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Summary: Gay-Straight Alliances in The School
Summary: Gay-Straight Alliances in The School
Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) are student-led, school-based clubs. The ultimate goal of
GSAs is to help provide a safe environment in the school for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender (LGBT) students, as well as their straight peers. Those of the LGBT community are
known to be at risk for experiencing greater negative psychosocial experiences than their straight
peers. There has been an increase in evidence that shows the risk of LGBT students, especial
transgender youth. Sexual minorities (e.g., those who report same-sex attractions or
relationships) are at greater risk than their heterosexuals peers for suicide ideation and attempts,
depression, substance abuse, and lower self-esteem (Russell, Muraco, Subramaniam, & Laub,
2009).
Adolescents spend the majority of their time in school. Schools should be a setting for
positive youth development, academically and socially. Sadly, LGBT adolescents report high
rates of verbal and physical harassment in school and report that their school environments are
unsafe. These negative school experiences have been linked to long-term negative mental health
and health outcomes as well as concurrent academic outcomes (Russell et al., 2009). The
difference in positive school experiences for LGBT students and the lack of information about
positive development for LGBT adolescents, demands the need for research on specific
Research suggests that the presence of a GSA in the school can act as a protective factor
for LGBT adolescents, such that LGBT adolescents who report that their school has a GSA tend
to report more school safety and greater well-being (Toomey, Ryan, Diaz, & Russell, 2011). It
has been found that the presence of a GSA has been associated with fewer homophobic
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comments from peers, less victimization related to sexual orientation and gender expression,
greater school safety and school connectedness, and more instances of teacher intervention in
homophobic harassment (Toomey et al., 2011). Also, the presence of a GSA has been associated
with greater levels of school safety, fewer reports of missing school due to fear. Notably, the
associated with better academic achievement (Toomey et al., 2011). GSA members reported
higher grade point averages than nonmembers. The presence of a GSA seems to have more of an
impact on school issues and GSA members seems to have more impact on person-specific
outcomes, including personal empowerment and/or academic achievement. It seems that the
presence of GSA in schools can only have a positive impact for their students. Not only do GSAs
provide support for LGBT students, they have also evolved into an organization with numerous
purposes. Some continue to function as support-group, others are social organizations, and many
have become clubs engaged in educational and activist activities aimed at challenging
homophobia in schools. Many GSAs exist as an alternative social environment in the school, a
Even with all the positive data that research has provided, the presence of GSAs in
schools is still a matter of debate. The 1984 Federal Equal Access Act mandates that schools
receiving federal funding cannot discriminate against student groups, but schools have still
denied students the right to assemble a GSA. In 2009, students of Yulee High School won a suit
against the School Board of Nassau County for barring the formation of a Gay-Straight Alliance
in their middle and high schools (Russell et al., 2009). Also, students won a 2008 case against
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Okeechobee High School for denying their GSA the right to meet on campus (Russell et al.,
2009).
helping students form GSAs in schools as a potential source of promoting positive development.
Given that GSA have not brought any negative relationship between LGBT school victimization
and educational achievement, school administrators and personnel should consider additional
policies and programs that are associated with safer schools for LGBT students, including GSAs.
Schools should be a setting for positive youth development and resiliency. The inclusion of a
Annotated Bibliography
Griffin, P., Lee, C., Waugh, J., & Beyer, C. (2004). Describing Roles that Gay-Straight Alliances
Play in Schools: From Individual Support to School Change. Journal of Gay & Lesbian
Massachusetts' Safe Schools Program, the authors of this study describe four roles that GSAs
played in the twenty-two schools: counseling and support; safe space; primary vehicle for
raising awareness, increasing visibility, and educating about LGBT issues in school; and, part of
broader school efforts for raising awareness, increasing visibility, and educating about LGBT
issues in school. The advantages and disadvantages of each role are discussed in terms of
addressing broader issues of heterosexism in schools, providing safety for LGBT students, and
Heck, N. C., Lindquist, L. M., Stewart, B. T., Brennan, C., & Cochran, B. N. (2013). To Join or
Not to Join: Gay-Straight Student Alliances and the High School Experiences of Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youths. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, 1,
77-101. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538720.2012.751764
The present study investigated 79 LGBT college students experiences attending high
schools with GSAs. Responses to two, open-ended survey questions were analyzed thematically
to identify reasons that underlie GSA non-membership and to model facets of GSAs that may
impact the GSA-related experiences of LGBT youths. Three frames of reference for
understanding GSA non-membership and perceptions of GSAs emerged. Leaders and advisors
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enhance specific aspects of GSAs that appear to be associated with positive perceptions of
GSAs.
