Starting a Gay Straight Alliance in Your School

1
Starting a Gay Straight Alliance in Your School
(and running)
Challenging homophobia
Training teachers
Finding resources
Having fun
Changing your school
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Why start a GSA?

• 65 of LGB (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual) people
  experience homophobic bullying
• 97 of LGB students hear derogatory phrases such
  as dyke or poof used in school
• 1/2 of teachers fail to respond to homophobic
  language when they hear it.
• A Gay Straight Alliance can be a place of support
  and education!

The School Report Stonewall 2007
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What can a GSA do?

• Set up staff training
• Create a safe place for LGBT people
• Meet awesome people
• Change the climate of your school!
• Have LGBT friendly social events
• Get connected to LGBT organizations and support
  groups

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Convince Your School
(how to)
Effects of homophobia
Statistics
More statistics
Legislation
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The Costs of Homophobia

• Alcohol and drug misuse
• Truancy to escape persecution
• Giving up on academic achievement
• Too hard to work in a hostile environment
• Suffering from mental and/or physical health
  conditions
• Such as eating disorders, as a result of anxiety
  and eroded self esteem

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Homophobia in Schools

• 98 of LGBT pupils hear thats so gay at school
• 75 of young LGBT people in faith schools
  experience homophobic bullying and are less
  likely than pupils in other schools to report it
• Only 1/4 of schools say that homophobic bullying
  is wrong in their school
• 30 of LGBT pupils report that adults are
  responsible for homophobic incidents at their
  school

The School Report Stonewall 2007
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• 58 of LGBT pupils dont report bullying when
  they experience it
• If a teacher is informed, 62 of the time,
  nothing is done
• 7 of teachers are reported to respond when they
  hear homophobic language
• The School Report Stonewall 2007
• 90 of 15-24 year olds have been called names
  because of their sexuality
• Profiles of Prejudice Stonewall and Mori 2003
• Black, Asian, disabled and younger pupils are all
  more likely to experience homophobic violence
• Uneven Vulnerability GALOP

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Your Legal Rights
(how to fight for)
Policy!
Language?
The government is on your side
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Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) 2007

• Discrimination
• Is when you are treated less favorably than
  someone else because of your real or perceived
  sexual orientation.
• It is unlawful for your school to discriminate
  against a person who seeks to use its facilities
  or services based on real or perceived sexual
  orientation.
• Starting a GSA
• It is unlawful for your school to discriminate
  against a pupil by refusing the pupil access to
  any benefit, facility or service based on real or
  perceived sexual orientation.

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Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) 2007(what it
means)

• Clubs
• If your school has other school sponsored clubs
  but wont let you start a GSA because of the
  nature of the club it is being discriminatory
  under the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation)
• School Activities
• You are allowed to take part in all school
  activities such as sports, lessons, assemblies
  and dances and cant be denied access because of
  real or perceived sexual orientation

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Learning and Skills Act 2000Sex and Relationship
Guide 2000

• It is now required for teachers to
• Challenge stigmatism of LGBT families in lessons
  about families, marriages and stable
  relationships
• Give positive information of LGBT people to
  enable pupils to challenge derogatory stereotypes
  and prejudice
• Challenge all forms of homophobic bullying
• Ofsted will now include addressing homophobic
  bullying in their inspections

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Every Child Matters (DfES 2004)

• Ofsted will report on how schools promote
• Physical and mental health
• Safety and protection from harm and neglect
• Enjoying and achieving
• Positive contributions by being positively
  involved in community and society
• Economic wellbeing

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What it all Means

• Schools are currently hostile environments for
  LGBT students and their allies
• Schools have a responsibility to protect their
  students regardless of sexual orientation
• Schools are legally required to promote equality
  and safety
• Schools cant discriminate based on real or
  perceived sexual orientation
• You have the right to be safe and comfortable at
  school and your school has the responsibility to
  make sure you are!

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Language?

