Blending Support and Social Action: The Power of a Gay-Straight Alliance and PrideWorks Conference

Abstract

The role of a Gay-Straight Alliance as a force for social justice, as well as for support in a school community, is highlighted in one GSA's story. The GSA and an annual countywide conference, PrideWorks, have as their key goals education and advocacy. Their focus on making schools an inclusive and respectful place where all are welcome and valued carries a message for students, parents, and professionals. An underlying theme of bright, articulate teens as the leadership force emerges through the students’ words and adults’ reflections. The stories of the GSA and conference are told through interviews with key individuals, including teachers, current and former students, and other school personnel. Connections are made to the larger context of the “new gay teenager.”

Social Coping of Gifted and LGBTQ Adolescents

“…However, gifted students are more likely to see such organizations as opportunities to express their talents and develop their capacity for leadership. “Bright, creative teens are often at the core of instigating a GSA or particular GSA-sponsored projects” (Friedman-Nimz et al, 2006, p. 261). Hébert (2012) asserted that social action, volunteering, and being able to help others allows gifted students to look beyond their own social problems.…”

“…However, researching these students can have potential political and social repercussions (Cohn, 2002; Kerr & Cohn, 2001), so few empirical studies have addressed this specific population. Of those, most are position papers (National Association for Gifted Children [NAGC], n.d.), opinion pieces (Eriksson & Stewart, 2005; Friedrichs, 1997; Tolan, 1997), broad literature reviews (Cohn, 2002; Friedrichs, 2011, 2014; Stewart, 2006), or case studies (Friedman-Nimz et al, 2006; Treat, 2010). Only two studies thus far (Peterson & Rischar, 2000; Treat, 2006) have made unique and generalizable research contributions to the literature on gifted and LGBTQ students.…”

Rainbow warriors: Waarom leerlingen actief zijn in Gay-Straight Alliances

“…GSA's zijn groepen van LHBT-en niet-LHBTleerlingen die proberen een veiliger schoolklimaat voor LHBT-leerlingen te creeren (Friedman-Nimz et al, 2006;NJI, 2014).…”

“…Het merendeel hiervan is op middelbare scholen gevestigd (COC Nederland, 2012). De grootte van een GSA kan sterk uiteenlopen (COC Nederland, 2012); een GSA in het artikel van Lee (2002) had twintig leden en in een door Friedman-Nimz et al (2006) genoemde GSA groeide het aantal leden binnen een schooljaar van drie naar honderd.…”

Improving the lives of students, gay and straight alike: Gay‐straight alliances and the role of school psychologists

“…As students in a GSA work toward nondiscrimination education and activism, they also learn about civic and political processes and citizenship (Russell, Muraco, Subramaniam, & Laub, ). Some GSA students also work with the community and learn social justice leadership skills (Friedman‐Nimz et al, ).…”