Support GLSEN. They support LGBT Youth.
GLSEN’s “Shop to Support” Efforts Will Fund Work with Students, Educators, Policymakers to Improve School Climates for All Students
NEW YORK—GLSEN, the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe and affirming schools for all students, today officially launched the new GLSEN Shop, which includes the first-ever lifestyle brand to support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth and improve school climates.
For 25 years, GLSEN has worked with students and educators in schools across the country to ensure the existence of four key interventions that improve school climates. These interventions are the existence of Gay-Straight Alliances, supportive educators, LGBT-inclusive policies and LGBT-inclusive curricula. Over that time, GLSEN has provided millions of dollars worth of resources, materials and trainings to educators, schools and districts at low or no cost to make these interventions possible. These efforts have made a demonstrable difference to LGBT students and school communities, and will now find an additional source of support via 100% of sales from the GLSEN Shop going to support this critical work. [pullquote]Over that time, GLSEN has provided millions of dollars worth of resources, materials and trainings to educators, schools and districts at low or no cost to make these interventions possible. These efforts have made a demonstrable difference to LGBT students and school communities, and will now find an additional source of support via 100% of sales from the GLSEN Shop going to support this critical work.[/pullquote]
“GLSEN’s core messages of respect for all, being proudly yourself, and taking action to make schools better places for everyone have resonated powerfully with the students, educators, policymakers and allies who unite to ensure safe and affirming schools for all students,” said GLSEN Executive Director, Dr. Eliza Byard. “The new GLSEN Shop provides all who support that mission, across the U.S. and around the world, the chance to wear that support and those messages proudly, while generating essential funds for GLSEN’s on-going work.”
The new GLSEN Shop includes four lines:
- GLSEN Proud champions GLSEN’s mission to ensure safe and affirming schools for all students through apparel and accessories for GLSEN supporters.
- GLSEN Respect, launching with the RESPECT snapback as seen on celebrity supporters at the GLSEN Respect Awards – Los Angeles, amplifies GLSEN’s core message of “respect for all.”
- GLSEN Resources is where select GLSEN resources – like the Safe Space Kit and the National School Climate Survey – are available for purchase for use in classrooms and libraries. All GLSEN resources are available as PDFs for free at GLSEN.org.
- GLSEN Action supports student and educator organizers in schools across the country as they participate in GLSEN’s No Name-Calling Week (January 18-22), GLSEN’s Day of Silence (April 15), and GLSEN’s Ally Week (September 26-30). In addition to materials available during registration periods, the GLSEN Action collection will feature items related to each event, such as “I am an Ally” lanyards.
TJ Mitchell, a member of GLSEN’s National Student Council, the organization’s student leadership team, is one of the ambassadors for the GLSEN Respect line.
“Wearing the Respect line feels like, I am proud to be who I am,” he said, “and what I’m standing for has power. Especially when I see other people wearing it too, I know we are all in this together.”
GLSEN apparel, accessories and select resources are now available for purchase at shop.glsen.org.
About GLSEN
GLSEN is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe and affirming schools for all students. Founded in 1990, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. GLSEN seeks to develop school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes to creating a more vibrant and diverse community. For information on GLSEN’s research, educational resources, public policy advocacy, student organizing programs and educator training initiatives, visit www.glsen.org.
[From a News Release]
