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63-851: The Vancouver Queer Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually during the month of August. The festival was first held publicly in 1988. It is Vancouver's second largest film festival and Western Canada's largest queer arts event. Established in 1997, this juried award is given in recognition of Gerry Brunet, a lifelong contributor to the arts and an early board member at Out On Screen. Originally named for OUTtv's Hot Pink Shorts TV show (The OUTtv Hot Pink Shorts Award), this award recognizes an exceptional short film. Launched in 2004, Out in Schools brings independent queer films into local high schools in British Columbia. In conjunction with gay–straight alliances , Out in Schools focuses on

126-652: A GSA at school is guaranteed by both the First Amendment to the United States Constitution (with regard to every level of schooling) and the federal Equal Access Act (with regard to secondary schools where other student clubs are allowed, with the definition of secondary school for purposes of the federal law including middle schools and high schools). Since 1998, there have been at least 17 federal court cases in which high school and middle school students have conclusively prevailed in defending

189-695: A GSA group called Ardhek Akash, which also produces a magazine of the same name. In recent months the group has formed new chapters at Jadavpur University and St. Xavier's College —also in Calcutta—and is looking to expand further. The first GSA in Mexico was begun by a group of students in 2004 at the American School Foundation , a private American school in Mexico City. The GSA was initially opposed by several school board members and

252-645: A GSA, but the school board met and publicly stated they wanted to prevent the formation of "gay clubs" in the school district. They then created a policy requiring parents to provide written permission before a student can join any club. Students then protested with support from the ACLU . Students at West Carteret High School in Morehead City, North Carolina tried to start a GSA but the Carteret County Board of Education turned it down. In 1999,

315-521: A form of silence to call attention to the silencing effect of anti-LGBTQ bullying and harassment in schools. GLSEN's Day of Silence takes place in 8,000 U.S. schools every year and has spread to more than 60 countries. Every January, thousands of elementary and middle schools participate in GLSEN's No Name-Calling Week to end bullying. No Name-Calling Week was inspired by the popular young adult novel entitled The Misfits by popular author James Howe , and

378-516: A group of student requested to start a GSA at Vanier Catholic Secondary in Whitehorse . The school initially denied this request as it conflicted with the school's Catholic, anti-gay policies. Students of the school protested the denial by wearing pink shirts and holding a sit-in at the Yukon legislative building and wearing rainbow socks to their graduation ceremony. Following the protests,

441-406: A history teacher at the school who had just come out as gay, was approached by Meredith Sterling , a student at the school who was straight, but was upset by the treatment of gay students and others. Jennings recruited some other teachers at the school, thus forming the first gay–straight alliance. One of the first to join was Sterling's classmate S. Bear Bergman . Jennings credits students for both

504-643: A host of annual "Days of Action", including a No Name-Calling Week every January, a Day of Silence every April, and an Ally Week every September. Guided by research such as its National School Climate Survey , GLSEN has developed resources, lesson plans , classroom materials, and professional development programs for teachers on how to support LGBTQ students. Research shows that in response to bullying and mistreatment, many LGBTQ students avoid school altogether; this can lead to academic failure. To combat this problem, GLSEN has advocated for LGBTQ-inclusive anti-bullying laws and policies. GLSEN has also worked with

567-430: A meeting called by Phillips student Sharon Tentarelli for February 7, 1989, with little advance notice. A dozen people attended, including a mix of student, teachers, and staff. This was the second such group, after Concord Academy. The group was well-received, and some staff and faculty became supporters, both gay, and straight. Athletic director Kathy Henderson was one of the supporters, and she later went on to co-found

630-506: A policy which mandates that all school principals must establish a GSA if asked for one by students. The same year, the school board assigned a district consultant to provide support for GSAs within the city and host a monthly meeting for GSA members to network. In 2017, the NDP government of Alberta introduced Bill 24, the Act to Support Gay–Straight Alliances , which mandated that all schools within

