Application Has Been Turned In

Last Wednesday, August 28, the application and packet for the GSA was submitted to the principal of the high school. Included in the packet was our constitution with 14 student signatures, the Articles of Association, bylaws, and the student letters written last Spring. The copies were on bright yellow paper (except for the constitution and signatures which was on rainbow paper) so the application would be easy to find. One of our faculty advisors said several years ago she helped students turn in applications to start a similar club by a different name, but the applications kept getting "misplaced" by administration and/or district. (The students gave up.) Hopefully, there are new people there now.

Last Wednesday was also the 50th Anniversary for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech. :)

May I randomly add that we have three official faculty advisors and two unofficial faculty advisors? We are so blessed!

The students were looking forward to participating in tonight's Club Tailgate to promote the GSA club. We can't, however, participate until the club is officially approved, which could take several weeks. Disappointing, I know, but I told the students this will give us time to be more prepared, to have ideas for meetings, a service project plan, etc. When we are official, we can present ourselves as an organized unit whereas right now we are kind of like, "Um, what do we do next?" which is what I'm constantly asking myself. LOL

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Our Official Sign-Up Sheet

The lines are misaligned here. I'm leaving them that way in case anyone wants to copy and paste it to a word processing program where the lines should line up there. And, yes, I will print this on rainbow paper.

(  ) High School Gay Straight Alliance

I am signing this to show interest in becoming a member of a Gay Straight Alliance Club (GSA) at ( ) High School. The purpose of this club is to provide a safe and supportive environment for all students including Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) students, their Straight allies, and students with LGBTQ family.  The club plans to work towards providing a safe, neutral, and supportive environment to students affected by a lack of understanding.

Students Name Cell or email to inform you of our club meetings

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Our School's Application for Clubs, Rules, and Constitution Example

During my visit with the school's administrator, I was given an application for the club's charter, a list of rules governing clubs, and an example of a club's constitution. I have a phone app that takes a picture of the documents and turns them into pdf format. They turned out a little blurry -- it's not your eyes. :)

Application for Club Charter

Rules Governing Clubs

Club Constitution Example (we have our own as previously posted August 16th.

Our Official By-Laws

Bylaws

The ( ) High School GSA Club

Adopted (8/13/2013)

Section One – Officers

The ( ) High School GSA shall be governed by 6 elected officers of the student body, who are elected in the second week of May or every year and whose term begins on the last day of the school year. The club shall have a minimum of one advisor acting as both a representative of the school administration and on behalf of the faculty.

Officers are expected to keep a GPA of 3.0 and above. No officer shall be eligible for election without prior signed consent of the club advisor.

Section Two – Elections of officers

All candidates who wish to be officers of the ( ) High School GSA shall submit to the advisor two weeks before elections an application and written declaration of why they are declaring their candidacy. It shall be the responsibility of the advisor to administer elections to ensure fairness. There shall be 6 elected officers and they are as follows:

• President, Vice President, Secretary, Senior Class Representative, Junior Class Representative, and Sophomore Class Representative whose responsibilities are listed in Addendum A.

-Sophomore class representative shall be elected the first week of October and shall submit the same application and declaration of candidacy to the advisor before the end of September.

Section Three – Officers Disciplinary Procedures

If it is decided by a member of the GSA that an officer is not performing their duties, it is the responsibility of that member to inform the advisor of their complaint. Once the advisor receives 3 complaints or as defined by a majority of the club during the first month of the school year, or a serious enough complaint as defined by the advisor, it is the advisor’s duty to verbally inform the officer in question of the complaints, while protecting the identity of the complain-tees. This shall be the first verbal warning, and they shall be given a minimum of two weeks, or a period of time decided by the advisor, to change their behavior. After this time, if the officer in question has not changed or improved their behavior, or satisfactorily performed their duties, a second verbal warning shall be issued. After the second period of warning of minimum of another 2 weeks, if the officer in question still has not modified their behavior to the satisfaction of the members, they shall be asked to resign from their position by the advisor.

All of these procedures and warnings will be known by the other officers within the GSA so that they may support and assist the officer in question in satisfactorily performing their duties and adjusting their behavior to fit the needs of the general membership and the GSA club.

If an officer’s GPA drops below an average of 3.0, they will be able to continue attending presidency and general meetings but will not be given any responsibilities or tasks until their GPA has risen to a 3.0 or higher.

