FAQ

  • How do I start a GSA club?

    If you’re starting a school-based group, it follows the same rules as other extracurricular clubs. Most schools require a roster of 10+ students, an advisor, and bylaws. Find a supportive adult ally and download our 10 Steps for Starting a GSA resource.

    For community-based groups, connect with local organizations or queer friendly spaces that might host you. Remember to register your group annually to receive support and connect with our network.

     

  • Do I need to call my group a "GSA" or have it in a school?

    Not at all! While we’re called GSA Network, the groups we support can name themselves whatever feels right for their community—Gender and Sexuality Alliance, Queer Student Union, Rainbow Club, or anything else that reflects their values. Groups can also exist in community centers, youth programs, libraries, or other spaces outside of schools. We support community-based groups, especially in rural areas where school-based organizing might not be possible or safe.

  • Does GSA Network start or sponsor GSAs in schools?

    No, because GSAs in schools are student-initiated and student-run. However, GSA Network does offer resources, training, and networking opportunities for students who wish to start or lead a GSA. We also support community-based groups in alternative schools and areas with few school-based clubs, particularly in rural regions where young people might need alternative spaces to organize and connect.

  • How many GSAs are there?

    The precise number of GSAs varies each year as new clubs are formed and some established clubs are discontinued due to a lack of continued leadership or support from teachers and school administrators. At least 40 states across the country have reported having GSA clubs in their high schools and middle schools. In California, there are more than 1,100 GSA clubs in our GSA Network. You must register your GSA for it to be counted in the network.

  • Can GSA clubs be banned from schools?

    No. GSAs cannot be banned if other non-curricular student clubs are allowed to exist at the school. The Federal Equal Access Act and the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution require equal treatment for all non-curriculum related clubs regardless of the content of speech at club meetings. If administrators try to ban a GSA club, you can launch a campaign to get one at your school. Check out our Intro to Campaign Organizing to get started! You can also search for similar campaigns on our GSAs Unite! platform. 

  • How is GSA Network responding to COVID-19?

    In March 2020, the GSA movement to empower & train TQ2S+ youth leaders transitioned from school-based organizing & community-building to digital movement-building. Until trans and queer young people can meet in-person, GSA Network will host virtual GSA meetings, provide resources for GSAs to meet and continue their work online, and offer wellness activities and resources. Learn more here.

  • Where is GSA Network located?

     GSA Network has operated virtually since 2020 and supports regional and statewide work across the United States through our programs and National Partnerships.

  • How can I get connected to GSA Network news and updates?

    To get connected to us and receive email updates, click on the green @Get Updates button at the top right of this page.

  • What impact do GSAs have on school climate?

    Research shows strong correlations between the presence of school-based GSAs and a variety of positive effects on school climate, student health outcomes, and youth development. In fact, GSAs have been described as the “most potent forces for institutional change” in educational settings. TQ2S+ youth who are actively engaged in a GSA club and/or other leadership training in their schools and communities are empowered to make healthier choices that positively impact personal wellness and academic achievement.

  • Where can I find resources for adults who want to support GSAs?

    If you are a GSA advisor or school worker, we have designed an Advisors Handbook just for you. We also ask that you peruse our resource bank and share it with the young people you work with. Donate to fund a GSA club through Youth Freedom Fund. 

  • Can GSA Network connect me to individual GSA clubs or members?

    No. GSA Network does not share contact information for individual GSA clubs or their members. We only provide direct support and resources to registered GSAs and to our national partners.

  • What does comprehensive education mean to GSA Network?

    We believe all students deserve education that reflects their full humanity and the diversity of our communities. This includes inclusive sex education that addresses LGBTQ+ identities, curricula that teach accurate histories including the contributions of LGBTQ+ people and people of color, and schools free from surveillance and criminalization. Our STAR Freedom School creates alternative learning spaces rooted in justice, creativity, and youth leadership.

  • Why did GSA Network change its name?

