Gay straight alliance club activities

Elements of a GSA

Download a PDF of this version here.

The purpose of this activity is to discuss the diverse roles a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) can play and to facilitate students identify which activities and events they may want to plan over a given timeframe.  By identifying what “kind” of GSA you have, this activity can also help the group identify a mission statement for the club.

To begin:  Draw the following Venn diagram on a whiteboard or large sheet of paper.  Note: Some will prefer to separate “social” and “support”, using four overlapping circles.  Employ whatever picture works best for you.

Explain that this picture is meant to represent some of the common “elements” of a Gay-Straight Alliance.  While every GSA is unique, many clubs scheme activities that are social, educational and/or activist in nature.  It’s important to find a balance that best fits your club, so that all the members’ needs are being met.  If your club only works on big advocacy events like Sunlight of Silence, students who are simply looking for a harmless space to talk about LGBT issues might b

10 Steps for Starting a Gay-Straight Alliance

Would you love to start a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) at your school, but you’re not sure where to begin?  This resource will trek you through the steps to get one going, and includes some tips on what to do if your school says “no.”
Download a PDF version of this resource here.

1. Do Your Research – Typically, Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) are student-led, non-curricular clubs.  “Non-curricular” means that the attention of the club is not directly related to a noun class, such as French Club or Math Club.  Find out if your school has other non-curricular clubs, such as Chess Club or Key Club.  Your GSA will have to obey the same steps that those clubs took in order to form.  If you’re not sure what the official school policies are for starting a club, ask a teacher or other faculty member.

2. Know Your Reasons – Every successful organization has a mission statement, which is simply a sentence or two that explain the purpose and goals of your group.  It might be a good plan for you and the other members of your GSA to

East Boston High School

The EBHS Gay Straight Alliance strives to assure that each member of our school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity / expression. We believe that such an atmosphere engenders a positive sense of self, which is the basis of educational achievement and personal growth. Since homophobia and heterosexism undermine a fit school climate, we work to educate teachers, students and the public at large about the damaging effects these forces contain on youth and adults alike.&#;&#;&#;&#;&#;&#;&#; 

Our : The GSA seeks to develop a school climate where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes in creating a more vibrant and diverse community. We welcome as members any and all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity / expression or position, who are committed to seeing this philosophy realized in our school. To view the EBHS Anti Bullying Policy, click here.

Our Goals: We are always looking for allies as wel

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GSA Guides

  • Safe and Caring Schools: GSA Guide
    A comprehensive guide for beginning, and running, a GSA or other LGBTQ+ inclusive student group.
  • So You Wanna Start a GSA? A Gender and Sexuality Alliance Manual
    This manual was developed to enhance the resources available to LGBT2Q+ youth and supportive adults who are taking on leadership roles to generate safer, more inclusive communities for LGBT2Q+ youth.
  • PRISM Toolkit for Safe and Caring Discussions about Sexual and Gender Minorities (Elementary Edition)
    The PRISM toolkit was created to assist teachers promote safe and supportive classroom discussions about sexual minorities and gender variance. PRISM is an acronym for “Professionals Respecting and supporting Individual Sexual Minorities.” Like the brilliant and varying colours of the rainbow refracted through a prism, students are a vibrant kaleidoscope of diversity. A diverse classroom environment is rich in possibility for teaching and learning for both students and teachers. An inclusive educational facility environment allows all students to f