693-462: A preliminary injunction ordering the school to allow the GSA to meet. The right of students to establish a GSA at school is guaranteed by both the First Amendment to the United States Constitution (with regard to every level of schooling) and the federal Equal Access Act (with regard to secondary schools as long as other student clubs are allowed, with the definition of secondary school for purposes of

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756-539: A pro-LGBTQ group initiative known as 'Breaking Barriers' which was the first student-led campaign in India to address LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex) issues. This group was first inspired to care and focus on the lives of oppressed students and hijras, a community of transgender women, intersex individuals, and eunuchs in India who are marginalized both socially and economically. At Presidency University, Kolkata , around 100 students have formed

819-461: A small group of religious conservative parents. But the students eventually won and formed the student club. The GSA's co-advisor, Ian K. Macgillivray, wrote several articles detailing his students' experiences, as well as the book, Gay–Straight Alliances: A Handbook for Students, Educators, and Parents (2007, Harrington Park Press). The first GSAs in the Netherlands were started in 2009. At

882-700: A talk on transgender rights and a performance by G.L.A.S.S., a local LGBTQ youth choir. As of 2011, 41% of schools in British Columbia were reported to have a GSA. The first GSA in Alberta was started in 2000 at the Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School in Red Deer . While members initially feared backlash, there was little-to-no negative reaction to the club. In 2011, the Edmonton public school board introduced

945-415: A website focused on GSAs and their role in making Canadian schools safer and more LGBTQ inclusive. Their website includes educational resources for GSAs and information about available bursaries and funding. While MyGSA previously included a directory of registered Canadian GSA, this feature is no longer available on their website. Prior to closing the public directory, more than 283 GSAs had registered with

1008-512: Is a student-led or community-based organization, found in middle schools , high schools, colleges , and universities. These are primarily in the United States and Canada. Gay–straight alliance is intended to provide a safe and supportive environment for lesbian , gay , bisexual , transgender , and all LGBTQ+ individuals, children, teenagers, and youth as well as their cisgender heterosexual allies . The first GSAs were established in

1071-532: Is an intensive digital filmmaking program for youth aged 16 to 24. This is part of the youth education initiatives which, together with Out In Schools , seeks to give media literacy and production opportunities to queer youth and their allies. It brings independent media artists together with queer youth to work with them on developing their own cultural voice and producing their first video. Since its inception, five films have been produced and exhibited. Out On Screen had partnered with Pacific Cinematheque to present

1134-546: Is supported by over 60 national partner organizations. Every fall, GLSEN's Ally Week serves to educate allies about the role they play in creating safer spaces for LGBTQ youth. Ally Week was started in 2005 by GLSEN's Jump-Start National Student Leadership team. Ally Week is supported by over 20 endorsers. On October 8, 2008, GLSEN and Ad Council released the Think Before You Speak campaign, designed to end homophobic vocabulary and raise awareness about

1197-662: The Democratic National Committee ; MTV ; and student Marina Gatto. Since then, the Respect Awards are held annually in New York in late May and in Los Angeles in late October. Since 2004, there have been over four-dozen honorees and over $ 17 million raised. In 2000, the leader of the conservative Parents' Rights Coalition of Massachusetts (now known as MassResistance ) secretly taped one of

1260-1107: The Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network ) is an American education organization working to end discrimination , harassment , and bullying based on sexual orientation , gender identity and gender expression and to prompt LGBT cultural inclusion and awareness in K-12 schools. Founded in 1990 in Boston, Massachusetts, the organization is now headquartered in New York City and has an office of public policy based in Washington, D.C. As of 2018, there are 39 GLSEN chapters across 26 states that train 5,000 students, educators, and school personnel each year. The chapters also support more than 4,000 registered school-based clubs—commonly known as gay–straight alliances (GSAs)--which work to address name-calling, bullying, and harassment in their schools. GLSEN also sponsors and participates in

1323-755: The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) filed a Court of Queen's Bench challenge application claiming that prohibiting school officials from notifying parents when their child joins a GSA violates their constitutional rights. The New Democratic Party of Alberta filibustered for changes to the Bill 8 (The Education Amendment Act) since the United Conservative Party (UCP) defeated all amendments that would protect LGBTQ teachers and staff over their sexual orientation and gender identity. The UCP have removed protections that were in

