Agency Details:

The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

Description:
We believe that such an atmosphere engenders a positive sense of self, which is the basis of educational achievement and personal growth. Since homophobia and heterosexism undermine a healthy school climate, we work to educate teachers, students and the public at large about the damaging effects these forces have on youth and adults alike. We recognize that forces such as racism and sexism have similarly adverse impacts on communities and we support schools in seeking to redress all such inequities.

GLSEN seeks to develop school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes in creating a more vibrant and diverse community. We welcome as members any and all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or occupation, who are committed to seeing this philosophy realized in K-12 schools.

History:
Local History: GLSEN Washington was formed in March of 1995 following a successful event with Kevin Jennings as the Guest of Honor.

They had a large conference in August of 1997 with 250 participants, 4 keynote speakers, and over 30 workshops. It was successful, but they decided that major events like that were too time-consuming and draining and not worth the amount of money put into them. GLSEN WA was a key role in setting up legislative meetings with Ed Murray to discuss Safe Schools Bills, leadership in forming the Citizens for Safe Schools Coalition.

-1999-2000 was a tough year for the chapter in terms of organizational capacity (loss of board members, membership, active participation, low energy and morale), but they focused on fewer projects and maintained a positive image in the community -- Youth Advocacy and Intervention, Safe Schools Coalition support, leading the effort to get the statewide Safe Schools Bill passed.

The chapter was officially dissolved on October 29th, 2001 after not submitting an Accreditation Application for the 2001-2002 fiscal year.

GLSEN Puget Sound had its first meeting and was founded on August 29th, 2002. The leadership team included Steven Jewell, Eric Stegman and Janice Raymond. At that meeting they decided the chapter would cover Puget Sound (King, Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap Counties.) GLSEN Puget Sound had its General Informative Meeting in February of 2003.

In 2005, Thurston County was added to the service area to support schools in the Olympia area.

In May, 2006 the board voted to become a new statewide chapter: GLSEN Washington State.



National History: Founded as a local group in 1990, the Gay and Lesbian Independent School Teachers Network (GLSTN) began as a volunteer group of 70 gay and lesbian educators. At that time, there were two Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) in the nation, only one state with policy in place to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students, and a general lack of awareness of the needs of LGBT students. LGBT youth did not have a voice in the education community or in the LGBT movement. There were few, if any, resources available for teachers to discuss LGBT issues.

However, groups of concerned individuals began to establish chapters across the country, advocating locally and regionally for safe schools for students who were, or were perceived to be, LGBT.

In 1995 GLSTN became a national organization and hired it first full time staff person, GLSTN's founder and Executive Director Kevin Jennings. In 1997, GLSTN staged its first national conference in Salt Lake City, UT to respond to the legislature's move to ban all student groups in an effort to prevent the formation of GSAs in the state. It is also this year that GLSTN changes its name to the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, or GLSEN, in order to attract new members to the struggle for safe schools for all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/ expression.

Currently, GLSEN has registered more than 4,000 GSAs, has approximately 40 full time staff, a governing board of 20 members and two advisory committees at the national level.

GLSEN sponsors the National Day of Silence in which hundreds of thousands of students, teachers, and staff have participated at thousands of school campuses across the country. GLSEN also sponsors another annual event: No Name Calling Week. In coalition with leading education organizations, including the National Education Association and the National Middle School Association, GLSEN is proud to be a part of an event geared toward educating middle school students about the negative impact of bullying and harassment.

Contact people:

Robert Raketty, Executive Director, (email) Joseph Bento, Project Director, (email) Phil Paulson, Program Coordinator, (email)

Address:

1605 12th Ave, Suite 35 Seattle, WA 98122 (See a map)