Our Story
GLSEN Arizona was Born
Founded in 2002, GLSEN Arizona is part of a national chapter network that works to ensure that each student in every K-12 school is valued and treated with respect, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. We believe that all students deserve safe and inclusive K-12 schools.
LGBTQ students who feel unsafe and unsupported at school are more likely to have been victimized and discriminated against at school, and thus, more likely to have high absenteeism, more likely to have lower GPAs, less likely to participate in school activities, more likely to have lower self-esteem and a lower sense of school belonging, less likely to graduate from high school, and less likely to consider going to college.
We invest the community’s time, talent, and treasure into four evidence-based interrelated areas of activity: supportive teachers, protective policies, inclusive curriculum, and student-led Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) clubs.
I founded our GLSEN chapter here in Phoenix because no organization was dedicated to transforming the everyday life of school, what it felt like to be part of the school community, so that all students could be and become who they ought to be. I have stayed with the organization all of these years because of the brilliant, empathetic, joyful, let's-do-this kind of people I have met while doing the work.
Madelaine Adelman, GLSEN Phoenix Founder & Board Member
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GLSEN as a National Non-profit
GLSEN champions safe and affirming schools for all students. We envision a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. Each year, GLSEN programs and resources reach tens of thousands of K-12 schools across the United States, and our network of chapters brings GLSEN’s expertise to their local communities. GLSEN's progress and impact have won support for our work at all levels of education in the United States and sparked an international movement to ensure equality for LGBTQ students and respect for all in schools. For more information, you can visit their website here.