National GSA Day for Racial Justice is an annual day of action to mobilize for racial justice and celebrate the multiple identities we hold as LGBTQ youth. This year, GSA Day for Racial Justice will honor Audre Lorde’s words, impact, and legacy, and take action across the country in support of the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
February is Black History Month, but we need to do more than celebrate Black history when today’s Black communities are under attack. Inspired by the current fight to build a more just world where #blacklivesmatter, #BlackFutureLegends Month uses Black History Month as an opportunity to look at past inspirations from movement history and highlight the voices of today’s queer and trans youth of color who are fighting for our nation’s future in Ferguson, NYC, Oakland, Wisconsin, DC, and across the country.
For National GSA Day for Racial Justice, we’re calling on GSAs to hold teach-ins, teach-outs, rallies, marches, and other actions on February 20th in support of #BlackLivesMatter, and to create #BlackFutureLegends videos about how past or present Black activists or movements have inspired you and why it’s important for LGBTQ people to fight with people of color. Upload it with the #BlackFutureLegends hashtag by February 20th!
Please join us as we celebrate with students and organizations from all across the country! Let’s recognize the incredible work GSAs and LGBT student groups are doing to make schools and campuses safe for all!
Now in its second year, National GSA Day is expanding to nearly 40 states!
National Gay-Straight Alliance Day message from US Education Secretary Arne Duncan:
“On the first-ever National Gay-Straight Alliance Day, I want to say thank you to all of the student leaders and faculty advisors who are doing the courageous work of making campuses safe places that are free of bullying and harassment.
Harassment and bullying are serious problems at schools and colleges, especially for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students. We have to dispel the myth that bullying is just a normal rite of passage, or an inevitable part of growing up.
President Obama and I believe that we have a collective obligation to ensure that all our schools are safe for all children. Every single student deserves the opportunity to learn and grow and achieve their potential, without having to worry about the threat of harassment.
When students are harassed or bullied, it directly affects their work in the classroom, their aspirations for the future, and their desire to stay in school.
Gay-Straight Alliances and similar student groups play an important role in creating welcoming, affirming, and respectful schools and colleges – safe places where learning can happen and students flourish.
This work is absolutely essential.
GSAs are a proven tool for creating welcoming school climates and helping students stay in school.
Our team at the Department of Education is committed to giving school districts guidance on providing all students, including LGBT, gender nonconforming students, and their allies, a safe place to learn, meet, share experiences, and discuss matters that are important to them. These are goals that our Administration takes very seriously.
This day is an opportunity to recognize the importance of Gay-Straight Alliances in schools across America. On behalf of President Obama, I want to thank you for your hard work, your leadership, and your courage. Your work makes a difference – so keep it up.”
Watch our new video!