If an officer’s GPA drops below an average or 2.0, they will be asked to temporarily step down from their office until their GPA has risen to an average or 3.0 or higher. They will also be ask to not attend regular presidency meetings but will still be able to attend general meetings and club activities.

If a member of the presidency is involved in sexual harassment as defined by ( ) High School and/or Alpine School district, or if they partake in any form of drugs and/or alcohol, they will be required to immediately resign from their position.

Section Four – Terms of Office for Officers

GSA Officers are elected for a 1 year term. If an officer resigns from their position before the completion of their term then the elected replacement will complete the remainder of the term. A replacement must be elected within one month of an officer’s resignation. If the president resigns before the end of their term then the vice president will immediately become the club president and a replacement vice president shall be elected in the manner previously mentioned.

Section Five – Voting

Prior notice of a minimum of one week shall be given to the general membership before a vote or election is held and a majority ballot vote is required to be an elected officer.

Section 6 – Meetings

The exact date, time, and location will need to be determined to best suit the advisor’s schedule. Any member of the student body may attend meetings. If a meeting is cancelled, it is the responsibility of the officers to inform the membership and in addition, place notification on the meeting room door.

Section 7 – Rules of Order

All meetings shall be conducted by the president unless another officer has been asked to conduct the meeting. It is the responsibility of the president to call meetings to order and end them according to the time constraints laid out in the agenda of the meeting.

-Basic parliamentary procedures adapted from Roberts Rules of Order will be used.

Sections Eight – Bylaws

The bylaws shall be adopted by the officers and advisor before the end of the month of September of each year. It is also the responsibility of the officers to review school and district policies and procedures and if any section of these bylaws is found in conflict with any policy or procedure of the school and/or district then that section shall be amended and adopted by the officers, advisors, and members of the club unless said school or district Policy is thought to be discriminatory, state and/or federally unconstitutional, or going against this club’s, GSA of ( ) High School, constitution.

If a district or school policy or procedure is found to be any of the above mentioned, it will be brought to the attention of the school and/or district as well as one of the following third parties so that an investigation may take place. Those third parties are as follows; National Association of GSA Networks (Gay-Straight Alliance), Utah QSA Network (Queer-Straight Alliance), ACLU of Utah (American Civil Liberties Union), and GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network).

Addendum (A)

( ) High School GSA

Adopted (8/13/2013)

Officers 

The Responsibilities of the GSA Club officers shall include but not be limited to the following:

• Set overall strategy and calendar for the GSA club.
• Plan and lead club business, meetings, and activities.
• Lead efforts to revise the Articles of Association, Bylaws, and Addendum as needed to satisfy the requirements of the school and club.

President

The President’s responsibilities include:

• Supervising, facilitating, and coordinating GSA activities and meetings
• Calling and presiding over regular and special meetings of the club.
• Working in conjunction with the officers to create and plan meetings and programming of the GSA
• Serve as primary student liaison with the school.

Vice President

The Vice President’s responsibilities include:

• Coordination of all fundraising activities.
• Preparation of meeting and activity space.
• Assume the responsibilities of the president if said president cannot complete their term or attend the meetings and/or activities.
• Work with the President to create and implement programming for the GSA clubs.

Secretary

The Secretary’s responsibilities include:

• Preparation and documentation of minutes and agendas of the GSA club.
• Recording and documenting club history (includes photographing events)
• Drafting and writing any Club publications or press releases.

Senior Class Representative

The responsibilities of the senior class representative include:

• Liaison of members in their grade level
• Working with class officers of the school for their grade level to learn about potential opportunities for involvement of the GSA club, i.e. parades, dances, pep rallies, publicity and education events.
• Responsibilities of Public Relations such as: informing school and local media of club activities and events (including writing of media publications in conjunction with the Club secretary), and promoting the club in school and local media.

Junior Class Representative

The responsibilities of the junior class representative include:

• Liaison of members in their grade level.
• Working with class officers of the school for their grade level to learn about potential opportunities for involvement of the GSA club, i.e. parades, dances, pep rallies, publicity and education events.
• Also the responsibilities of treasurer such as; tracking and documentation of budget and club fundraising, and to work with the vice president in planning possible and future fundraisers

Sophomore Class Representative

The responsibilities of the sophomore class representative include:

• Liaison of members in their grade level.
• Working with class officers of the school for their grade level to learn about potential opportunities for involvement of the GSA club, i.e. parades, dances, pep rallies, publicity and education events.
• Communication with President and other officers about incoming and youth students needs as the newest members of the student body
• Oversee, in conjunction with the club officers and Club advisor, outreach to local middle/junior high schools.

