What are Positive Arguments to Starting a GSA?

These are some effective points that I've been able to bring up and even people who are the most upset about the organization will find common ground with.

1- Let's start with how it's an Anti-Bullying Strategy. Students who are in the LGBT community are underdogs. Underdogs are always a big target for bullying. The research shows that students do not typically report bullying to teachers the older they get so a club where they build a connection to staff members where they have a voice and they are listened to will increase reports of bullying simply because of the increase of trust. My students have not only been communicating instances of bullying but they find it enjoyable to report instances of positive happenings. We even have a thank you note activity if they want to send a particular teacher or administrator a thank you for support towards the LGBT community or an act against bullying as a whole.  "Prevalence statistics on anti-gay bully-ing depict a hostile school environment for youth who identify, or are perceived as, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ) their sexual orientation." (Mellin, E.  &  Hinojosa T. March 2011) Anti-Gay Bullying and Suicide: Implications and Resources for  Counselors The Counselor Education Newsletter 5 (26)  pg 1-3

2- Mental health-  Suicide prevention, Self confidence. The statistics are terrible when it comes to the links between suicide and LGBT youth. Research shows that having a connection to a supportive and listening school faculty member makes a difference. Also, making suicide prevention a theme in the club can empower the club members to take it on as an issue to promote. Teach them what some suicide prevention strategies are because they know that friends are usually the first people that can see a red flag when it comes to their own friends being depressed or needing help. We partner up with the district to promote the Trevor Project and To Write Love on Her Arms which are great resources. "Non-heterosexual youth were at an increased risk for suicide, being four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. Suicide attempts by non-heterosexual youth are six times more likely to result in injury, poisoning, or overdose that requires medical treatment" (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011).

3- GSA sponsors become liaisons for the students to present issues that concern them. The issues that my own students bring up would make them feel very awkward to go directly to the administration about. For example, school restrooms were a concern with the lack of unisex bathrooms. Once I was able to bring it to the attention of the administration while explaining basic issues of a transgendered students or even students with different gender expressions the conversation began. The administration had concerns that were valid and we approached baby steps in the right direction. We were able to locate unisex restrooms that were already in the school but were not really open or publicized to students and we were then able to pass that information on to the kids. There's still work to be done on the issue, however the point is that the issue has been brought up when before it wouldn't have been.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2011). Sexual identity, sex of sexual contacts, and
       health-risk behaviors among students in grades 9–12: youth risk behavior surveillance,
       selected sites, United States, 2001–2009. Surveillance Summaries, 60, 1-133.

Mellin, E. & Hinojosa T. (March 2011) Anti-Gay Bullying and Suicide: Implications and Resources for Counselors The Counselor Education Newsletter 5 (26)  pg 1-3