A Message from the Founder and Executive Director

This is a truth that we have recognized from the very beginning. When I, a gay teacher, and one of my students, a straight daughter of lesbian moms, founded the very first Gay-Straight Alliance at Concord Academy in 1988, we did it to bring different people together around a common vision for our community. Our vision was a school where every student felt safe and respected. Our belief was that every student deserved an education free of bullying and harassment, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, or that of their friends, family or loved ones.

It turned out that our beliefs are shared by many. Our vision for our school community is shared by students and parents, educators and administrators across the country. Gay-Straight Alliances, and other student clubs working on LGBT issues, are now present in over 3,000 high schools across the country, bringing together allies in those communities to create the safe and inclusive learning environments we all envision.

I’m glad to report that our efforts are working. As GLSEN and our allies promote awareness of the issues, develop policies to address them, and build the leadership to create change, we are seeing results. Our 2005 National School Climate Survey found that LGBT students in schools with GSAs were less likely to feel unsafe at school and less likely to miss school because of a lack of safety. LGBT Students who could identify supportive teachers had higher GPAs and were more likely to plan on attending college. And, as we reported in From Teasing to Torment: School Climate in America, when schools have anti-harassment policies that include categories like sexual orientation, not only does harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity decrease, so does the incidence of other forms of harassment. In fact, students at schools with an inclusive anti-harassment policy are less likely than other students to report that harassment of any kind is a serious problem at their school (33% vs. 44%). Coming together around our shared vision truly makes school better for everyone.

There is still much work to be done. In the coming years, GLSEN is committed to developing the awareness, policies and leadership necessary to ensure that schools are safe and supportive learning environments for all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. We remain mindful that there are those who do not share our vision who will try to divide us into opposing camps. But we stand strong in the knowledge that what we are doing works. We are confident that bringing people together will change the world. And we are steadfast in our commitment that, by coming together, we will all play a part in creating a better future for America’s students.

Thank you for coming together with GLSEN to create this vision for the future that we all share. I know that with our continued efforts and your continued support, we will make this vision reality.

Kevin Jennings
Founder & Executive Director