• The queer alphabet LGBTQQAIP
• Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer,
  questioning, a-sexual, intersexed, pansexual
• Homo/Bi/Transphobia
• The irrational fear and hatred of LGBT people
• A homo/bi/transphobic incident is any incident
  which is perceived to be homo/bi/transphobic to
  the victim or another person
• It is directed to impact those known or perceived
  to be LGBT
• Heterosexism
• Is a set of assumptions and practices that
  promotes heterosexual relationships as the only
  natural and valid form of sexual orientation
• Recognises/rewards those who are heterosexual and
  ignores/penalises those who are not

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• Sexual Orientation
• Describes who you are physically and sexually
  attracted to
• Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Questioning, Straight
• Sex
• Biological characteristics such as chromosomes,
  genitalia, hormones
• Female, Male, Intersexed
• Gender
• How you feel and experience your gender
• Not defined by your sex!
• Gender is fluid masculine, feminine,
  androgynous, genderqueer
• Transgender
• A person who doesnt identify with their
  biological sex
• Might go through surgery, might not
• Ally
• A straight person who is supportive of the LGBT
  community

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How do you start a GSA?

• Find some supportive friends who want to help out
• Ask a teacher to be a sponsor
• Establish the club like any other club
• Look in your Student Handbook for the rules at
  your school. This may include getting permission
  from senior management, finding an advisor,
  and/or writing a constitution.
• Inform the senior management team
• It can be very helpful to have the senior
  management on your side. They can work as
  liaisons on your behalf with other teachers,
  parent groups, community members, and the school
  board. If the senior management team is resistant
  to the GSA, let them know that forming a GSA club
  is protected under the Equality Act (Sexual
  Orientation)

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• Inform guidance counselors/school nurses
• They might know some students who would be
  interested in joining
• Pick a meeting place and advertise
• Figure out the best way to advertise at your
  school. It may be a combination of school
  bulletin announcements, flyers, and
  word-of-mouth. If your flyers are defaced or torn
  down, do not be discouraged. Keep putting them
  back up. Eventually, whoever is tearing them down
  will give up.
• Advertising for your group and having words up
  such as "gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or
  questioning" or "end homophobia" or "discuss
  sexual orientation" can be part of educating the
  school and can actually make other students feel
  safer -- even if they never attend a single
  meeting.
• Bring food
• Everyone loves food!

GSA Network How to Start a GSA
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But My Schools Too Homophobic!
How to start a GSA without support
Getting support
Staying safe
Be prepared
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Alternatives
(creating change without a GSA)

• Find supportive people
• Inform your senior management and staff about the
  laws protecting LGBT youth
• Ask staff to discuss LGBT History Month, IDAHO
  (International Day Against Homophobia) and other
  LGBT events
• Bring your friends to LGBT youth groups
• Stay informed!

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Finding Support

• Friends
• Parents
• If your parents or guardians are supportive, they
  can be a great resource to pressure the school
• Staff
• Is there an openly LGBT teacher?
• Are guidance counselors/school nurses supportive?
• Is there a health or PHSRE/citizenship teacher?
• Community support
• Community LGBT youth groups have great resources
  and could provide you with an ally
• National organizations such as Schools OUT,
  Chrysalis and Stonewall have many contacts and
  will know someone in your area
• REMEMBER! You have the legal right to have a GSA
  and to feel safe at your school

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Staying Safe

• Dont do anything that will put you in physical
  harm
• Always plan events with teachers and senior
  management present
• Inform your staff advisor of your plans in
  advance
• Hold events in a safe space with allies and
  friends present
• Know your rights
• Look over your schools student handbook and know
  your rights at school
• Talk with community groups to get ideas for safe
  events

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Keep it Simple

• Start out slow
• Before you plan a school assembly on homophobia,
  introduce more subtle ways to combat ignorance
  and intolerance
• Put up safe space posters in teachers classrooms
• Give teachers and librarians LGBT friendly books
  and movies to put up and show off
• Hold a meeting with senior management and staff
  about the needs of LGBT students at your school
• Make it about safety
• Creating a GSA and having LGBT friendly events is
  about creating a safe space for LGBT people to
  learn and live

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Be Prepared

• Can be hard work
• Setting up a GSA and running LGBT friendly events
  can be hard work, especially when dealing with
  tough senior management and staff.
• Make sure to take time for yourself and have some
  fun
• Celebrate your achievements and always keep a
  supportive group of friends and allies with you

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I Have a GSA, Now What?
Fun activities
Resources and tools
Developing a strategy
Creating change
Planning events
Ideas!
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• Having fun
• Being inclusive
• Getting resources
• Safe space posters
• LGBT friendly posters
• Fundraising
• LGBT History Month!
• Surveys
• Day of Silence
• Public Speaking
• Training Staff!

