1. G S A Gay-Straight Alliance Onteora High School January, 2008

2. What is a GSA? A student driven, school-based group organized to : A student driven, school-based group organized to : –End anti-gay bias and homophobia in schools –Create positive change in the school environment –Make the school a welcoming and safe place for ALL students

3. Mission Statement To promote understanding among students of all sexual orientations and gender identities To promote understanding among students of all sexual orientations and gender identities To create a safer, more respectful learning environment for all students To create a safer, more respectful learning environment for all students

4. What a GSA provides: A sense of belonging for students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered A sense of belonging for students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered Support to ALL students who experience bullying and harassment from peers Support to ALL students who experience bullying and harassment from peers Strategies on how to deal with bullying and harassment Strategies on how to deal with bullying and harassment

5. What a GSA is all about: Support AdvocacySocial

6. How Homophobia hurts Everyone: Locks people into rigid gender-based roles that inhibit creativity, self- expression Locks people into rigid gender-based roles that inhibit creativity, self- expression Inhibits one’s ability to form close relationships Inhibits one’s ability to form close relationships Prevents some LGBTQ people from developing an authentic self-identity Prevents some LGBTQ people from developing an authentic self-identity Stigmatizes and silences those who are gay, or who are perceived to be gay Stigmatizes and silences those who are gay, or who are perceived to be gay

7. How Homophobia hurts Everyone: Inhibits appreciation of other types of diversity, making it unsafe for everyone – we are ALL diminished when any one of us are demeaned Inhibits appreciation of other types of diversity, making it unsafe for everyone – we are ALL diminished when any one of us are demeaned Prevents others from accepting the benefits and gifts offered by LGBTQ people Prevents others from accepting the benefits and gifts offered by LGBTQ people

8. Some Staggering Statistics… (GLSEN) 97% of public school students report regularly hearing homophobic remarks from their peers 97% of public school students report regularly hearing homophobic remarks from their peers The typical high school student hears anti-gay slurs over 25 times a day The typical high school student hears anti-gay slurs over 25 times a day 80% of gay and lesbian youth report severe social isolation 80% of gay and lesbian youth report severe social isolation

9. More Statistics…. (GLSEN) LGBT students are five times more likely to skip school LGBT students are five times more likely to skip school LGBT students are only half as likely to pursue postsecondary education, mainly because they feel alienated and unsafe LGBT students are only half as likely to pursue postsecondary education, mainly because they feel alienated and unsafe The average gpa for LGBT students who were harassed was half a grade lower than that of other LGBT students (2.6 versus 3.1) The average gpa for LGBT students who were harassed was half a grade lower than that of other LGBT students (2.6 versus 3.1)

10. More facts… (GLSEN) The average age at which lesbian and gay youth become aware that their feelings of “difference” are linked to same-sex sexual orientation is 13 The average age at which lesbian and gay youth become aware that their feelings of “difference” are linked to same-sex sexual orientation is 13 9% of high school students identify as “gay, lesbian, bisexual, or questioning” 9% of high school students identify as “gay, lesbian, bisexual, or questioning”

11. Additional Facts…. (GLSEN) 19% of gay males and 25% of lesbians report suffering physical violence at the hands of family members as a result of their sexual orientation 19% of gay males and 25% of lesbians report suffering physical violence at the hands of family members as a result of their sexual orientation 30% of gay and bisexual adolescent males attempt suicide at least once 30% of gay and bisexual adolescent males attempt suicide at least once Gay and lesbian youth represent 30% of all completed teen suicides Gay and lesbian youth represent 30% of all completed teen suicides –this translates to a successful suicide attempt by a gay teen every 5 hours and 48 minutes

12. Frequency of Hearing "That's So Gay“ (GLSEN)