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Useful tips to make your sexuality and gender alliance or GSA more successful in 2022
Tags: #LGBTQIA, #SAGA, #GSA, #Education, #Guide
Sexuality And Gender Alliances (SAGA), also known as Gay-Straight Alliances (GSA) or Sexuality And Gender Equality (SAGE) Cubs are student-run clubs/organisations focused on shining light on LGBTQ+ youth issues and concerns within their school and the greater community.
Let's get started.
Tip #1 - Establish Your SAGA
Before you can focus on how you want your club to run, make sure you establish it the same way you would any other club at your school - you can look in your student handbook for your school's specific rules and regulations on starting a club.
This process can include getting permission from administration, finding an advisor and/or writing a constitution. You can find out specifics in my Starting a SAGA/GSA Guide.
Tip #2 - Brainstorm
You should start off each year with a team meeting to discuss your general goals/dreams/visions for your SAGA.
What you do in your SAGA is going to look different from others, but the main idea here is to have an open discussion about what you want to focus your efforts on this year. Decide if you want to focus on things like social activities, education, support or advocacy. You could decide you need to focus on all of these, or some entirely different ones - it all depends on your individual needs.
Try mind-mapping: Either on a whiteboard or large piece of paper, write the name of your SAGA in the middle and as a group create a visual representation of the issues, activities, ideas and actions that are important to your group.
Tip #3 - Show and Tell
At one of your meetings, you can research significant people from various LGBTQ+ communities that have played a part in advocacy for trans and queer issues.
Find significant people in your community, cities near you and worldwide.
E.g. Reina Gosset - a writer and filmmaker - speaks to how often trans and queer history is often forgotten or erased.
Tip #4 - Spread the Word
Have a poster party!
Take the time to brainstorm what you'd want someone at your school to know about your SAGA; if someone had no clue what you did and what you stand for, what would you want to tell them?
Have each member create their own idea for the perfect poster, and then as a group discuss how you want to share them. Advertising is going to be one of the most important tools to get your points across.
Tip #5 - Create Resources
Find out what people around you need, and then provide it.
You can create a resource document with links to local services, or if there aren't any local services, provide some. This is where you can plan events and outreach programmes like providing safe spaces for students after school who may not feel comfortable going home yet, hosting a study group and much more!
So What's Next?
Take a moment to comment below with your ideas; what works for you and how can it help others.
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