What is a GSA club?
GSAs Build Power
Genders & Sexualities Alliances (GSAs) are student-led clubs that unite TQ2S+ and allied youth to build community, support one another, and organize for change. Originating as Gay-Straight Alliances in the late 1980s, GSAs now serve as safe spaces in schools and community settings—including alternative schools, home school collectives, LGBTQ+ centers, and youth organizations—and as platforms for racial, gender, and educational justice.
Why GSAs Matter
A growing body of research confirms that the presence of a GSA has a positive and lasting effect on student health, wellness, and academic performance. It can also protect students from harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and improve school climates for all students in the long-term.
Schools remain one of the most important sites of cultural and social change for young people, and GSAs create spaces where TQ2S+ youth can be seen, supported, and heard. They help students navigate challenges, build leadership skills, and organize for safer, more inclusive learning environments.
GSAs are especially critical as attacks on LGBTQ+ youth intensify. Across the country, legislation and school policies are increasingly banning discussions of LGBTQ+ identities or limiting student clubs, making GSAs one of the few safe spaces where youth can find community and resources.
Beyond schools, GSAs influence broader culture—shaping how peers, teachers, and communities understand gender and sexuality. They’re not just clubs; they are sites of resistance, resilience, and leadership that give young people the power to change their schools and their world.
How GSAs Work
GSAs can focus on three main areas—Gather, Support, and Action—and each club sets its own mission and goals to meet the needs of its members and their communities.
GATHER GSAs – Members connect with other trans and queer students on campus or in community spaces.
SUPPORT GSAs – Members create safe spaces to discuss challenges like discrimination, school climate, and broader societal issues.
ACTION GSAs – Members lead initiatives to improve school climate through campaigns, events, and policy change efforts.
Direct action can come in many forms: petitions, including anti-slur campaigns, days of LGBTQ+ sensitivity or awareness, teacher trainings, and lobbying sessions to let school district officials know what they need to live authentically and thrive in school.
GSAs can be virtual or in-person. Young people can start or join a GSA and access resources, trainings, and community support—no school affiliation required.
Feeling inspired? Start your own GSA today and register to join our network!