Advisor

The responsibilities of the club advisor include:

• Overseeing and monitoring the appropriate behavior of all members and officers of the QSA Club.
• Overseeing and conducting fair and honest elections for officers within the club
• Acting as a supportive and mature influence to foster a positive, healthy, and inclusive environment for club membership.
• Working with students as a liaison between students, parents, and school administration.

Our Official Articles of Association

Articles of Associations

The ( ) High School GSA Club

Adopted (8/13/2013)

Article One – Name

The name of this organization is the ( ) High School Gay-Straight Alliance Club, hereinafter referred to as (GSA).

Article Two – Purpose

The ( ) High School GSA is an affiliate of, and chartered by the members of the student body of ( ) High School, and is a social, support, and advocacy club for students of ( ) High School. The club and members therein will bring together members of the student body to promote a supportive and affirmative environment that is friendly and respectful of all students of ( ) High School regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. We will work to end all forms of discrimination on our campus and in our community.

Article Three – Membership

( ) High School GSA membership is a benefit for all interested persons belonging to the student body of ( ) High School, whether gay, straight, transgender, or anywhere on the spectrum of identification. The only requirement for membership of the GSA is to complete and submit a parent permission form as issued by the State of Utah and Alpine School District. Those students who have not submitted a parent permission form will still be allowed to attend regular meetings but may not be allowed to participate in club activities on and off campus.

Article Four – Amendment of Articles of Association

Amendments shall take place when a member of the presidency of the club has submitted a proposal for an amendment. The amendment must gain a majority vote by the presidency of the club at which point it will be proposed to the general membership of the club which must vote with a minimal 2/3 vote in the affirmative in order to pass.

Procedure for proposal of an amendment must first be made during a regular presidency meeting. If passed, it will be added to the agenda of the following general club meeting at which point it will be voted on by the general membership of the club.

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Our Official Constitution

The ( ) High School GSA Club Constitution

We, the members of ( ) High School GSA Club hereby stand for the equal treatment of all humanity by a vow of membership. We, as members, pledge to end all forms of discrimination in our school. We accept with full knowledge of the mission principles and structure of this GSA Club all responsibilities and obligations that membership entails. With this pledge comes a strong belief in the abolition of misinformation and discrimination that currently leads to the mistreatment and harm of our fellow students.

We hereby declare that we will provide a safe, neutral, and supportive environment to students affected by a lack of understanding. We pledge to uphold all obligations as students at this school and will obey all policies of ( ) High School. It is with willful intention that we enter into membership of this club and we accept the responsibilities that this entails. 

It is our obligation as members of this club to act as respectful ambassadors of dignity to convey a message of the utmost kindness to all students at our school. It shall, upon joining, become our mission to educate and advocate to our peers, teachers, and elders on behalf of those who are misunderstood. As members we pledge to uphold all beliefs of equality and dignity that every member of the student body deserves.

In joining and placing our signatures below we seek to show our commitment to a fairer, and more just society and enter into an agreement with the respectable administration that we will provide a safe, judgment free and supportive environment for any member of the student body who wishes to find acceptance. 

Sincerely,

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ACLU Tips on Starting a GSA (and Legal Support)

Link: ACLU Tips on Starting a GSA   (Printable Version HERE)

November 1, 2011

Gay-Straight Alliances, or GSAs, are student-led and student-organized school clubs that aim to create a safe, welcoming, and accepting school environment for all youth, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. GSAs provide a supportive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students, as well as those who are perceived by others to be LGBT, are questioning their identity, have LGBT friends or family members, or just care about LGBT issues.

GSAs help make schools safer for all students by providing support, educating others in their school about LGBT issues, and engaging in awareness activities like the national Day of Silence. GSAs also allow LGBT and straight students to work together to take on issues that affect all students, including harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.Research has shown that LGBT students hear fewer homophobic slurs, experience less harassment, have better attendance, and feel safer at schools that have GSAs. Like any club, what a GSA does is up to its members, but it often includes things like pitching in on community service projects and getting together for social activities.