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1386-724: The Orange Unified School District in Orange County, California moved to prohibit the formation of a GSA at El Modena High School . The students then sued the school board, claiming that their rights under the First Amendment and the 1984 Equal Access Act had been violated. In the first-ever ruling of its kind, Judge David O. Carter of the United States District Court for the Central District of California issued

1449-596: The United States Secretary of Education , Arne Duncan , released a video on YouTube commemorating GSA Day and endorsing GSA clubs in schools. Approximately 28 per cent of participants at GSA Network identify as heterosexual. Some students face opposition from school administrations, elected school boards, or local communities in starting a school GSA. In 2015, students at Brandon High School in Rankin County, Mississippi , attempted to start

1512-847: The University of Canberra , Macquarie University , University of Western Sydney , Curtin University , various family planning and HIV prevention groups, government bodies and Uniting Church organizations. In 2016, Bulgaria became the first country in the Balkans to open a gay–straight alliance in Sofia American College . As Canada has two official languages , LGBTQ student clubs may be referred to as gay–straight alliances (GSA), queer-straight alliances (QSA), alliance allosexuelle-hétérosexuelle (AAH), or alliance gaie-hétéro (AGH). In May 2010 Egale Canada launched MyGSA.ca,

1575-658: The 1980s. Scientific studies show that GSAs have positive academic, health, and social impacts on schoolchildren of a minority sexual orientation and/or gender identity . Numerous judicial decisions in United States federal and state court jurisdictions have upheld the establishment of GSAs in schools, and the right to use that name for them. The first gay–straight alliance was formed in November 1988 at Concord Academy in Concord, Massachusetts , when Kevin Jennings ,

1638-463: The 19th Annual Vancouver Queer Film Festival on August 18, 2007, at Pacific Cinematheque as part of the Youth Series. A youth-friendly reception followed to celebrate the accomplishment of the four young filmmakers, as well as the success of the program. Gay%E2%80%93straight alliance A gay–straight alliance , gender–sexuality alliance ( GSA ) or queer–straight alliance ( QSA )

1701-429: The 2017 Bill 24, Bill 8 allows for students to be outed by school teachers, administration or staff if a student asks for there to be a GSA or QSA. Albertan schools are no longer compelled to act in an urgent manner in the student's request for a GSA or QSA, allowing the school to take as much time as desired without facing penalties that were in Bill 24. In Saskatchewan , Carlton Comprehensive High School houses one of

1764-516: The 50 workshops in "Teachout 2000", titled "What They Didn't Tell You About Queer Sex and Sexuality in Health Class: Workshop for Youth Only, Ages 14–21". Students discussed sex in a workshop "billed as a safe place for youths to get their questions about their sexuality answered" in the session's Q&A section. A question was asked about fisting a minor and an explanation was provided. Greg Carmack subsequently suggested that

1827-531: The B.C. Safe Schools Task Force on anti-bullying, and delivering workshops to students and educators about LGBT-sensitive inclusive language and how to start GSAs. In early 2002, the Pinetree GSA held the first Pride Day at a high school in Canada. The Pride Day included an information fair with booths from various local LGBTQ organizations, PrideTalk workshops delivered in numerous classes, and an assembly with

1890-670: The Federal Court ruling in Utah–East High Gay/Straight Alliance v. Board of Education of Salt Lake City School District . This ruling found that denying access to a school-based gay–straight alliance was a violation of the Federal Equal Access Act giving students the right to use facilities for extra curricular activities at any school that receives public funding—regardless of private standing or religious affiliation. On January 24, 2012,

1953-423: The GLSEN two years later, along with Kevin Jennings of Concord Academy. Described as "perhaps the most important precursor of the GSA movement," Los Angeles' Project 10 is seen as the start of the GSA movement. Founded in 1984, Project 10 was widely recognized as the first organized effort to provide support for LGBTQ youth in schools across the United States. The majority of its facilitators were heterosexual, and

