An Examination of a Local Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Creating Accessible Resources for Schools

Abstract

Having a Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) at school can have numerous benefits for students (e.g., spark a sense of belonging, provide developmentally appropriate activities, and have allied/LGBTQ+ identifying faculty support). GSAs are of critical importance, given that LGBTQ+ youth face disparate rates of victimization and mental health concerns. The current study aims to evaluate a GSA within a local public middle school. This GSA has a student-led and faculty-facilitated structure, and the students are exploring the importance of leadership roles with arms-length guidance from allied/LGBTQ+ sponsors. We will conduct interviews with faculty GSA sponsors and attend the student-led GSA meetings and events. Alongside the sponsors and students, we will co-create a model of their GSA to use as a moldable template for inactive/non-functioning middle school GSAs. Eventually, we plan to further evaluate this GSA by conducting focus groups with student participants and examining possible racial and ethnic disparities in GSA attendance and involvement. This research will create accessible resources for GSA faculty and student leaders, offer considerations for school staff to increase rates of LGBTQ+ student involvement, and raise awareness about the impactful effects of spaces-ofbelonging on the lives and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ youth.