Many students create a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) group at their school to encourage understanding between LGBT, straight, and questioning students. A GSA provides a safe space where students can talk.  Pennsylvania public school students are likely to have the legal right to form a GSA if their school allows even one other student extracurricular club to meet on campus before, during, or after school.  No school can discriminate against a student club simply because of the subject matter discussed at the meetings.

There are five basic steps to creating a GSA

1. Know your rights.
Under the federal Equal Access Act of 1984, no school may treat a student club discriminatorily based upon the content of speech at the club’s meetings.

2. Explain to school administrators what a GSA is.
It is a school group whose purpose is to encourage understanding between LGBT, straight, and questioning students and create a safe space for discussion.

3. Seek allies and present your case.
The support of an administrator or teacher will create a less hostile school environment and signal to other students that a GSA is to be respected, like any other school club.

4. Recognize if school officials are hostile to the idea of a GSA.  Hostile officials may:

• Forbid forming a GSA;
• Require changing the name to something like “tolerance club;”
• Say that the school board must approve the formation of a GSA; and
• Restrict the GSA’s privileges by not allowing the club to post flyers, make announcements, or discuss certain topics.

5. If you are having trouble forming a GSA, Equality Advocates can help by:

• Explaining the law to you, other students, parents, teachers and allies;
• Advocating with the school district for the GSA; and
• Bringing legal action if the school district is in violation of the law.

20 U.S.C §§ 4071-4074.