A Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) is a school based, student led, non-curricular club organized to end anti-gay bias and homophobia in schools and create positive change by making schools welcoming, supportive and safe places for ALL students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identitity. GSAs help eliminate anti-gay bias, discrimination, harassment and violence by educating school communities about homophopia and the lives of youth, and supporting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) students and their heterosexual allies.What Is a GSA?
GSAs allow LGBTQ and straight students to cooperatively address issues that affect all students, including harassment, discrimination, and biaaas based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. The term "gay straight alliance" exemplifies the purpose of the club: to build bridges among students of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions-whether they identify as gay, lesbian, straight, bisexual, transgender or anything else. The term also eemphasizes the clubs' efforts to acknowledge and embrace the differences and similarities among all involved.
The Gay Straight Alliance at Petaluma High School (GSA) has been fored to promote acceptance of the diversity of our students and teachers who represent the full spectrum of sexual orientations here at Petaluma High School. We want to help create a sfe place for all students LGBTQ and straight. This GSA has been dedicated in memory of Robin Reed a 15 year old student at Petaluma High School who committed suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge in 1995. Robin was gay and he felt isolated and rejected just for who he was born to be. Through our efforts as a GSA we hope and desire that all students will feel accepted at Petaluma High School. And if for some reason a student doesn't, he/she can come to the Gay Straight Alliance Club for support. We will be there for him/her.The Purpose of the GSA