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Fun Things To Do

• LGBT movie night
• Throw a party
• IDAHO
• Have a picnic or baking party
• Plan trips to LGBT places in town
• Coffee shops
• LGBT youth groups
• Dance party

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Being Inclusive

• Make sure every one has a space to speak
• Be sure every one is comfortable
• Dont separate into boys and girls
• Hold anti-oppression/racism workshops
• Commission for Equality and Human Rights
• Build coalitions with other clubs and community
  groups

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Remember, LGBT people are
diverse
daughters
Asian
Indian
extraordinary
successful
fathers
foster parents
parents
smart
sons
White
uncles
Mixed-heritage
teachers
scientists
sisters
friends
religious
brothers
farmers
Black
students
mothers
family
workmates
ordinary
grandparents
In-laws
friends
athletes
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Getting Resources

• Community Groups
• Schools OUT
• LGBT youth groups
• Community and school counselors
• Online
• GSA Network
• LGBT History Month
• Stonewall
• Queer Youth Network

• EACH
• Chrysalis
• No Outsiders
• National Union of Teachers

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Safe Space Posters

• Give to supportive teachers to put in classrooms
• Put GSA information on them so people know where
  to go
• The "Safe Zone" symbol is a message to LGBT youth
  and adult allies. A person displaying this symbol
  is one who will be understanding, supportive, and
  trustworthy if a LGBT youth needs help, advice,
  or just someone with whom they can talk

GSA Network Hate Free Zone
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Fundraising

• Club bank account
• Become familiar with your school's system for
  financing student organizations. How do clubs set
  up bank accounts? Where will donations go? Who
  will donation checks be made out to? Who has the
  power to sign checks? Talk to other student
  leaders at your school, your advisor, and the
  senior management team to get ideas and advice.
• Fundraising as a club activity
• Have a bake sale or car wash - it's not very
  original, but it usually works. Or add your own
  twist - instead of selling just cookies, sell
  cookies with rainbow chocolate chips.
• Sponsor a play, concert, or other cultural event
  to benefit your GSA. You might also consider
  donating part of the proceeds to a community
  organization or charity.
• Look into community grant making programs.

GSA Network GSA Fundraising
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Survey Your School

• Teachers and senior management not listening?
• Use already made surveys as a guide
• Survey your own school to show that homophobia is
  a problem
• Find out what problems are most important at your
  school

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LGBT History Month

• Every February is LGBT History Month
• Now in its fourth year, LGBT HM is the largest
  cultural and educational LGBT event in world
• Celebrate LGBT history at your school with
  posters, assemblies, movies, speakers and parties

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Day of Silence

• The Day of Silence is an annual event held to
  bring attention to anti-LGBT bullying, harassment
  and discrimination in schools. Students and
  teachers will observe the day in silence to echo
  the silence that LGBT and ally students face
  everyday
• Inform teachers and senior management for their
  support
• Make badges, T-Shirts and flyers to advertise the
  day
• Have a rally before school to get everyone
  involved and excited
• Dont speak for the entire day!

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Training Staff

• Schools OUT leads staff training about anti-LGBT
  harassment, discrimination, bullying and the
  development of an inclusive curriculum
• Training teaches staff how to respond to
  homophobic bullying, create a school environment
  that is safe for everyone and create and deliver
  a curriculum that is appropriate to the needs of
  all
• To get your staff trained, contact Schools OUT
  www.schools-out.org.uk

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Peer Education Workshops

• Educating your peers about issues of sexual
  orientation and homophobia can be one of the most
  effective ways to make your school safer for
  LGBTQ students, and GSAs are a great framework
  for implementing an anti-homophobia peer
  education program.
• Come up with a lesson plan for the workshop or
  download one online from a LGBT community group
• Some places to look are
• GSA Network
• Schools OUT
• Chrysalis

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Points to Remember

• There is something you can do about the
  homophobia at your school
• There is legislation that protects you
• There are support organizations that can help you
• School is legally supposed to be a safe place to
  learn for everyone