While school administrators sometimes balk at allowing students to start GSAs, federal law guarantees that students at public high schools have the right to do so. Under the law, there are two types of clubs in public high schools: curricular clubs (those that relate directly to things that are taught in the school, like the Math Club), and non-curricular clubs (those that don't relate directly to things that are taught in the school, such as the Key Club or Chess Club). The federal Equal Access Act says that if a public high school allows students to form any non-curricular clubs at all, then it must allow students to form any non-curricular club they want — and it also has to treat all non-curricular clubs equally. If you're trying to start a GSA at your school and your administration tries to stop you, or if doesn't allow the GSA to do things that it lets other non-curricular clubs do, keep reading for tips on what to do.

Starting a Gay/Straight Alliance

Here are the basic steps to starting a GSA at your school. Chances are you'll be able to start your GSA with no problems - after all, over 4,000 GSAs already exist in every state in the nation. Sometimes, though, administrators, parents, or other students try to stand in the way of GSAs. In case that happens at your school, we're including information on how to handle opposition.

1. Be Able to Explain Why You Want to Start a GSA

Some of the people you have to talk to along the way may ask you why you want to start a GSA. That's not a bad question to ask yourself. Under the law, you don't have to have a reason to start any non-curricular club. But it's important to be able to rationally explain your reasons for wanting a GSA to people who oppose you or just want to know more about what the club is all about. Is anti-gay harassment a problem at your school? Do LGBT students or allies who want a safe, supportive space where they can be themselves? Those are both really good reasons to start a GSA.

2. Find Out Your School's Rules for Setting Up a Club

Starting a GSA is just like starting any other school club. Get a copy of your student handbook, and look up your school's requirements for student organizations so that you can be sure to follow the rules carefully. If it's not in the student handbook, ask an administrator, guidance counselor, or the faculty sponsor of an existing club what steps are required to start a club. Some of the things you may have to do are find a faculty advisor or write a constitution or mission statement. Be sure to do everything you're supposed to do according to the school's rules.

3. Find a Faculty Advisor or Sponsor

Most schools require that clubs have faculty advisors or sponsors. And even if your school doesn't require one, it's not a bad idea to have one. Ask a teacher (or, if your school allows them to be club sponsors, a staff member like a counselor or librarian) who has shown herself or himself to be supportive of LGBT students to be the advisor or sponsor for your GSA. Your faculty advisor can help with things like writing a constitution and explaining why you want to start a GSA to others. Keep in mind that if your school isn't very friendly to the idea of a GSA, some teachers who want to help may be more comfortable doing so in a more behind-the-scenes way.

4. Tell the Administration That You Want to Start a GSA

Talk to your school principal or assistant principal and let him or her know that you plan to start a GSA. A supportive administrator can really help you move things along, and if he or she isn't supportive, then at least you'll know where you stand, which will help you figure out what to do next. If he or she says that a GSA won't be allowed, ask why so that you can prepare yourself to address his or her concerns, and tell him or her that preventing a GSA from forming is against the law under the federal Equal Access Act. Be respectful and don't get into a big fight about it — for now, just make note of what reasons he or she gives you. You can take the time to respond to your administrator's arguments against forming a GSA in the next step. See "Common Arguments Against GSAs — and Why They're Wrong" below for responses to some of the reasons school administrators say they won't allow a GSA.

5. Prepare and Turn In Any Necessary Paperwork

Make sure you follow the rules thoroughly and correctly. If you have to write a mission statement about your GSA, check out some examples from other GSAs around the U.S. This is a good time to address any concerns or arguments your administrator may have brought up earlier. If you anticipate problems with your application, you might want to contact the ACLU now — we can offer suggestions and advice for how to prepare your application to form the club. Keep dated copies of any forms or other paperwork you have to turn in for your club application, and keep notes on when and to whom you turned them in to as well as any conversations you have with school officials about starting the club. Print out and keep copies of any emails you've exchanged with school officials about the GSA, too. If your school gives you any trouble later about starting your GSA, then at least they won't be able to say they're doing it because you didn't sign a required form or made some other mistake with your application.

If the School Says No

If your school turns you down, tells you that you have to change the name of your GSA or that it can't be focused on LGBT issues, tells you that students have to have parental permission to join the GSA when it doesn't require that for other clubs, or tries to tell you that the GSA can't do things that other clubs get to do like have a photo in the yearbook or make club announcements, you should contact the ACLU. We might be able to help!

If the School Says Yes…

6. Start Meeting!

Congratulations! Check out our library of resources on LGBT school issues for links to materials that can help you come up with meeting topics and activities and more information on your rights.

