History

GSA Network was founded in 1998 to empower youth activists to start Gay-Straight Alliance clubs to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools.

GSA Network began working with 40 GSA clubs in the San Francisco Bay Area during the 1998-99 school year. The organization quickly expanded and by 2001 GSA Network became a statewide organization.  By 2005, GSA Network began operating programs nationally.

In 2008, GSA Network became incorporated as its own independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Prior to that, GSA Network was a fiscally sponsored project of The Tides Center.

Carolyn Laub is the founder and director of the Gay-Straight Alliance Network.

Accomplishments

Since our founding in 1998, GSA Network has:

• Grown the network of GSA clubs in California from 40 clubs to nearly 750 clubs.
• Brought GSA clubs to over 50% of all public high schools in California, impacting more than 1.1 million students
• Provided training and support to over 10,000 youth activists and organizers across the state
• Served over 30,000 student members
• Played a leadership role in grassroots organizing for the passage of ground-breaking, statewide legislation, AB 537: The California Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act of 2000 which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity;
• Achieved a critical victory as plaintiff in the first lawsuit filed under AB 537; the three-year settlement agreement required the Visalia schools to enact sweeping reforms including mandatory teacher and student trainings.
• Launched the National Association of GSA Networks in 2005 to unite 26 statewide organizations supporting GSAs and accelerate the growth and impact of the GSA movement nationwide
• Developed a unique, replicable model of youth-led social justice organizing to end homophobia and transphobia in schools that groups in New Mexico, Texas, and other states are using