Gay-straight alliances

A gay–straight alliance, gender–sexuality alliance (GSA) or queer–straight alliance (QSA) is a student-led or community-based organization, found in middle schools, high schools, colleges, and universities. These are primarily in the United States and Canada. Gay–straight alliance is intended to provide a safe and supportive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and all.

Gay Straight Alliance For Safe Schools (GSAFE) Madison, WI, USA 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, talk.

Gay Straight Alliance Welcome to the Gay Straight Alliance portal, one of the most educational places on the updated daily and dedicated to each person who strives for human rights. A Gay-Straight Alliance, or GSA, is a youth-led school or community group organized for the purpose of supporting LGBTQ youth and straight allies through discussion, action, friendship, and advocacy.

A Vanderbilt University study found that LGBTQ students attending high schools with gay-straight alliances reported significantly fewer incidences of bullying based on sexual orientation or gender expression and had a greater sense of personal safety compared to students in schools without GSAs. The new report is a meta-analysis of 15 independent studies surveying nearly 63, high school students.

Gay-straight alliances are protected under the federal Equal Access Act of But parents and educators who are uncomfortable with the idea have found ways to thwart students from establishing such student-led groups. With LGBTQ and straight peers supporting each other, students blossomed, grew and became more confident—and felt safer at school.

Students who are subjected to homophobic victimization are at risk for substance abuse, depression, poor academic performance and suicidal thoughts or actions.

gsa in elementary school

Having a place for students to talk and receive support from straight and LGBTQ peers can go a long way in reducing those risks, the researchers said. When we join together as allies and take a stand against hate and share our lives, it forms a whole that is greater than sum of its individual parts. Media Inquiries: Amy Wolf, amy. Vanderbilt University.

Close Menu Vanderbilt University. Research News All Vanderbilt. LGBTQ students feel safer at schools with gay-straight alliances. Subscribe to Research News. Jul 25, , AM. The researchers found that students who attended a school with a GSA were: 52 percent less likely to hear homophobic remarks; 36 percent less likely to be fearful for their personal safety; and 30 percent less likely to experience homophobic victimization.