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EQUAL: A Short Primer on Kansas City's Gay-Straight Alliance Network
October 1, 2009
by Bradley Osborn
EQUAL (Empowering Queer Activists and Leaders) is a youth-founded, youth-led and youth-focused organization that brings together young activists by networking individual gay-straight alliances (GSAs) in the greater Kansas City area. Its members work with GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) to help establish, grow and keep healthy regional GSAs and diversity clubs. Those who are not part of a GSA are also welcome.
Because most GSAs are found in high schools or colleges, EQUAL’s membership is generally drawn from the 14- to 24-year-old demographic; the group’s main concentration is at the high school level. All orientations and genders are invited to participate, with the focus being LGBTQI activism and civil rights. Allies are also an integral part of the organization. GSAs are safe places for youth to be themselves and seek support from kindred peers.
EQUAL events include:
EQUAL Empowerment Summit
Day of Silence/Breaking the Silence
Transgender Day of Remembrance
EQUAL just renamed its Jump Start team to be the Phoenix Leadership Team, naming it after Kansas City’s first gay organization, the Phoenix Society. EQUAL’s Phoenix Project is a new, grass-roots effort to create a queer youth center in Kansas City – a real, physical space. We’ll write more about this exciting, groundbreaking project in a future issue of Camp.
If you need help starting or maintaining your GSA or you need support related to EQUAL’s mission, contact the group at equalkc@gmail.com. Facebook group ID: 52603842296
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