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2016-654: The Manitoba government introduced Bill 18, The Public Schools Amendment Act (Safe and Inclusive Schools) . This act required school board to accommodate all student requests to form GSAs. The first elementary school GSA in Ontario was started in 2008 at the Sunnyside Public School in Kitchener . In Ontario , Arnprior District High school, a small rural Ottawa Valley town started a GSA created by

2079-680: The OUTShine GSA National Summit in 2013, they funded the Triangle Program at OASIS Alternative School, designed for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students who are at risk of dropping out or committing self-harm because of harassment in regular schools. As of 2011, 37% of schools in Ontario were reported to have a GSA. In 2008, the non-profit organization Pride in Education was founded to protect

2142-595: The Student Ambassadors program, is one of GLSEN's student leadership teams. Each year, GLSEN selects a small group of middle and high school students to serve as GLSEN youth representatives for the upcoming school year. Students of the National Student Council advise GLSEN on campaigns, bring GLSEN resources to their schools, represent GLSEN in the media, and have their own work published in local and national outlets. GLSEN Chapters, with

2205-581: The U.S. Departments of Education , Justice , and Health and Human Services to create model policies that support LGBTQ students and educators. GLSEN has considered their signature legislation to be the Safe Schools Improvement Act and has been honored by the White House as a "Champion of Change". GLSEN's Day of Silence is a national day of action that began at the University of Virginia in 1996 in which students vow to take

2268-590: The Yukon Department of Education overturned the school's policy regarding GSAs as it did not meet the mandates outlines in the department's Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Policy The only GSA in Nunavut is at Inuksuk High School in Iqaluit . In 2008, students at The University of Hong Kong founded Queer Straight Alliance (QSA), a registered society under Hong Kong laws. For several years it

2331-430: The annual GLSEN Respect Awards to honor leaders, personalities, and organizations who have made significant contributions to LGBTQ youth. Awards are given to organizations, celebrities, students, educators and gay–straight alliances . Since 2004, there have been over four dozen honorees and over $ 15 million raised in all. The first Respect Awards were in New York in 2004 and honored Andrew Tobias , author and Treasurer of

2394-580: The beginning of 2011, a nationwide campaign was started on television to promote GSAs in Dutch schools, featuring several well-known young actors and singers. A number of GSAs already exist in a wide variety of Dutch schools throughout the country, most of them at the university level, but increasingly popular on secondary school level. Nelson College , the Nelson College for Girls , Nayland College and other schools have had GSAs set up, often with

2457-1026: The campaign won the Ad Council 's Gold Bell award for "Best Public Service Advertising Campaign". GLSEN has been conducting research and evaluation on LGBTQ issues in K-12 education since 1999. GLSEN became the only organization to regularly document the school experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) middle and high school students in the U.S. using GLSEN's National School Climate Survey. Other research reports GLSEN has put out include From Statehouse to Schoolhouse: Anti-Bullying Policies in U.S. States and School Districts , Shared Differences: The Experiences of LGBTQ Students of Color in Our Nation's Schools , Harsh Realities: The Experiences of Transgender Youth in Our Nation's Schools , as well as many other reports, articles, and book chapters. The GLSEN National Student Council, formerly known as

2520-411: The establishment of the club, as well as for setting the agenda of struggling against homophobia, and for changes to CA's nondiscrimination policy. Jennings would go on to co-found the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) in Boston in 1990. According to a thirty-year retrospective about the history of the group, Concord Academy reported in 2018 that students at the academy had renamed

2583-562: The federal law including middle schools and high schools). GSAs cannot be banned if other non-curricular student clubs are allowed to exist at the school. The Federal Equal Access Act and the First Amendment of the US Constitution establish the requirement of equal treatment for all non-curriculum related clubs regardless of the content of speech at the club meetings. In the United States, the right of students to establish

