Marcus, Eric. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, Connolly, Michael. The Gay Rights Movement. Vincent J. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, Brooke, James. We have also updated our Advisor Handbook originally released in to reflect the growing needs and attitudes of the current young generation and the shift into virtual spaces.
This handbook was created to support GSA advisors and adult allies as they partner with students and organizations to create thriving safe spaces for queer and trans youth. Every GSA can create its own mission and goals to meet the needs of its members and the unique climate of their school. Feeling inspired? Start your own GSA today and register to join our network! By Maya H. Change is scary. GSAs are about valuing all people regardless of whether they're gay, straight, bisexual, transgender, or questioning.
Like any other club GSAs offer students with a common interest a chance to connect and give students a respite from the day-to-day grind of school. They're about creating a supportive space where students can be themselves without fear and making schools safer for all students by promoting respect for everyone. A GSA meeting is no more about sex than the homecoming dance or any other school-sponsored activity. And several federal courts have ruled in favor of GSAs when schools have used this as an excuse to try to stop them from forming.
Outsiders don't form GSAs. GSAs are started and led by students. While there are a couple of organizations that have tried to create contact lists or loose coalitions of the over 4, GSA clubs across the country, GSAs aren't chapters of some larger organization.
There is no big, evil national GSA conspiracy out there trying to get its hands on the youth of America. And according to the federal Equal Access Act, students can start any kind of non-curricular club at their schools that they want. Sure, a GSA may be controversial, but it's illegal for schools to use that as excuse to silence them. If other students, parents, or community members are in an uproar over a GSA, the school's responsibility is to address those people's concerns - not shut down a group that is peacefully doing its thing just because some people don't like it.
Besides, when a GSA becomes a point of contention in a community, it really only proves the need for the GSA to exist in the first place.
And again, several federal courts have ruled in favor of GSAs when schools have used this as an excuse to try to stop them from forming. What if they wanted to start a KKK club? If a club's purpose is to harass or intimidate other students, then the club is disruptive to the educational process and the school can stop it from forming — so this kind of argument just doesn't fly. Letting students start a GSA doesn't mean all those other crazy sorts of clubs some school say they're so scared of are going to materialize out of thin air.
Have a lot of students been approaching your school about starting a KKK club? We really doubt it! Check out supplementary resources our Library page, and take a look at the following organizations for even more:. Got any questions? Want some advice on starting your club?
Contact the ACLU! Your contact with us will be kept confidential, and we won't contact your school or do anything without your okay. Find a Faculty Advisor or Sponsor Most schools require that clubs have faculty advisors or sponsors. If the School Says No If your school turns you down, tells you that you have to change the name of your GSA or that it can't be focused on LGBT issues, tells you that students have to have parental permission to join the GSA when it doesn't require that for other clubs, or tries to tell you that the GSA can't do things that other clubs get to do like have a photo in the yearbook or make club announcements, you should contact the ACLU.
If the School Says Yes
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