Take Action!
Out, Safe & Respected
There are many ways to take action to create safe schools for LGBTQ young people. Some schools do not have organized LGBTQ groups, often known as gay-straight alliances (GSAs), but you can help make change with other initiatives like creating a display for LGBT History Month in October. Be creative. And remember — you have legal rights, but they only matter if you use them and insist that they are respected. Here are some ideas on how you can take action:
Make wallet-sized calendars with holidays and important school events on one side and famous people or events in LGBT history on the other (for example, the Stonewall riots, Harvey Milk's election or assassination or the Lawrence v. Texas decision which decriminalized homosexuality across the country).
Conduct a school-climate survey, and find out how your school measures up. Visit www.glsen.org for more information.
Work with other student organizations to host a Diversity Day. Students can share their experiences with all forms of prejudice and participate in discussion groups about diversity.
Create a bibliography of age-appropriate LGBT-themed books to give your English or history teacher.
Pop some popcorn, make rainbow-colored Jello-O and host a movie night with one or two of your favorite films about LGBT issues.
Write an article or column for your school newspaper on LGBT issues at your school. Or cast your net even wider and write and essay for a national youth publication.
Organize a book club and plan to meet once a month after school to discuss your favorite books about LGBT issues.
