Gay-Straight/Genrs & Sexuali Allianc | DASH | CDC

This phenomenologil, ethnographic, llective se study examed the effectivens of Gay-Straight Allianc public high schools South Carola rcg or eraditg aggrsn and bullyg towards LGBTQ stunts through the lens of both queer and cril theori wh a amework of social jtice. The current study vtigated the perceptns of experts and GSA faculty advisors regardg the succs of the clubs rcg or elimatg bullyg South Carola high schools. The vtigatn stemmed om the perceived discrepancy between lerature on GSAs, which reports that the clubs ntribute to a more posive school climate, posive effects on LGBTQ youth, and to fewer stanc of homophobic aggrsn, and rults om the GLSEN Natnal School Climate survey, which dit that this aggrsn still occurs. Four s were created for the study based on three geographic regns of South Carola, and one expert se. Case sub-uns clud faculty advisors om suburban high schools, wh an uneven distributn of participants om the suburbs of the pal cy. Qualative data were llected om GSA faculty advisors South Carola, as well as experts the field of LGBTQ issu, through qualative qutnnair, and terviews g a nstant, parative method both wh and cross-se analysis to ga sight to their close workg perspectiv on the clubs’ succs or lack thereof, as well as shed light on issu that are currently affectg LGBTQ youth South Carola high schools. Factors that uld fluence advisors their rol clud genr, inty or sexual orientatn, personal experienc, and geography. Rults show that high schools wh GSAs report fewer stanc of bullyg and more acceptg school climat. By examg the perspectiv of experts and faculty GSA advisors, the study found that schools wh a GSA, bullyg is, ed, rced. GSAs, however, do not guarantee a supportg environment; most advisors report that negative speech and sults are mon. Fdgs were nsistent wh prr studi and lerature on GSAs, and the needs of LGBTQ young people, but the challenge extends to LGBTQ advisors, who mt often al wh siar problems of discrimatn and the possibily of losg their job. Other fdgs of the study dite that homophobic attus are entrenched South Carola, and are the e for many of the challeng that are faced daily by LGBTQ youth and advisors, providg advot many opportuni to ntue to work for posive change. Advisors South Carola high schools ll