性別和性行為俱樂部和支持小組-GSA-正在進行的俱樂部

This is a safe place for your teen/tween!  If your child interested in learning more about the LGBTQ community, television shows and movies with LGBTQ+ themes and LGBTQ+ history?  Are they interested in connecting with like-minded people in a single space weekly for several weeks?

This is the right spot!

Welcome to all teen LGBTQ+ students and allies of the LGBTQ+ Community!  We welcome respectful, compassionate, supportive, and understanding people of the LGBTQ+ community as well as their allies.  In this "class" you're a member of a nationwide network of clubs, and our club is officially registered with both the National GSA club network and with GLSEN.

This group is a support group with a social aspect within it.  Students meet and connect with other queer students virtually and their allies. Students will encounter a safe space and will learn about the teacher's experience as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and coming out experience and will learn about and talk LGBTQ+ history, pop culture and current events.  This is NOT counseling or group therapy.  I am not a counselor.  

This club kicks off its first ongoing class season on June 6, 2023, and it will run through the summer months ending August 8th.  If demand persists, we will run another session in the fall semester, and you will need to re-register for that class.

This club meets once weekly.  Here is the class structure-

Class is 55 minutes long- 
Each class starts with a “Welcome/Check in”.  How are you?  What is on your mind?  Followed by a lesson on LGBTQ+ topics with a focus on history, pop culture and current issues facing the community using videos, articles, and other media.  Many weeks, we will play a Kahoot game or to review the previous week’s class material. Some weeks, we will do bonding activities/games to connect.  Finally, we have social time in small to medium break-out rooms and again in the main room (see the "Parental Guidance" section concerning how break rooms are used and monitored) to discuss the topics of the day.   We also have special guest speakers from time to time. Some weeks, we will have various students volunteer to talk about something they are excited about in the world of the LGBTQ+ community.  


It is our hope that you will join the first class on June 6, and that you will stay through August 8th (final class). 


Weekly Schedule-

1st meeting:  “What brings you here?”  What do you hope to gain by being a part of this GSA group on Outschool? Getting to know Mr. D, and a getting to know you activity.  No students will be required to speak, but if you are comfortable doing so, we welcome it.  Depending on the number of people in the class, this may take more than one week.

2nd meeting:  Welcome/Check in.  What did we learn about each other last week?  “Kahoot” review of last week’s "What brings you here?" followed by more discussion.  Followed by “Pulse Night of Remembrance” video and discussion.  (Pulse Night of Remembrance is June 12th).  Followed by breakout rooms/social time to discuss the Pulse Night of Rememberance.

3rd meeting: Welcome-  Check in-  How are you?   Video on the march to marriage equality followed by discussion about why it was an important ruling for the community.  Followed by a virtual “bonding” game to continue to get to know one another followed by breakout room/social time.  Obergefell versus Hodges anniversary is June 26th.  Mr. Duncan will share his own journey toward marriage...It was quite the journey!

4th meeting- Welcome/Check in   How are you?     Mr. D will tell his coming out story.  Some of his stories are quite funny…others not so funny…but all will be told in hopes of supporting the participants and comforting the students who are experiencing challenges growing up LGBTQ+.   Ending with time in the breakout rooms to discuss what we learned in smaller settings.



5th meeting.  Welcome/Check in-  What is on your mind?  Video about Non-Binary population followed by discussion among the participants.   (July 14th is Non-Binary People’s Day).  Ending with time in the breakout rooms to discuss the video of the day.

6th meeting.  Welcome/Check in-  How are you?   Followed by a Kahoot about last week’s topic.  Since July 16th is International Drag Day, we will watch a video about drag queens and discuss the current cultural controversies surrounding them.  You are welcome to dress up in drag for this class!  Have fun with it!  Tell us how you did it and who helped and what your tips and tricks are.  We will end with time in the breakout rooms to talk about what we learned today. 

7th meeting  Welcome/Check in-  How are you?  
This is a flipped class.  This means YOU will teach US!  Pick a topic of your choosing related to the LGBTQ community.  Have a video or article ready to go.  It can be some related to LGBTQ+ history, pop culture, or current events.  Share it and lead the discussion.  We will end with time in the breakout rooms to discuss.

8th meeting  Welcome/Check in-  How are you?  What is on your mind?  Today is “Back to School” focused.  We will watch a video related to going back to school for the new year as it relates to specifically to the LGBTQ+ students.  What are you excited about?  Where is your safe space in school?  Who is your safe teacher?  Do you have one?  What are you anxious about in terms of returning to school?  How can you navigate the experience in a healthy way for you?  We will end with time in the breakout rooms to discuss.

9th meeting-  Final class of the summer session-
Welcome/Check in-  How are you?   
Followed by a fun Kahoot that reviews all of the things we learned and talked about from this awesome GSA summer session.  What were the most amazing moments for you?  Was this group helpful for you?  Followed by time in the break out rooms and coming back into the full room for a final “so long”.  

Teacher Expertise
I was an “out” gay public school teacher for most of my 30 year career teaching public school musical theater and chorus, most of which was in the southern part of the USA.  My room was always a safe space for all students, and I attracted all types of students into my program.  I have been an activist since I created “Boycott for Equality” (501c3) in 2004 when George W. Bush announced that he wanted a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage as he worked to rally his based for re-election.  


    Read the National GSA Network GSA Meeting Guidelines: 
      Link: https://www.glsen.org/sites/default/files/2020-04/guideline%20for%20discussions.pdf 

Rules for the club-
Respect at all times.
You will be held accountable for all Outschool policies.