7. Common Arguments Against GSAs — and Why They're Wrong

"We can't let our students have a club that's about sex."

GSAs are NOT about sex. GSAs are about valuing all people regardless of whether they're gay, straight, bisexual, transgender, or questioning. Like any other club GSAs offer students with a common interest a chance to connect and give students a respite from the day-to-day grind of school. They're about creating a supportive space where students can be themselves without fear and making schools safer for all students by promoting respect for everyone. A GSA meeting is no more about sex than the homecoming dance or any other school-sponsored activity. And several federal courts have ruled in favor of GSAs when schools have used this as an excuse to try to stop them from forming.

"We can't let outsiders come in and start this kind of club in our school."

Outsiders don't form GSAs. GSAs are started and led by students. While there are a couple of organizations that have tried to create contact lists or loose coalitions of the over 4,000 GSA clubs across the country, GSAs aren't chapters of some larger organization. There is no big, evil national GSA conspiracy out there trying to get its hands on the youth of America. And according to the federal Equal Access Act, students can start any kind of non-curricular club at their schools that they want.

"It's just too controversial."

Sure, a GSA may be controversial, but it's illegal for schools to use that as excuse to silence them. If other students, parents, or community members are in an uproar over a GSA, the school's responsibility is to address those people's concerns - not shut down a group that is peacefully doing its thing just because some people don't like it. Besides, when a GSA becomes a point of contention in a community, it really only proves the need for the GSA to exist in the first place. And again, several federal courts have ruled in favor of GSAs when schools have used this as an excuse to try to stop them from forming.

"If we let students start a GSA, then we'd have to let students form any other kind of club they want. What if they wanted to start a KKK club?"

If a club's purpose is to harass or intimidate other students, then the club is disruptive to the educational process and the school can stop it from forming — so this kind of argument just doesn't fly. Letting students start a GSA doesn't mean all those other crazy sorts of clubs some school say they're so scared of are going to materialize out of thin air. Have a lot of students been approaching your school about starting a KKK club? We really doubt it!

Got any questions? Want some advice on starting your club? Contact the ACLU! Your contact with us will be kept confidential, and we won't contact your school or do anything without your okay.

Good luck with your GSA!

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Appointment with Vice Principal Report

I met with the vice principal yesterday, who was very helpful. Here's some highlights from the meeting.

His advice about having a successful club:
-Make it inclusive
-Plan positive things to do around school
-be visible but not overbearing

He supplied us with a club application form. Once filled out, we take it for approval by the administration. If this is done before "Club Rush Week," then we can participate in it. GSA members set up a "station" to advertise/inform students about the new club and attract new members. In order to make it in time for that, we must:
-Have our application ready (there are several things we have to decide together)
-Need signatures from Faculty Advisor and 10 student members (we only have 7 so far)
-Contact Student Council to set up station for Club Rush Week.

If we don't do it in time for CRW, that's okay. We can still apply for the club.

I asked him for faculty names for a possible co-faculty advisor. He needs to think about it.

He thought the club was needed. He mentioned some community members may not understand and object. (Which, imo, shows even more the benefit of the club).

I gave him the Family Acceptance Project booklet, "Supportive Families, Healthy Children."

Appointment with Vice Principal

I want to inform the school's administration our plans for starting a new school club and hopefully receive guidance that we are following all the steps necessary. I will bring the student letters and a copy of the Family Acceptance Project's Supportive Families, Healthy Children booklet. I should also bring a list of what I understand the club-starting steps are.

I asked the GSA group who is the friendliest administrator. They said the principal was very nice, but they weren't sure how he would be about the idea of a GSA. Several also felt one of the vice principal would be kind and approachable. Okay then!

It's on Monday. I'm a little nervous. 

Yesterday, before opening my fortune cookie,
I jokingly held it up to my forehead and asked,
"Will my meeting with the vice principal on
Monday be successful?"
The answer.

Image Credit: lilacsbloom dot blogspot dot com

Creating a FB Group for Planning Purposes

Thank goodness for social media. I created a Facebook group "GSA ( )HS Planning Committee" for us to use to conduct our meetings. With everyone's busy summer schedules, it would have been difficult to plan an in-person meeting where everyone could attend. So far, each GSA member has a FB account and could participate. I post a topic for us to discuss, and all can see it at their convenience.

Now... if I could just get the summer to slow down. 

My husband took this photo from his flight.
SLC International Airport with Salt Lake City
in the background.