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Gay/Straight Alliances: A Student Guide
Grants

As your group develops, it may benefit from some financial help. Like any school-based group, you can raise money through traditional fund-raising, like raffles and car washes, or you can look for other help. Business and community organizations have donated to Gay/Straight Alliances in the past. In addition, school and state funds may be available. Small grants are often available to schools from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary EducationÕs Safe Schools Program for Gay and Lesbian Students. The following is a selected listing of things schools around the Commonwealth did with their grant money. Use these ideas as springboards for your plans.

ABCD University School:

Attended a play at Boston Center for the Arts and hosted a day-long poetry reading workshop.

Boston Latin School:

Bought banner-making supplies for various walks and events.

Brookline High School:

Sponsored a community forum and the high schools Gay/Straight Alliance held a Day of Awareness with speakers.

Cambridge Rindge and Latin:

Produced a photography exhibit.

East Boston High School:

Hosted a teacher training session counseling gay and lesbian students and their families with George Smart from Boston Children's Services.

Arlington High School and Everett High School:

Went to see the movie Philadelphia, and then sponsored a discussion afterwards about AIDS/HIV and homophobia.

C.H. McCann Technical School and Drury High School:

Produced a one-act play on the theme of homophobia called "Removing the Glove: An Allegory in One Act."

Hoosack Valley Regional School District:

Established a countywide networking group consisting of educators, administrators and youth to discuss violence prevention and anti-harassment strategies for gay and lesbian students.

Masconomet Regional High School:

Silk-screened artwork representing sexual orientation diversity.

Lunenburg High School:

Sponsored mini-workshop for student council members on issues facing gay and lesbian students.

Marblehead High School and Middleborough High School:

Sponsored a community forum addressing issues of gay and lesbian students.

Ralph C. Mahar Regional High School:

Went on an outdoor hiking, camping, and canoeing adventure trip.

Milford High School, Milford Middle School West and Milford Middle School East:

Offered in-service training using The World of Difference Program and Mediation Program.

New Bedford High School:

Worked with a community agency called Gays, Lesbians and Supporters to educate school staff on the amended Anti-discrimination Law.

Provincetown High School:

Set up a computer bulletin board information system where students from across the Cape can communicate with each other.

Westford Elementary, Middle and High Schools:

Sponsored staff training in equity in education, conflict resolution and suicide prevention; they also added a Gay/Straight Alliance component to the existing W.O.R.D. (Westford Opposes Racial and other Discrimination).

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