Solidarity Week

Solidarity is a voluntary collective action by different people based on finding common objectives and solutions. Solidarity work happens when you show up to help and support others experiencing some form of harm by centering their leadership, decisions, needs, requests, and ideas.

You have probably already practiced solidarity in some form, whether using a peer’s correct pronouns or signing a petition. In the days after the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, students organized the largest single day of protest against gun violence in history. In June, protests broke out across the country demanding justice for George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by police in Minneapolis, MN. As more murders of Black people including Black transgender women, young people started organizing their own protests addressing anti-Blackness and racism in their schools. Many of you participated in GLSEN’s Day of Silence, the largest LGBTQ+ student-focused and led action to raise awareness around the bullying, harassment, and erasure of LGBTQ+ students in schools.

Solidarity work happens in many forms and on many different issues.

The important part of understanding solidarity work is that collective action is powerful in enacting change, in fact, solidarity can either be the biggest threat to oppression or one of the biggest allies in upholding and reinforcing it. How you show up . . . or don’t, makes all the difference.

Ally Week to Solidarity Week

As an organization dedicated to safe and inclusive schools for LGBTQ+ students and educators in K-12 schools for 30 years, the decision to change Ally Week to Solidarity Week was heavily influenced by student feedback, the current climate highlighting historic harm done to Black people, and the responsibility to adjust language, ideas, and actions that are appropriate and reflect the voices of those we serve and center those most impacted by oppressive systems and behaviors.

Solidarity Week is a student-powered campaign dedicated to building collective support for LGBTQ+ students and educators. This week-long program helps people learn about and practice solidarity with different identities.

Image

Action

Solidarity Week is about learning and practicing solidarity, how others can show up for you and how you can show up for others. This is an opportunity to collaborate and work with other clubs, organizations, and engage all students in different activities and awareness events during the week. If your GSA is looking for ideas on ways to take action, check out our themed days for the week. Also, be supportive by taking action on our Solidarity Week policy sign-on document here.

Image

Organize

Make sure to check out GLSEN's Student Guide to think about how you and your club want to participate in this week long action.  Hold a meeting with your club and utilize this guide together in brainstorming and creating a plan. You can also run an Ally 101 workshop, or join GLSEN’s Solidarity Week activities listed under "Action."

Image

Thursday, November 4, 2021

Black LGBTQ+ Focus Day

• Dear My Black Bisexual Freshman Self: You Are Enough
• Here’s What I Need a Black Queer Student
• I’m a Black Queer Student, and My School Needs to Recognize My Entire Self
• Voter Registration
• Erasure and Resilience: The Experiences of LGBTQ Students of Color, Black LGBTQ Youth in U.S. Schools
• Webinar: Erasure and Resilience: The Experiences of LGBTQ Students of Color, Black LGBTQ Youth in U.S. Schools
• Condemning Police Brutality, Calling for Greater Support for Black Lives
• 4 Ways You Can Support Black, Queer, Trans & GNC Educators Today
• History Deck Shares
  • Audre Lorde
  • Blair Imani
  • #BlackLivesMatter
  • James Baldwin
  • Patricio “Pat” Manuel
  • Miss Major Griffin-Gracy

Friday, November 5, 2021

LGBTQ+ Immigrant Youth Focus Day

• Blog: “Together, Our Differences Make a Strong and Beautiful Community in School”
• History Deck shares
  • Urooj Arshad
  • The UndocuQueer Movement
  • Bamby Salcedo