Question: Should I Join My School's GSA?

Joining your school's Gay / Straight Alliance could be really great, but it could also expose you to hostility. With this in mind, a teen wonders if joining her school's GSA is the right thing to do.

Answer:

A teen writes:

"So I've been thinking. There's a GSA at my school and I kinda want to join, but IDK. I mean, I live in a pretty liberal area, but I'm still worried that there'll be backlash against me or my friends from some of the less accepting people.

Also I'm worried some of my friends will treat me differently if I join. We're all super close and I would hate to lose that. But I really want to meet some people in real life that I could talk to about stuff. Thoughts?"

What you are feeling is pretty common. But here's the thing, joining a GSA does not automatically out you as anything other than an ally. So the question is, are you concerned about being perceived in this way, or are you worried about being perceived of as lesbian or bisexual as you describe yourself in your profile.

Obviously coming out or being outed this way is different than being perceived of as an ally, even if you think that your family and friend would support you. But either way, it is helpful to remember that, especially in liberal area there is more and more support for gay rights every day. The simple fact that your school has a GSA speaks to the climate there.

But remember, coming out is super personal and really, you don't need to declare your sexual orientation to anyone before you are ready. Keeping this information to yourself isn't lying, it is protecting your need for privacy and your mental health. Many people who come out before they are ready or who are outed struggle with the experience and it can cause long term issues.

But you might decide that the benefits of joining a GSA outweigh the risks. So what are some of these benefits?

According to GLSEN, there are many. They report:

"The presence of GSAs may help to make schools safer for LGBT students by sending a message that biased language and harassment will not be tolerated. Having a GSA may also make schools more accessible to LGBT students by contributing to a more positive school environment. GSAs may help LGBT students to identify supportive school staff, which has been shown to have a positive impact on their academic achievements and experiences in school. Most students lack access to GSAs or other student clubs that provide support and address issues specific to LGBT students and their allies."

As a teen who is involved with his school's GSA says,

"I'm a freshman and in my school's Gay / Straight Alliance (GSA). In GSA, we were learning about National Coming Out Day, and I got kind of excited that I could be wearing my rainbow ribbon (LGBT wear rainbow ribbon, straight allies wear a white ribbon). My school is super supportive and the GSA is GREAT and its got your back 100%."

Ultimately, joining a GSA is up to you. But it might really be worth it to go to a meeting or two and see how it feels.

As another teen suggests:

"Well you could possibly just go to a meeting or get together the GSA has to see if it's something you want to join. You could talk to your friends on what they think about it."