What is the gay straight alliance club
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Morath, et al.outside the U.S. District Courthouse for the Southern District of Texas in Houston.
The plaintiffs’ attorneys will be in court asking for a preliminary injunction that would block the state from enforcing key provisions of Senate Bill 12 statewide to prevent further harm to the plaintiffs’ families and other students and teachers until this case has been resolved.
WHEN:
The hearing will take place Thursday, Dec.
18, 10 a.m.
GSAs can be virtual or in-person. It can also protect students from harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and improve school climates for all students in the long-term.
Schools remain one of the most important sites of cultural and social change for young people, and GSAs create spaces where TQ2S+ youth can be seen, supported, and heard.
Get a copy of your student handbook, and look up your school's requirements for student organizations so that you can be sure to follow the rules carefully.
Keep in mind that if your school isn't very friendly to the idea of a GSA, some teachers who want to help may be more comfortable doing so in a more behind-the-scenes way.
4. They’re not just clubs; they are sites of resistance, resilience, and leadership that give young people the power to change their schools and their world.
How GSAs Work
GSAs can focus on three main areas—Gather, Support, and Action—and each club sets its own mission and goals to meet the needs of its members and their communities.
GATHER GSAs – Members connect with other trans and queer students on campus or in community spaces.
SUPPORT GSAs – Members create safe spaces to discuss challenges like discrimination, school climate, and broader societal issues.
ACTION GSAs – Members lead initiatives to improve school climate through campaigns, events, and policy change efforts.
Direct action can come in many forms: petitions, including anti-slur campaigns, days of LGBTQ+ sensitivity or awareness, teacher trainings, and lobbying sessions to let school district officials know what they need to live authentically and thrive in school.
Tell the Administration That You Want to Start a GSA
Talk to your school principal or assistant principal and let him or her know that you plan to start a GSA. A supportive administrator can really help you move things along, and if he or she isn't supportive, then at least you'll know where you stand, which will help you figure out what to do next.
Gia Loving (she/her) & Maya LaFlamme (she/her), co-executive directors, Genders and Sexualities Alliance Network (GSA Network)
WHERE:
United States District Court
Courtroom 9F
515 Rusk Street
Houston, Texas 77002 </p>
The press conference will be held out front of the courthouse.
Access more information and case documents: https://www.aclutx.org/en/press-releases/aclu-texas-partners-and-affected-community-members-sue-challenge-unconstitutional
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Media Inquiries
GSA Network amplifies trans, queer and Two Spirit youth voices and supports their leadership in creating safer, more inclusive schools and communities nationwide.
For media inquiries and interview requests, please contact us at communications@gsanetwork.org. We typically respond within 24-48 hours during business days.
We are available to provide expert commentary and interviews on:
- GSA club banning and attacks on LGBTQ+ youth in schools
- Benefits of gathering and community building for LGBTQ+ youth
- Comprehensive education that serves all students
- Youth-rooted organizing and student-led advocacy
- Intergenerational stewardship in movement building
- Liberatory logistics and organizational practices
- School climate issues including the school-to-prison pipeline, police-free schools movement, and inclusive sex education
Learn more about our mission to empower trans and queer youth leadership, our organizing strategy, vision of liberation, and organizational history.
See "Common Arguments Against GSAs — and Why They're Wrong" below for responses to some of the reasons school administrators say they won't allow a GSA.
5. Start your own GSA today and register to join our network!
ACLU of Texas, Plaintiffs, Partners to Hold Press Conference Following Hearing to Challenge State Law Censoring Identity and Inclusion in K-12 Schools
*** MEDIA ADVISORY ***
THURSDAY, Dec.
18, 10 a.m. Check out supplementary resources our Library page, and take a look at the following organizations for even more:
Got any questions? Find Out Your School's Rules for Setting Up a Club
Starting a GSA is just like starting any other school club. Have a lot of students been approaching your school about starting a KKK club? Ask a teacher (or, if your school allows them to be club sponsors, a staff member like a counselor or librarian) who has shown herself or himself to be supportive of LGBT students to be the advisor or sponsor for your GSA.
Your faculty advisor can help with things like writing a constitution and explaining why you want to start a GSA to others. Be sure to do everything you're supposed to do according to the school's rules.
3. They're about creating a supportive space where students can be themselves without fear and making schools safer for all students by promoting respect for everyone.
Like any other club GSAs offer students with a common interest a chance to connect and give students a respite from the day-to-day grind of school. If you're trying to start a GSA at your school and your administration tries to stop you, or if doesn't allow the GSA to do things that it lets other non-curricular clubs do, keep reading for tips on what to do, and be sure to check out our video guide, too!
Starting a Gay/Straight Alliance
Here are the basic steps to starting a GSA at your school.
Under the law, there are two types of clubs in public high schools: curricular clubs (those that relate directly to things that are taught in the school, like the Math Club), and non-curricular clubs (those that don't relate directly to things that are taught in the school, such as the Key Club or Chess Club).