Gay Straight Alliance

[tgn915]

Posted: 1/27/08 at 2:53pm

I'm a high school student in New Jersey and I am bisexual.
One of the counselors at my school is gay and he was talking to me about starting a gay-straight alliance at our school.
I'm a little nervous about this since a majority of my school is very "straight-oriented," to use words lightly.
Do any of you have any pieces of advice for me? I'd love to start one, I just don't know how to go about doing it. Any help would be appreciated. :)

[Juliash]

Posted: 1/27/08 at 3:33pm

That's how my school is (well, was...) just make sure that you're adamant that GSA isn't just for GLBTs but also for heterosexual students who support their peers, and do things not related to sexual orientation in your school. Participate in Day of Silence. etc...

[rcbarron]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 5:58am

Congrats on your bold move. For one thing, it might be a good idea to accentuate the "Alliance" part and minimize the "gay or straight" labels. I find people are less and less consumed with labels (unless you're a republican politician trying to stir up donations and votes from judgmental people..but I digress.. lol) and more readily accepting of those that are comfortable just being themselves. When the idea of Alliance is focused on, it can comprise multiple facets of individuals and not just G/S. Hopefully, that is where our nation is heading. We still get hung up on labeling..and it would all do us some good to let that go.


Updated On: 2/12/08 at 05:58 AM

[RENTingFAME]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 1:43pm

Actually, at my school it was important to stress the "straight" part, since the administration kept calling it the gay student alliance. The first couple years I was in my high school, everyone thought if you were in GSA you must be gay. Now they're starting to get that that's not the case. In fact, we certainly have as many if not more straight members than gay members, in a group of about 30. (You're talking to the bi president of the GSA, btw.) It took my school four years to get our GSA to be recognized as an official club, but we've always been in the yearbook and won the "special interest club" award for the past five years in a row.

If you really want to start a GSA, just go for it. You've already covered the tough part of finding a teacher willing to sponsor you, and that's great. Best of luck to you, and if you want more information or resources or support or something, just let me know. Good luck!

[Boq101]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 8:41pm

I'm the president on the GSA in my NJ high school (I'm bi, too, go fig.) The club has been here for the past six years as S.T.A.R.T. (Sexual Tolerance and Respect Today) And last year when I was elected I wanted us to be more official by being called a GSA. The school didn't think it was a good idea and actually wanted us to be called Gender Studies. Now we're known as Spectrum (term defining the kinsey scale, rainbow symbol), not exactly a win, but much better than Gender Studies! Our club gets school credit (to those who want it, many kids decide not to get credit and still show up) and we have the best attendance record of any club for the past six years.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 9:03pm

I definitely agree about making sure that heterosexual students are included as well. That was how my school did it and it worked beautifully. I am straight but I went in support of my best friend, and it was a great experience.

[RENTingFAME]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 1:52pm

When we were fighting with the board (our administration was okay with it), the superintendant wanted us to be called the "Spirit Club" which, after I was done being really angry, just seemed really funny. We were also told they had to reinstate the other clubs that they had gotten rid of earlier first, so obviously it was just all a lie because they were uncomfortable with the idea of recognizing GLBT students. But whatever.

I love that yours is called Spectrum, Boq. That's so cool. And very, I don't know, sophisticated-chic or something. Hah.