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2646-568: The first GSA movements in the city of Prince Albert . The first GSA in the city of Saskatoon first met on March 18, 2003, at Mount Royal Collegiate . Since then, GSAs have been established at Nutana, Walter Murray , Evan Hardy , Marion Graham , Bedford Road and Aden Bowman Collegiates. The city of North Battleford Saskatchewan, had their first GSA in 2004 at Sakewew High School, a First Nations school. Saskatchewan's first GSA summit took place on April 15, 2016, in Saskatoon. In 2013,

2709-515: The first year of the "FirstOUT Video Scholarship Program". The application submission ended in November 2006. By mid-December, four participants were selected and were paired in a one-on-one mentorship with celebrated local independent media artists in Vancouver, British Columbia . The training and production period began in February and ended late June. All of the four short films were screened at

2772-492: The formation of "tolerance clubs" and student associations. Gay–straight clubs were to be specifically mentioned in that act. The main focus of that Bill 14 would be to counterattack bullying of students, particularly those of a racial or sexual minority. Beyond a school group the Toronto District School Board has been committed to an unwritten alliance with their students. In addition to co-hosting

2835-403: The free exercise of their civil rights on this issue, with federal courts consistently ruling that students have both a right to establish a GSA at school and to use the name Gay–Straight Alliance instead of an alternative name. In 2000, the United States District Court for the Central District of California ruled in favour of high school students whose attempt to form a GSA had been blocked by

2898-419: The group "a few years ago" to "Gender Sexuality Alliance". Faculty mentor Nancy Boutilier said, "That gay–straight language was really important at the time. Times change, though. To students today, that sounds so binary." A few months after Concord started the first Gay Straight Alliance club, another Massachusetts preparatory school north of Boston, Phillips Academy , started one of their own. It began with

2961-423: The group Safe Schools Coalition Victoria piloted a system of reducing homophobia though teacher training and student groups that promote inclusion of LGBTQ young people, which ran from 2014 to 2017. Started by The Foundation for Young Australians and Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria, along with La Trobe University, the program was expanded to run Australia wide. The program was supported by Beyondblue , Headspace ,

3024-548: The organizations are in the United States, but are beginning to spread, particularly in Canada. As of July 2020, as reported by the media Star Observer , Australia has one gay–straight alliance set up within the Melbourne Grammar School . However, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada and some parts of the United States have had gay–straight alliances within schools for decades. In Australia,

3087-522: The prevalence and consequences of anti-LGBTQ bias and behavior in America's schools among youth, through the use of television, radio, print, and outdoor ads. The campaign also aimed to raise awareness among adults, school personnel, and parents. It includes three television public service announcements (PSAs), six print PSAs and three radio PSAs. Television commercials for the campaign include singer Hilary Duff as well as comedian Wanda Sykes . In 2008

3150-418: The province allow student to create a GSA, allow them to explicitly name it a gay–straight alliance or queer-straight alliance, and prohibits school officials from notifying parents if their child joined a GSA. Schools that do not comply with the bill's requirement are subject to lose government funding. Following the release of the bill, there was disapproval from some politicians and parents. In April 2018,

3213-632: The public, in 2013. In 1998, The Youth Project, a non-profit focused on LGBTQ youth in Nova Scotia , received funding from Health Canada to increase education about LGBTQ in schools. Through this initiative, the organization was able to found the first GSA in Nova Scotia at Millwood High School . The Youth Project currently hosts a list of all GSAs in the province on their website. The first GSA conference in Newfoundland and Labrador

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3276-406: The question might have been planted by those making the recordings. MassResistance dubbed the incident "Fistgate" and the tapes generated controversy when they were broadcast over radio. A state employee who participated in the discussion and was subsequently dismissed filed suit against Camenker and Scott Whiteman as a result of the distribution of the tape recordings, while others pointed out

3339-599: The safety and wellbeing of LGBTQ students in New Brunswick . In 2010, they held the first annual Pride in Education GSA Conference for students and teachers interested in creating GSAs. The first GSA in New Brunswick was founded in 2013 at Woodstock High School following the suggestion of Svend Robinson . The University of Prince Edward Island 's Social Justice Studies program founded shOUT!, an annual conference aimed as GSAs but open to

