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Gay–Straight Alliances and School Experiences of Sexual Minority Youth

¹ University of Denver
² Life Strategies Counseling Inc.
³ The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center of Colorado

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ewalls2{at}du.edu.

	Abstract

Recent findings on the impact of gay–straight alliances (GSAs) on the school experiences of sexual minority youth have demonstrated that numerous positive outcomes are associated with attending schools that have such student organizations. Some research attributes the positive impact to shifts in campus climate resulting from recognition and legitimization of GSAs, whereas other research suggests the influence is primarily because of the increased social support that sexual minority youth experience. This study examines how GSAs affect sexual minority youth by comparing school experience variables of three discrete groups of sexual minority students: (a) those who attend schools without GSAs, (b) those who attend schools with GSAs but are not members, and (c) those who attend schools with GSAs of which they are members. Findings suggest that the presence of the GSA positively affects more school experiences than whether or not the sexual minority youth is an actual member of the group.

First published on May 20, 2009
Youth & Society 2009, doi:10.1177/0044118X09334957


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