by Amanda Bailey

Created on: March 10, 2010   Last Updated: March 25, 2011

Let's face it: although our country has come a long way in becoming more tolerant of homosexuality and affording rights to those who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered, there is still room for improvement. One of the best ways to educate those people who hold stereotypical beliefs about homosexuality or those who don't see LGBT rights as an important issue that needs to be addressed is to reach them early. Establishing a GSA is an ideal way to do this! Most adolescents often pick up stereotypical beliefs about what it means to be gay or lesbian from their parents and family, and unless they learn otherwise, they are likely to cling to these beliefs as adults. The GSA serves as a way for students who know little about LGBT issues to become educated and to help pave the way toward societal understanding and acceptance of homosexuality. But how exactly do you start a GSA at your school?

1.) Find a supportive teacher/faculty member to be in charge of your GSA:

After starting a GSA at my high school six years ago, I learned that having a supportive faculty member to advocate for the group was key. Not only does this person have some level of authority at your school and the connections to get the ball rolling more quickly than you alone can, but this person is also great for giving you the unbiased facts about what you will need to do to make your GSA a reality. When a group of friends and I decided to start a GSA, we approached our guidance counselor, who had been trying to get a GSA started for years. Before we even approached the principal or presented our idea to the school board, she warned us to be prepared to fight against a hostile school district and community, but not to get discouraged. It was nice having someone who knew what to expect, and it allowed us to better prepare our argument about why our school needed a GSA. 

2.) Gather a group of friends or peers who have similar goals: 

One of the greatest things about the process of starting a GSA at my high school was having people around me who had similar views about the homophobia and discrimination that was occurring at our school. Having students other than myself involved in the planning process was also great for brainstorming. Plus, there is power in numbers. While school administrators may have an easy time ignoring the request of one student to start a group aimed at eliminating LGBT harassment, it's much harder for them to ignore a group of ten students who come to

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>