How to start a GSA
As a part of the LGBTQ+ community, I often feel like I lack places where I can really be myself, and express the queer part of me. Unfortunately, a lot of the time, we, queer people, are put into circumstances and situations where these ‘safe places’ don’t already exist. We are discriminated against, told that we already have too much media coverage (which we don’t), or even bullied and harassed about our identities. That is why having something like a GSA (gay-straight alliance, also known as a gender-sexuality alliance) is so, so critical.
If you or someone you know is looking to start one, here are some tips I have from my personal experiences.
1. Don’t worry about how many people will join. I was really stressed about this, because I was at a middle school with a lot of homophobes/anti-LGBTQ+ people, both students and teachers. My GSA was really tiny in the beginning - just me and three other students. But the important thing isn’t how many people join you, it’s about the kinds of people that join you. People who are closeted. People who are out, and want to meet others like them. People who are just really great allies. Even if it is only you to start with, with time and good advertisement, you WILL get more people to join. It’s easier said than done, but just have patience and try to talk to people in the meantime and recruit them.
2. Advertise well. It is critical that you spread the word about your GSA, because if you don’t, your impact on your setting (school, university, town, etc.) will be minimal. You can make really simple posters, either drawn from hand or created electronically. For example, I used sketch.io because it’s free, and you can draw and add photos or text. I also recommend that you send emails, because that way a lot more people will see your cause, and you can get a lot more interest/participants that way. You can also create a blog or Instagram page, where you share what your GSA is up to, and post any upcoming events. Social media has saved a lot of queer ass. Believe me.
3. Get a supervisor. When I say ‘supervisor’, I am being a bit vague. If you go to a middle or high school, you will most likely have to have a teacher’s permission to start a club. In a lot of cases, the teacher/adult has to be in the room, especially for younger students. You should cautiously proceed, as a lot of adults aren’t yet accepting. First of all, mention the LGBTQ+ community to the teacher in mind, and see what their views are. Ask them, even, if they support it. If so, tell them your ideas for the GSA. If not, find another person. Worst comes to worse, you can always make the club an after-school thing, or for the weekend instead, if finding a staff member isn’t possible or convenient. If you get lucky and find a person to be the ‘supervisor’, make sure they are confidential and won’t reveal your participants’ information, as a lot of people will still be closeted for personal or safety reasons. If you don’t want the teacher in the same room, kindly ask them if they can be outside, and explain why it would be best to have a students-only club.
4. Be explicit about the rules. Especially with simple things such as ‘respect everyone’, and ‘be kind’, or ‘be a listener’, make sure that everyone in your GSA 100% knows the rules by heart. And if they violate them, don’t give too many chances. Rule-breakers, in my opinion, only get one second chance. If they make people uncomfortable, or disobey you/the leader of the GSA, kick them out. Even within the queer community, I have noticed quite a few people out others, meaning they tell other people about a person’s identity, without that person consenting or knowing about it. Most of the time, the people doing the outing don’t realize that it can be harmful. After all, it’s exciting to get to know lots of LGBTQ+ people and tell them all about your friends’ identities, right? Not exactly; it really depends on the situation. ALWAYS be sure to ask every member in your GSA about their in-the-closet status. You can have them fill out a sheet. For example:
What are your pronouns/what is your sexual orientation/what is your gender?
Is it appropriate to refer to you as such in the GSA?
Is it appropriate to refer to you as such outside the GSA?
Can I refer to you as such in emails to the school?
Can I refer to you as such in emails/when speaking to your parents?
Are you comfortable with being a poster child for our Instagram/Blog?
5. Have lots of activities. You should definitely have an agenda (pun intended) for your GSA. Make sure to start with icebreakers, and have everyone introduce themselves. (E.g. name, pronouns, why they joined, and their favorite hobby/book/movie/animal.) Play a quick game, eat some snacks, talk about the GSA’s rules and the plan for the next meeting. Also, when planning future meetings, include lots of different types of activities. The possibilities are endless. Watch movies/tv shows with queer representation. Read novels and discuss them like you’re in a book club. Pick an issue that effects the community, and talk about it. Have a debate. Raise money for your club with a bake sale or some kind of fundraising run. Write poetry/songs. Play charades or pictionary. Create mood boards/collages with everyone’s ideal looks/outfits. It doesn’t all have to be serious, and while it is important to be activists and try to raise awareness, you should also be having fun, and getting to know the other members. A GSA exists so that LGBTQ+ people can meet other LGBTQ+ people. Basically, have fun.
6. Speak up, but know when to call it quits. While activism and raising awareness are critical and important for a GSA, it can become too much for some people. It’s okay to take a break, or stop having meetings. Especially if someone’s identity or safety is jeopardized. You can always come back to it, but don’t force it.
7. Study. Finally, read up on anything you don’t know much about. This can be new pronouns, identities, or movements that you hadn’t heard of prior to joining/founding the GSA. Always do your research, and accept that you will be wrong about some things. In the end, it doesn't matter how much vocabulary you know, or how researched you are in every LGBTQ+ issue. What matters is that you are trying, and making an effort to use everyone’s preferred names/pronouns, and trying to learn more. If you try, you can’t go wrong.
Hopefully these tips helped! Good luck everyone. You can always message me if you have more questions.