Going beyond gay-straight alliances to make schools safe for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students

Currently, the establishment of Gay-Straight Alliances (GSA) in schools is one of the most visible and widely adopted strategies for calling attention to and addressing the needs of LGBT students. Though some school officials, parents, community members, and even state legislators have challenged the appropriateness and need for GSAs, research available about GSAs and their impact on school climate indicates that these student clubs provide support for students and call attention to previously ignored issues of school harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender expression.