Jocelyn-Blackman, G. How Are LGBT Youths Affected by Discrimination and What Can
program/the-york-scholar-1/volume-5-fall-2008/how-are-lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-
transgender-lgbt-youths-affected-by-discrimination-and
The present study elaborated on the severe impacts on LGBT youths, not only caused by
discrimination, but also due to lack of support and guidance. The roles of the parents and schools
in helping minimize discrimination against LGBT youths was discussed. Information is given to
help instruct schools and parents to accept and support gay students rather than add to the
discrimination that they already face. Doing so will reduce the high school drop-out rate and
most importantly the youth suicide rate. hopefully capture the attention of parents and schools
Pizmony-Levy, O., & Kosciw, J. G. (2016). School climate and the experience of LGBT
students: A comparison of the United States and Israel. Journal of LGBT Youth, 13, 46-
66. https://doi.org/10.1080/19361653.2015.1108258
The present study examines the school experience of LGBT students in the United States
and Israel. Through comparison of the sociocultural and educational contexts, the authors assess
whether school experience of LGBT students differs or operates similarly across countries. In
comparison with their Israeli counterparts, LGBT students in the United States were more likely
to experience assault and harassment in schools but were more likely to have access to LGBT
supportive resources in their schools. Results from multi-variate analysis show that negative
school climate affect absenteeism and school belonging similarly for both countries.
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Russell, S. T., Muraco, A., Subramaniam, A., & Laub, C. (2009). Youth Empowerment and High
903. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-008-9382-8
The present study explores how youth define and experience empowerment in youth-led
organizations characterized by social justice goals. Youth describe three inter-related dimensions
through having and using knowledge. By understanding these youth's perspectives on the
meanings of empowerment, this article clarifies the conceptual arena for future studies of
socially marginalized youth and of positive youth development. Although GSAs continue to
provide support for LGBT students, they have evolved into organizations with several purposes.
Some continue to function as counseling or support-groups, others are social organizations, and
many have become clubs engaged in educational and activist activities aimed at challenging
homophobia in schools. Many GSAs exist as an alternative social environment in the school, a
place to hang out that is safe and supportive for a wide range of alternative students who do
Seelman, K. L., Forge, N., Walls, N. E., & Bridges, N. (2015). School Engagement among
LGBTQ High School Students: Roles of Safe Adults and Gay-Straight Alliance
The present study found that 62% of LGBT students who had reported negative
experiences were met with no response or action taken on their behalf by school staff. Having
access to a safe adult serves as an important component in the creation of a safe school for
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LGBTQ students. Schools with supportive adults and staff help to create an environment where
students feel more connected to their education, have a greater sense of school belonging, are
more likely to attend activities of a GSA, and are less likely to experience victimization or miss
school due to feeling unsafe. It has been found that LGBT students who could identify an adult
in school they could talk to were about one third more likely to report being threatened or
Toomey, R. B., Ryan, C., Diaz, R. M., & Russell, S. T. (2011). High School Gay-Straight
185. http://doi.org/10.1080/10888691.2011.607378
The present study examines the potential for GSAs to support positive youth
development and to reduce associations among LGBT-specific school victimization and negative
young adult well-being. Findings revealed that the presence of a GSA, participation in a GSA,
and perceived GSA effectiveness in promoting school safety were differentially associated with
young adult well-being and in some cases, buffered the negative association between LGBT-
specific school victimization and well-being. At low levels of LGBT school victimization, GSA
participation seemed to buffer the direct negative associations between LGBT victimization and
young adult depression, such that participants who were involved in their high school GSA
compared to those who were not involved reported significantly lower levels of young adult
Valenti, M., & Campbell, R. (2009). Working with youth on lgbt issues: Why gay-straight
The present study explored motivation for citizen participation in a local context by exploring the
experiences of GSA advisors from public high schools. Fourteen advisors from one Midwestern
state were randomly recruited for participation. Inductive and deductive qualitative analyses
elucidated themes and subthemes surrounding the motivation for becoming an advisor. Two
major themes that emerged were a protective attitude toward LGBT youth, a personal connection
with sexual minority people/issues. It became clear that deciding to become a GSA advisor was
not necessarily an easy decision. The decision-making process was analyzed. Themes that arose
were surrounding worries, ex: possible lack of credibility, fear of job loss, and being accused of
recruiting youth to the gay lifestyle and security ex: tenure or protections against being fired,