Resources
Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) Development
MSSC can help get a GSA started at your school! A Gay-Straight Alliance, or GSA, is a student club for LGBT students and allies. GSAs are a safe space for queer youth and friends to organize, support each other, and share experience for making their schools and communities safer and more inclusive. If your school has any extra-curricular groups (like sports teams, student government, or other clubs) then you have the right to form a GSA (U.S. Department of Education). If your GSA is already started, MSSC can provide resources and assistance for your events. For help with a GSA, see our Contact Us page or visit our GSA directory.
Fighting Discrimination
MSSC is also working to raise awareness of student rights in Ceara Sturgis’s high school in Wesson, MS. Ceara was unjustly removed from her yearbook when she took her senior pictures in a tuxedo rather than a drape. LGBT students, their allies, and students who are perceived to be LGBT often face discrimination in their school systems. MSSC helps students combat discrimination by teaching them about their rights in schools and providing legal referrals as necessary. To help inform students of their rights, MSSC participates in GLSEN’s annual Day of Silence and hosts awareness events about constitutional rights. If you’ve been treated unfairly by anyone in your school because of your sexual orientation or gender identity , or if you’re not sure if an incident counts as discrimination, Contact Us. Remember, MSSC will never ‘out’ anyone or release contact information without permission.
Policy and Advocacy
MSSC serves as the voice for queer youth in policy-making throughout the state. The coalition represents LGBT students when Mississippi or any of its school districts consider legislation or policy that affects school safety. MSSC projects like the Stories Project and its efforts to collect data about the well-being of LGBT students help to make this work more effective and make queer youth experiences more visible.
