GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. Established in 1990, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. GLSEN seeks to develop school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes to creating a more vibrant and diverse community.

GLSEN works with educators, policy makers, community leaders and students on the urgent need to address anti-LGBT behavior and bias in schools. GLSEN strives to protect students from bullying and harassment, to advance comprehensive safe schools laws and policies, to empower principals to make their schools safer, and to build the skills of educators to teach respect for all people.

Some awesome GLSEN programs: 

THINKB4YOUSPEAK
New web site to raise awareness about anti-LGBT language.

 

DAY OF SILENCE
The National Day of Silence brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. Hundreds of thousands of students come together each April to encourage schools and classmates to address the problem of anti-LGBT behavior.

 

NO NAME CALLING WEEK
Held every January, No Name-Calling Week is a week of educational activities aimed at ending name-calling of all kinds and providing schools with the tools and inspiration to foster a dialogue about ways to eliminate bullying in their communities.

 

GLSEN CHAPTERS
GLSEN chapters are community-based groups of people accredited by GLSEN who work to bring GLSEN's programs and visions to their communities on a local level.

 

GAY-STRAIGHT ALLIANCES (GSAS)
Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) are student-led clubs, usually in middle schools or high schools, that work to address anti-LGBT name-calling and promote respect for ALL students. The first GSA was started at the school where GLSEN's founder was a teacher.

 

THE TRAINING OF TRAINERS PROGRAM
These workshops are geared to educators and community-based organizers who want to learn how to develop educational initiatives in their schools and local communities to make schools safer for LGBT students.