    In 2016, we formally changed our name from Gay-Straight Alliance Network to Genders & Sexualities Alliance Network after years of feedback from youth leaders across the country. Young people had moved beyond binary labels like “gay” and “straight” and the limits of a binary gender system. The new name honors the full range of identities within school-based clubs while maintaining the GSA acronym that students recognize. Individual GSA clubs continue to name themselves in ways that reflect their values and communities—they don’t have to use “GSA” at all.

  • Who works at GSA Network?

    Our team reflects the communities we serve. As of 2025, over 86% of our staff identify as Black, Indigenous, Asian, Latine, or Multiracial, with the largest group identifying as Latine (45.5%). Nearly 60% of staff are under the age of 32, and many are alumni of GSA Network programs. We intentionally hire young people and those most impacted by educational and structural inequities.

  • How is GSA Network structured organizationally?

    We’re led by Co-Executive Directors and governed by a Board of Directors that includes both youth and adult members. Our participatory budget process allows program leads to propose and steward their own budgets through a democratic process, ensuring funds align with those closest to the work. This structure ensures resource allocation is rooted in trust, self-determination, and the principle that those most impacted should guide decision-making.

  • What does "TQ2S+" mean and why do you use this language?

    TQ2S+ stands for transgender, queer, Two-Spirit+. We shifted from “LGBTQ+” to “TQ2S+” to better reflect and honor the identities of the communities we serve, particularly centering transgender and Two-Spirit identities that are often marginalized even within broader LGBTQ+ spaces. Two-Spirit is a term used by some Indigenous people to describe their gender identity and spiritual role, and we center Two-Spirit voices through our Two-Spirit Initiative. The “+” acknowledges the beautiful diversity of identities beyond these categories.

  • What does "adult allies" mean in your work?

    Adult allies are grown-ups who support TQ2S+ youth leadership without taking over or directing the work. They provide resources, create safer spaces, and use their institutional power to amplify youth voices while recognizing that young people are the experts of their own experiences. Adult allies practice intergenerational stewardship—supporting youth-led movements rather than adult-led programs for youth.

  • What does youth-rooted organizing look like at GSA Network?

    Youth-rooted organizing means young people are the experts of their own experiences and lead the work that affects their lives. Rather than adults directing youth programs, we provide resources, training, and infrastructure that amplify youth leadership. Our role is to support youth-led campaigns, provide organizing tools, and ensure young people have the resources they need to create change in their schools and communities.

  • What is GSA Network's stance on current attacks on LGBTQ+ youth?

    We stand firmly against the wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation targeting trans and queer youth. These attacks—from book bans to GSA club restrictions to anti-trans policies—are part of broader systems of oppression designed to silence and marginalize TQ2S+ young people. We respond through strategic organizing, narrative shifting campaigns, policy advocacy, and by resourcing youth-led resistance efforts. Our analysis connects these attacks to broader struggles for racial, gender, and educational justice.

  • How does GSA Network approach racial justice?

    Racial justice is central to everything we do. We recognize that to build a truly transformative movement, we must address how white supremacy impacts TQ2S+ youth, particularly youth of color who face compounded marginalization. Our programs center the leadership of Black, Indigenous, and youth of color. We work to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline, support comprehensive education that includes diverse histories, and challenge anti-blackness within LGBTQ+ spaces.

  • What does comprehensive education mean to GSA Network?

    We believe all students deserve education that reflects their full humanity and the diversity of our communities. This includes inclusive sex education that addresses LGBTQ+ identities, curricula that teach accurate histories including the contributions of LGBTQ+ people and people of color, and schools free from surveillance and criminalization. Our STAR Freedom School creates alternative learning spaces rooted in justice, creativity, and youth leadership.

  • How is GSA Network funded?

    We receive funding from foundations committed to youth organizing and social justice, including Communities for Just Schools Fund, Wellspring, Foundation for a Just Society, and others. We also raise funds via individual donors through our Youth Freedom Fund, which provides $500 grants directly to youth groups. We evaluate corporate partnerships carefully to ensure alignment with our mission and values.