3402-481: The school board, in the case of Colin v. Orange Unified School District . In 2009, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida ruled in favor of high school students whose attempt to form a GSA had been blocked by the school board, in the case of Gay–Straight Alliance of Yulee High School v. School Board of Nassau County , with the federal court also ruling that the school must allow

3465-636: The serious issues that affect queer youth. The purpose of Out in Schools is to reduce isolation and increase the safety of the learning environment for queer students in the community. Out in Schools aims to increase understanding through education to combat issues such as homophobia and bullying that threaten the safety of the classrooms for both queer and straight students. In 2013, Out in Schools expanded its program reach by 25% into new school districts, delivering 100 classroom presentations focused on queer and anti-bullying education to more than 8,200 high school students across BC! FirstOUT Video Scholarship Program

3528-465: The students in 2009. This GSA won one of three Jer's Vision "Youth Role Model of The Year" awards in April 2009. The next year a GSA was founded by students in 2010 at Renfrew Collegiate Institute in the town of Renfrew . In December 2011, the government of the most populous Canadian province, Ontario, announced it would bring a legislation making it mandatory for all publicly funded schools to support

3591-600: The students to use the name Gay–Straight Alliance instead of an alternative name that excludes the term Gay . In 2016, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit unanimously ruled in favor of middle school students whose attempt to form a GSA had been blocked by the school board, in the case of Carver Middle School Gay–Straight Alliance v. School Board of Lake County, Florida . Worldwide, gay–straight alliances are not as common as

3654-600: The support and guidance of the national office, work to bring GLSEN programs to their specific communities on a local level. Chapter board members and volunteers are students, educators, parents and community members who volunteer their time to support students and Gay-Straight Alliances, train educators and provide opportunities for everyone to make change in their local schools. GLSEN has 38 volunteer-led GLSEN Chapters in 26 states that work with student leaders, provide professional development for educators, and encourage policymakers to enact LGBTQ-inclusive policies. GLSEN organizes

3717-536: The support of youth mental health bodies. Kira Byrne, a GSA leader at Nelson College for Girls, says that the legalization of same-sex marriage in New Zealand in 2013 created shifts in attitudes towards LGBTQ people in New Zealand, but that boys at Nelson College were afraid to go to the GSA there because "other boys would wait outside to beat up anyone that came out." Gay, Lesbian %26 Straight Education Network GLSEN (pronounced glisten ; formerly

3780-502: The website. Currently there are no federal laws in Canada regarding GSAs. Any laws are specific to each province or territory. The first GSA in Canada was started in 1998 at Pinetree Secondary School in Coquitlam , British Columbia. The start of the Pinetree GSA garnered national media attention, and its members continued to play a role in public affairs by meeting with successive provincial Ministers of Education, testifying before

3843-494: Was held at Corner Brook Regional High in 2013. While the Yukon Department of Education does not have specific legislation regarding GSA, it does have a policy which mandates safety and inclusion for LGBTQ students which has been used in the justification for GSAs. Additionally, the territory mandates that all schools must appoint a staff member as a "safe contact" to provide support for LGBTQ students. In 2013,

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3906-507: Was named after the commonly-held statistic that 10 per cent of the adult male population is "exclusively homosexual". Project 10 focused on issues such as substance use , and discussing issues of high-risk sexual behaviour. The first GSA was started in 1988, in Concord, Massachusetts at Concord Academy by Kevin Jennings . The first public school gay–straight alliance was started at Newton South High School ( Newton, Massachusetts ) by teacher Robert Parlin. GSAs made headlines in 1999 with

3969-580: Was the only GSA in the city, and it serves students in all campuses through social activities, career support and advocacy. In more recent years, university students in the city have formed other student LGBTQ groups. However, GSA efforts in secondary schools remain limited, if any. The first GSA in India was started in Tagore International School in New Delhi in 2014 by a group of students and their mentor Shivanee Sen who had formed

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