I HAVE WAITED MY WHOLE LIFE FOR A REASON TO SAY THE FOLLOWING:

ICE. CREAM. SOCIAL. ICECREAMSOCIAL.

Ok, now that that’s out of the way. I would do stuff that isn’t all about being ‘gay’ and ‘out and proud’ bc I PERSONALLY think the people who need a GSA the most, are the people who are scared shitless to be seen in a GSA meeting. SO MAKE THAT SHIT ALL INCLUSIVE. It’s like, the point of the GSA isn’t to tell each other facts about gay kids or to give coming out stories, you know? That all can be very beneficial, but I stand behind the idea that GSA is a place to feel safe and comfortable.

AND ALSO, I think if you had a meeting where you played “Miss Congeniality” on the giant projector screen and you had another meeting where you played your own version of ‘real world road rules challenge’ (i.e. mash up gross food and eat it, stand on one foot for the longest, partners do ‘miss mary mack’ for the longest) and whoever wins gets to come up with the next meeting activity….THAT KIND OF SHIT IS SO FUN.

And you guys, I know, growing up and not knowing who you are is THE WORST, but what makes it better is getting together with a huge group of kids who YOU KNOW don’t care who you like and just having a blast. Informative GSA meetings are cool and definitely should exist, but don’t think every meeting has to be like that. Make your number one rule this: 1. Always have a blast together.

aaaaand then have an ice cream social.

I just got really jealous of your GSA meetings.  CAN YOU PLEASE INVITE US TO THE ICE CREAM SOCIAL***?! (What’s hilarious about how excited Dannielle is about that event is that she doesn’t even like ice cream…meaning, I will have her portion as well. Thank you.)

I want to  elaborate on one of the things Dannielle said up there, add two more, and then say a few things for fun:

elaboration: A GSA is absolutely, one million percent a place for y’all to feel safe, comfortable and welcome.  Last night we had a chat with two lovely humans from UVA and they were telling us all about how their Queer Union prides itself on making a space where students can get together and not have to be all, “I AM SO GAY, CHECK ME OUT!”  …That is actually not at all what they said, but what they did say was that they had a lot of members who are not out and who can feel comfortable being a part of their community – regardless of how open they are about who they like to bone.  Get me?  That is important.

other thing one: Involve. Other. Groups.  Here is what I want for all of you GSAs out there.  I want for you to think outside the GSA and find ways to collaborate with other departments in your school.  Sponsor a school-wide event (LIKE A PIZZA PARTY) where ALL students can come and grab a slice during lunch and find out about who you are, what you have planned for the year, and that you are open to ALL of them, again, regardless of who they like to bone.

other thing two: Make at least some of your meetings focused around organizing events for awareness; this doesn’t have to be every week, it can be planning for two events for the whole school year.  Check out GLSEN for really helpful tools in this department.  They are pretty great.

for fun: Ice Skating Outing (nothing makes people feel closer to one another then having abslolutely no ability to remain standing); Coloring Book Party (whoever had the idea that coloring is for little kids is a total moron); Hula-Hooping contest (I will always beat you); ‘My Grandma is Better Than Your Grandma’ Game (this isn’t actually a game, so, just run with the title).

***Do you happen to be at a high school in the Charleston, SC area?!  BECAUSE.  We will be in town in October so like, maybe we can visit for a real ice cream social…if you are, email us at tour [at] everyoneisgay [dot] com!! Boop!