Starting A GSA or QSA

Promoting Acceptance in Your School

10 Steps for Starting A
GSA or QSA:
1) Assess School Environment: Why do
you want to establish a GSA? Do you
think there will be any opposition?
Consider your context.

2) Follow Guidelines: Check the

student handbook and follow the

rules of the school for establishing a
club.

3) Inform your Administration

Begin with a Purpose

There are three common types of GSAs with unique purposes
and goals. Your GSA might be a combination of these three
and may change year-to-year depending on student needs.

4) Find an Advisor: Are there other

teachers on staff willing to be
involved?
5) Inform Guidance Councillors:
Councillors may know of students
who would be interested in joining
your group and can share resources
with you.
6) Pick a Meeting Space

SUPPORT

ACTIVISM

SOCIAL

Create a safe and

supportive space
for students to
connect with likeminded
individuals. Build
lasting
relationships,
communicate, and
help students find
appropriate
support.

Transform your
school into a safe
and welcoming
environment free
of discrimination
and harassment.
Increase education
for staff, students,
and parents and
change school
policies to be
more accepting.

Create a fun, safe,

and welcoming
environment for
students to connect
with like-minded
individuals.
Emphasis on fun
activities and
creating a social
environment for
students.

7) Advertise (and get food!)

8) Hold The First Meeting: Discuss what
is important for the group. What is
your purpose? Mission statement?
9) Establish Ground Rules: Ensure
group discussions are safe,
confidential, and respectful. Consider
a ground rule that no assumptions
are made about any members sexual
orientation or gender expression.
10) Plan for the Future: Set goals and
brainstorm activities.

STARTING A GAY-STRAIGHT ALLIANCE OR QUEER-STRAIGHT ALLIANCE

Students from schools with GSAs are much more

likely to agree that their school communities are
supportive of LGBTQ people, are much more likely
to be open with some or all of their peers about
their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, and
are more likely to see their school climate as
becoming less homophobic.

Student-Directed Club
GSAs and QSAs are student-lead clubs, your job
is to support this process
Ultimately, this is a space for your students and it
should be run by students. Some guiding principles
as an advisor, according to the GSA Networks
Handbook For Advisors, include:
Youth leadership: support the leaders of the GSA
and help students establish a leadership
organization that makes sense to them.
Leadership can take many forms, including
hierarchy-based leadership with a president, vice
president, treasurer, and secretary or collective
leadership with shared responsibility.
Youth empowerment: foster the skills and
confidence needed to run the club. Help facilitate
meetings and plan events.
Keep the future in mind: as a teachers you are a
constant in the GSA, help students make longterm plans, maintain an archive, and create
stability for future students.
Set appropriate boundaries: you cannot
guarantee the confidentiality of all conversations
because you are required to report certain
situations. Ensure your students are aware of this.
Navigate policies: help your students with the
rules and policies of your school.
Set up students to succeed: help your students
as best you can, but dont be afraid to let them
learn from small mistakes, transform them into
teachable moments!

(Egale Canada Every Class in Every School)

Mission Statement
A Mission Statement is the grounding purpose of
your club.
What type of group is your GSA? What are your
goals for the school? A mission statement is a
chance to create an identity and focus for your GSA.
Here are some sample mission statements:

Our mission is to work towards a more accepting

environment for all people, regardless of sexual
orientation or gender identity through education, support,
social action, and advocacy. We believe that schools can
be truly safe ONLY when every student is assured of
access to an education without fear of harassment or
violence.
New Paltz High School, New Paltz, New York

To promote tolerance and acceptance throughout the

school community and to provide a safe, non-judgmental
space as a support network for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual,
Transgender, Questioning, and Straight youth who share a
common vision of social equality.
Miramar High School, Miramar, Florida

MORE RESOURCES
The Alberta Teachers Association has a page on their website devoted to GSAs that includes resources like

GSAs and QSAs in Alberta Schools: A Guide for Teachers and a sample student GSA proposal.
MyGSA.ca is a Canadian organization with lots of links and resources, including lesson plans, student stories,

and lists of great literature. You can register your GSA on this site and connect with others across Canada!
GSANetwork.com is a site dedicated to providing youth with resources to fight homophobia and transphobia

in schools. Although it is an American organization, they have lots of amazing resources!

Egale.ca is a national charity promoting LGBT human rights through research, education and community

engagement. They have conducted studies and collaborated on many resources for teachers.