Gay student alliance
Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) Network
We’re proud to support a growing network of students, schools and community organizations creating safer spaces for 2SLGBTQ+ students and staff.
The GSA network provides consultation, training, event funding, educational facility visits, networking and more to people involved in a GSA, or those who want to launch one.
Due to Calgary Board of Education restrictions on outside organizations in schools, we are unable to facilitate workshops or visits to CBE schools. However, we can provide digital resources, a GSA package, buttons and other assistance. Contact us for more details!
For more information, contact our GSA Network Coordinator.
What is a GSA / QSA?
GSAs are school-based groups that are student-run with teacher support. Different groups use different names, but some common names are Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA), Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) or Queer Direct Alliance (QSA).
These groups labor to create safe, kind, supportive and inclusive spaces for 2SLGBTQ+ students, staff and their allies. Students meet, socialize and help on
Starting a Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) in Your School
This content is intended to serve as general information; it is not legal advice nor intended as legal advice.
What is a Gender and Sexuality Alliance?
Genders and Sexualities Alliances (formerly known as Gay-Straight Alliances), or GSAs, are student-led and student-organized university clubs that aim to create a safe, welcoming, and accepting school environment for all youth, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. GSAs provide a supportive environment for lesbian, same-sex attracted, bisexual, transgender, and gender non-conforming (LGBTQ) students, as adv as those who are perceived by others to be LGBTQ, are questioning their identity, possess LGBTQ friends or family members, or just care about LGBTQ issues.
Why should I start a GSA at my school?
GSAs help create schools safer for all students by providing support, educating others in your school about LGBTQ issues, and engaging in awareness activities like the national Day of Silence. GSAs also permit LGBTQ and direct students to serve together to seize on issues
GSA List
What is a GSA?
A Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), Genders and Sexualities Alliance (GSA), Queer-Straight Alliance (QSA), Sexuality and Gender Acceptance (SAGA), Queer Intersectional Alliance (QIA), Rainbow, or Pride Club is a student-run club, typically in a high school or middle school, which provides a safe place for students to meet, support each other, discuss about issues related to sexual orientation, and work to conclude homophobia and transphobia. Many GSAs function as a support community and provide safety and confidentiality to students who are struggling with their identity as homosexual, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or questioning.
In addition to support, some GSAs work on educating themselves and the broader school community about sexual orientation and gender self issues. Other GSAs are activist clubs and have worked to get LGBTQ issues represented in the curriculum, LGBTQ related books in the library, and steady non-discrimination policies implemented at a district level. All of these different types of GSAs also provide a social outlet for LGBTQ studen
GSAs (Gay-Straight Alliances or Gender & Sexuality Alliances) are a great tool to improve school culture and create spaces for LGBTQ youth to feel a part of the college. Equality Florida is devoted to promoting safe schools by helping GSAs establish and grow through peer support, leadership development, and student empowerment.
By supporting GSAs, schools will be helping to:
- create safe schools where students support each other in a fear-free environment,
- educate their school community about homophobia, gender identity and sexual orientation issues, and
- fight discrimination, harassment, and abuse in schools.
What is a GSA?
GSAs are student-led clubs, usually at the lofty school or middle college level, that promote respect for all students.
GSAs can be any of the following:
Support Groups
a defended and confidential place for students who are struggling with their identity as gay, lesbian, bisexual, gender nonconforming or questioning.
Activist Groups
a group of students operational to end homophobia by getting LGBTQ issues represented in the curriculum, LGBTQ related books