Gay-Straight Alliances: A Handbook for Students, Educators, and Parent

Description

A step by step guide to the school club that provides a safe place for LGBT and straight kids A Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) provides a safe place for students to discuss issues, meet others, and get support from those who care. Gay-Straight Alliances: A Handbook for Students, Educators, and Parents explains exactly how to begin this important type of school club that helps build positive... Read more

A step by step guide to the school club that provides a safe place for LGBT and straight kids

A Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) provides a safe place for students to discuss issues, meet others, and get support from those who care. Gay-Straight Alliances: A Handbook for Students, Educators, and Parents explains exactly how to begin this important type of school club that helps build positive relationships and promotes knowledge and tolerance. This guide tells students what it takes to start a GSA at their school, teachers how best to work with GSAs, and helps principals and superintendents to understand the applicable laws. Parents who read this book can discover for themselves just how positive an influence the GSA may be in their child’s life.

Beginning a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) takes courage as well as the support of educators and parents. Gay-Straight Alliances: A Handbook for Students, Educators, and Parents discusses all aspects of this type of school club, including the issues and challenges students will face when forming it. Teachers are given helpful perspectives on how to meet the inevitable concerns of parents and public officials and how to be an effective advisor. Principals and school officials are given an overview of the federal laws and the responsibility of schools to adhere to them. The book includes appendixes with helpful resources on sexual orientation and gender identity development, LGBT issues and schools, and the 1984 Federal Equal Access Act.

Topics in Gay-Straight Alliances: A Handbook for Students, Educators, and Parents include:

starting a GSA in ten steps
how teachers and counselors can work with GSAs
including transgender students
First Amendment rights
1984 Federal Equal Access Act
Title IX
a review of federal guidelines for religious expression in public schools
school anti-harassment policies
understanding the opposition-with strategies for working with them
working with parents
common misconceptions about GSAs

Gay-Straight Alliances: A Handbook for Students, Educators, and Parents is a valuable guide for students wanting to start a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) at their school, for teachers on how to best work with GSAs, for principals and superintendents on GSAs and the law, and for parents who have children in schools with GSAs. Read less

Foreword (Arthur Lipkin)
Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1. What Is a Gay-Straight Alliance?
Sexual Orientation
Gender Identity
Are GSAs Sex Clubs?
Why Do Students Start Gay-Straight Alliances?
How Do Gay-Straight Alliances Help All Students?
Summary
Web Resources
Chapter 2. For Students: Starting a GSA in Your School
How to Start a GSA in Ten Not-So-Easy Steps
Maintaining a Gay-Straight Alliance
Summary
Chapter 3. For Teachers and Counselors: How to Work with GSAs
Where to Begin?
Working with LGBT Students of Color
Working with Transgender Youth
Helping Students Define the Purpose of Their GSA
Helpful Tips for Working with GSAs
Summary
Chapter 4. For Principals and Superintendents: GSAs and the Law
First Amendment Rights
The 1984 Federal Equal Access Act
The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
Title IX
Frequently Asked Questions
Summary
Chapter 5. For School Boards: Understanding the Opposition and Working with Parents
Understanding the Opposition
Reverse Discrimination?
Common Arguments Against GSAs
Why The Common Arguments Are False
Strategies for Working with the Opposition
Summary
Chapter 6. For Parents: Supporting Your Child
Balancing Parents’ Rights with Those of the Public Schools
Working with Parents Who Oppose GSAs
Summary
Chapter 7. Conclusion: In Support of Equality and Inclusion
Appendix A. Resources on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Development
Appendix B. Resources on LGBT Issues and Schools
Appendix C. 1984 Federal Equal Access Act
Bibliography
Index
Reference Notes Included

Author(s)

Biography

Ian K. Macgillivray

Critics' Reviews

"Gay Straight Alliances is so well organized and full of helpful resources and information that it is an invaluable resource to anyone who has an interest in creating or working with a GSA."—Journal of LGBT Youth

Gay-Straight Alliances A Handbook for Students, Educators, and Parents

Description

Table of Contents

Author(s)

Biography

Critics' Reviews

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