth Focus Day (Friday, November 10, 2022)

GLSEN_Solidarity_Week_2022_Middle_High_School_Educator_Guide.pdf

Solidarity Week Middle and High School Educator Guide

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about GLSEN’s Solidarity Week, formerly Ally Week, and how you, as an educator, can participate.

Launched by GLSEN student organizers in 2005, this program helps educators and students across the country start the school year with positive, affirming messages and actions needed to combat harassment and marginalization of LGBTQ+ people in schools. While we’ve updated the name, the focus of this week-long event remains the same, to center LGBTQ+ members in the school community - whether students, educators, administrators, or families - and to share what it means to be in solidarity with them.

Solidarity Week is a student-powered campaign dedicated to building collective support for LGBTQ+ students and educators. This week-long program helps people learn about and practice solidarity with different identities.

In this guide you will find:

Celebrating Solidarity Week at your school is a great way to start the year by showing positive messages that promote inclusion, affirmation, and respect. The resources and messaging we provide can help any school celebrate visibility, affirmation, and support for their LGBTQ+- families, students, and educators.