The Massachusetts GSA Leadership Council creates and informs policy, promotes inclusive learning environments for all students, supports the development of leadership skills, and fosters statewide collaboration among LGBTQ students and allies. Members of the GSA Leadership Council develop and implement projects designed to make change in local schools, districts and regions. The GSA Leadership Council consists of a state council and five region-based councils. During the 2021–2022 school year, all state and regional council meetings take place bimonthly in a hybrid model, from 9 AM to 1 PM.
For the hybrid model, we will have simultaneous in-person and virtual Zoom meeting options. Regional meetings will be hosted at local schools and lunch will be provided. To increase accessibility, we will also have a Zoom meeting option to join. We ask that everyone register in advance to indicate your plan to attend in-person or virtually. If you require accommodations, register at least one week in advance so that we have time to make those arrangements.
We invite you to register a team of students and adult advisors to join other GSA student leaders and advisors at the regional council meetings. We encourage adult advisors to attend the meetings with their students. The state and regional council meetings occur during school time, we ask that schools support student and advisor attendance with appropriate arrangements for excused absences. Below you will find a list of meeting dates and locations for 2021–2022.
The Massachusetts GSA Leadership Council is part of the Safe Schools Program for LGBTQ Students, a joint initiative between the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth.
See the 2021–2022 Meeting Calendar for dates and registration information for regional meetings.
Note: GSA Advisors may submit this letter to your school administrators to request excused absences for both you and your school's students for the listed dates and times. If you have any difficulty with getting these absences approved, please reach out to the MA Commission on LGBTQ Youth at commission@ma-lgbtq.org to discuss.
The GSA Leadership Summit is a multi-day conference for high school students accepted to the GSA Student Leadership Council. This August, we celebrated our 11th annual Summit. Applications will open for 2022-2023 likely in April 2022.
We are always trying to stay up-to-date with school-based GSAs. Please take a moment to update your GSA information.
Email: Safeschoolsprogram@mass.gov
Phone: 617-447-4730
Kimm Topping (they/them), Safe Schools Program Manager Email: ktopping@jri.org Phone: 617-447-4730
Ev Gilbert (he/him), GSA Program Administrator Email: efgilbert@jri.org
Last Updated: December 27, 2021
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148-4906
Voice: (781) 338-3000 TTY: (800) 439-2370
Disclaimer: A reference in this website to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public and does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.