Establishing a Gay Straight Education Network (GSE) at Your School
If you want to establish a GSA in your school, you can find a number of resources on GLSEN's website. For example, you can read a number of case studies, research, and a Jump Start Guide to Gay Straight Alliances. You can also check out the CDC's webpage Protective Factors for LGBTQ Youth.
GSAs help to address issues that affect all students. This includes fostering a safe environment for LGBT and straight students. In addition, they allow LGBT and straight students to work together. Many activities associated with GSAs include social events and other awareness activities such as a national Day of Silence. They provide training on sexual orientation, gender identity, and sexual harassment, and they educate others on these issues.
GSAs help to promote positive messages about gay and lesbian youth. They can encourage students to speak out against homophobic slurs and to support policies that protect the rights of LGBTQA people. When students are better supported in schools, they have more confidence in their personal abilities, and they are less likely to be victims of bullying or violence. Students also experience less harassment and hear fewer homophobic slurs from peers.
A GSA can be created by an individual or by a group of students, and can be facilitated by a faculty member. Most schools require a faculty member to be a sponsor of a club, and they can assist students in writing constitutions, explaining their goals, and educating others on these issues. It is important to note that a GSA does not indicate membership of the GAY SFE community.
There are many schools around the country that are already working to create safe spaces for the LGBTQA community. Wilkes University, for instance, offers Safe Space at Wilkes, which provides advocacy, programming, and educational opportunities. The university's Safe Space program aims to foster a community that is welcoming and inclusive to all. Additionally, the university displays a "Safe Space Sticker" on campus.
Other school programs include the Safe Schools Program for LGBTQ Students, which offers professional development and technical assistance. This program is designed to train students and staff on topics related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and sexual harassment. Specifically, the program aims to help to prevent and respond to incidents of bullying and harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students.
Another resource is the Movement Advancement Project (MAP). It is a mapping initiative that tracks over 50 LGBTQ-related laws and policies. The project includes maps that show the overall policy tallies in different states and territories. These maps, accompanied by shareable infographics, can be used to see where and how far policies have been implemented. One MAP map, for example, shows overall policy tallies for the five populated U.S. territories, as well as a 'Equality Wheel: LGBT Policy Tallies by State'. MAP is also home to a library of materials and data that can be useful in supporting a GSA's work in your school.
Finally, you can attend Safe Space training to learn more about the program and how to become an Ally. Attendees will be provided with training on best practices and data. By becoming an Ally, you can support a safe space for all.
0 comments: