Resources: GSAs

GSAs:

What is your GSA up to? Hey, Cis! is a proud supporter of Nova Scotia GSAs - share your upcoming events with us and we'll be happy to include you on an upcoming Podcast! Whether you need a little getting started or some ideas to help get your organized, see our resources and templates below.

GSAs play a vital role in making schools safer for LGBTQQ students by providing supportive and accepting spaces as well as doing broader organizing work against homophobia and transphobia in school.

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Depending on your GSA’s mission and goals, activities will change week-to-week, month-to-month and year-to-year.

There are three common types of GSAs, which all meet the different needs of youth in different types of school climates:

• Social GSAs are generally helpful for youth trying to meet other LGBTQ & Ally students and make friends

• Support GSAs are for students who are trying to create safe spaces to talk about the various issues they face

• Activist GSAs are for those youth who are actively working to improve their school climate

Source: GSA Advisors Handbook:  

Forms:

For teachers to distribute to class on first day of school as an ice breaker:

Author: Isaac Cook

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Fundraising Ideas:

Connect with Pflag Halifax about fundraising to support the local non-profit: halifaxns@pflagcanada.ca

• Gays for Strays

• Face Painting: International Coming out Day, Trans Day of Visibility, PRIDE Month in June (as Mac Makeup for a lend of their rainbow palette and brush!);

• Everything from rainbow ribbons to candy sales on GSafe.org

• Check out this handy 'How to Fundraise' toolkit on GSA network

• What are you up to? Send us your ideas!

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Calendar/Planning:​

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Source: GSA Advisors Handbook: Page 13

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Support Groups: Local and Beyond

Please note: I am based in Nova Scotia so we are heavy on the NS resource links. But email me and I'm happy to help find resources in your own province.

• PFLAG Halifax:

• PFLAG Canada and their local Chapters:

• The Youth Project:

• Nova Scotia Rainbow Action Project (NSRAP):

• Aids Coalition of NS:

• FLY902 - 'First Love Yourself 902' Trans Support Group in Hfx:

• IWK Children's Hospital: Central Referral for Trans Health Team

• Rainbow Health Ontario

• Gender Creative Kids Quebec

• Egale Canada

• South House:

• Pride Health:

• For transition affirming items like binders, packers and more: Venus Envy, Halifax, NS

• Valley Youth Project:

• The Red Door, Kentville, NS:

• Antigonish Women's Resource Centre:

Meet a couple of amazing educators and advocates at The Transmission Tour

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Further afield and south of the border USA Youth Guide:

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Resource Guide for LGBTQ Students:

This is mostly American-based resources and it covers everything from scholarships and grants for students, how to find local LGBTQ+ events, clubs and organizations, and how to fight discrimination and cyberbullying - which is so important to talk about in this day and age.

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