FAQs: About Student Organizing

Since the first Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) was started at the school where GLSEN's founder, Kevin Jennings, taught in Concord, Massachusetts in 1988, GLSEN has been the leader in supporting students who wish to combat bigotry based on sexual orientation and gender identity in their schools. GLSEN's Student Organizing department supports, trains and provides resources to student organizers and more than 3,000 GSAs currently registered with GLSEN.

We also invest and support the GLSEN National Student Leadership Team. This group of more than 70 middle and high schools students, selected through a rigorous application process, spend at least one school year on the leadership team building skills in order to support and facilitate safer schools efforts in their communities and nationwide.

What is a GSA or Gay-Straight Alliance?

Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) are student-led clubs, usually at the high school or middle school level, that work to address anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in their schools and promote respect for ALL students.

Although a lot of student clubs that are working to ensure safer schools are called GSAs, many clubs that support this work have different names like diversity clubs.

Where do I find resources to start or support a GSA in my School?

Free resources are available to download on the Students section of the GLSEN website. These resources will give you practical information about how to start a GSA in your school and how to address issues that may come up along the way. When you register a GSA or other student club with GLSEN, you will receive free resources in the mail.

What is GLSEN's National Student Leadership Team? How can I be on the team?

This team, made up of a core group of about 70 student organizers from all over the country, participates in leadership summits and events throughout the year. The team then works to support other students, educators and allies throughout the year in their efforts to ensure safer schools through various days of action, campaigns, trainings, summits and events.

The application process for the leadership team begins in April. All interested students who are at least 13 years of age and are going to be in a K-12 school in the upcoming year are encouraged to apply.

What is the Day of Silence?

The Day of Silence, a project of GLSEN in collaboration with the United States Student Association (USSA), is a student-led day of action where those who support making anti-LGBT bias unacceptable in schools take a day-long vow of silence to recognize and protest the discrimination and harassment -- in effect, the silencing -- experienced by LGBT students and their allies. For more information, free resources, and to register your school, visit www.dayofsilence.org.

What are GLSEN's other student projects and days of action?

GLSEN supports several days of action and projects throughout the year including the Day of Silence, Transgender Day of Remembrance, Voter Registration, local campaigns and a brand new event known as Ally Week. More information on each of these events can be found in the Student section of the GLSEN website and at www.dayofsilence.org.

Who can I contact for more information?

E-mail studentorganizing@glsen.org to be in direct contact with GLSEN's student organizing staff.