Gay-Straight Alliances in High School Contexts and Youth Well-Being

• In Event: Counterhegemonic Pedagogy: Centering Youth Voices and Building Alliances for Well-Being

Abstract

Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) clubs are student-led and teacher-supported school groups for students of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations. Our research surveyed a total of N=169 students from grades 7-12 across seven schools in Alberta, Canada, regarding their experiences: school and family relationships, bullying, self-expression and self-determination. We found that students who were aware that their school had a GSA experienced lower levels of bullying and more positive relationships with their family compared to students who were not aware of their school’s GSA club. Additionally, students who identified as LGBTQ+ experienced higher levels of bullying and depressive feelings as well as lower rates of self-determination compared to their straight cisgender peers.

Authors

• Maria Di Stasio, Grant MacEwan University

• Lauren Alston, University of Alberta

• Jason Matthew Harley, McGill University

• Chiaki Konishi, McGill University