Following more than twenty years of our extensive, first-of-its-kind research, we know that the majority (59. 5%) of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth feel unsafe at school because of the bullying, harassing, or negative policy they must navigate. Our programs transform school systems by helping others implement research-proven interventions that ensure that all students have access to an education in a safe, inclusive environment, free from harassment and discrimination – this work helps to improve education experiences and life outcomes for our children. What’s good for our most vulnerable students, and that includes LGBTQ students that are Black or African American, Hispanic or Latinx, Native American, Arab, Pacific Islander, immigrant, disabled, low-income, or otherwise disadvantaged, is good for all students – we know that everyone benefits from a safer school environment and that every child deserves it.

GLSEN’s research shows the best student outcomes occur in schools where the following four key supports are in place. It is our goal to ensure all four of these supports are present at every K-12 school in America. 1. LGBTQ-inclusive policies, including anti-bullying policies 2. Visible, LGBTQ-supportive/culturally competent educators 3. A curriculum that includes LGBTQ people, history, and events 4. Leadership opportunities for LGBTQ youth, such as a GSA These supports translate into real change for students: • Students are twice as likely to consider college: Only 4. 2% of students who experienced lower levels of victimization had no plans for post-secondary education vs. 8. 7% for others. • Higher self-esteem: 51% of students who experienced less victimization at school had positive self-esteem, vs. only 28% of often-victimized students. • Dramatically higher GPAs: The average GPA for students who experienced lower levels of victimization was 3. 3, vs. 2. 8 for students who were more often harassed. GLSEN advocates for and provides good guidance toward LGBTQ-inclusive policy at the federal, state, and local levels; offers training and resources for educators across the country; provides LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum and supports; and helps foster student leadership opportunities via student-led clubs like Gender-Sexuality Alliances, GLSEN SHINE teams, and our National Student Council and National Advisory Council, and leads more than one million in our Days of Action including Day of Silence, No Name Calling Week, and Ally Week.

GLSEN (pronounced "glisten") was founded in 1990 by a small, but dedicated group of teachers in Massachusetts who came together to improve an education system that too frequently allows its lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) students to be bullied, discriminated against, or fall through the cracks. Over 25 years later, that small group has grown into the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe and affirming schools for LGBTQ students. We accomplish our goals by working in hallways across the country -- from Congress and the Department of Education to schools and district offices in your community -- to improve school climate and champion LGBT issues in K-12 education. • We conduct extensive and original research to inform our evidence-based solutions for K-12 education. • We author developmentally appropriate resources for educators to use throughout their school community. • We partner with decision makers to ensure that comprehensive and inclusive safe schools policies are considered, passed and implemented. • We partner with dozens of national education organizations to leverage our shared expertise into creating great schools and better opportunities for every student. • We empower students to affect change by supporting student-led efforts to positively impact their own schools and local communities. Every day GLSEN works to ensure that LGBTQ students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment. Together, we can transform our nation’s K-12 schools into the safe and affirming environment all youth deserve.

At GLSEN, we measure our progress by indicators of success in our four identified supports: • LGBT-inclusive policies held and won at the federal, state, and local level • The number of educators trained by GLSEN • The number of educator resources downloaded or purchased from GLSEN • The number of students directly served by our youth programming Additionally, we measure our progress at-large via our biennial National School Climate Survey, our flagship report on the school experiences of LGBTQ youth in schools

• GLSEN (nee GLISTN), an all-volunteer organization, hosts its first conference at Concord Academy in Massachusetts in 1991 • The Governor’s Commission of Gay and Lesbian Youth (whose formation was spearheaded by GLSEN) released its report “Making Schools Safe for Gay and Lesbian Youth” in 1993 – the first report of its kind in the country. This led to a passage of a non-discrimination law in Massachusetts that protects students on the basis of sexual orientation • GLSEN becomes a national non-profit organization and accredits Chapters in CO, CT, Greater Cincinnati, MA, and Northeast Ohio in 1995 • GLSEN’s first Executive Director, Kevin Jennings, meets with then-President Bill Clinton to discuss anti-LGBT bias in schools in 1997 – the first meeting of its kind in the Executive Office of the United States • In 1999, GLSEN conducts the National School Climate Survey – the first-ever national study documenting the experience of LGBT youth in schools. This survey is a crucial tool in developing GLSEN’s strategic direction, trainings, and resources, as well as raising awareness on the issues affecting LGBT youth o GLSEN, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and a coalition of national education, mental health, and religious organizations release “Just The Facts about Sexual Orientation and Youth: A Primer for Principals, Educators and School Personnel,” which provides authoritative statements about how so-called “conversion therapy” is harmful to youth, doesn’t work, and is unnecessary • GLSEN becomes official sponsor of the Day of Silence in 2001. Participation grows from hundreds of college students to thousands of middle and high school youth • 2003 – GLSEN launches the Jump-Start National Student Leadership program. U. S. Representative Linda Sanchez introduces the Safe Schools Improvement Act, an LGBT-inclusive federal anti-bullying bill that includes protections for sexual orientation and gender identity/expression • In 2010, Executive Director Eliza Byard participates in the first-ever United Nations international consultation to address anti-LGBT bullying in schools • In 2012, A Guidestar/Philanthropedia survey of 110 experts on LGBT issues names GLSEN one of the country’s top three LGBT nonprofits making significant contributions on a national level • In 2014, after years of advocacy from GLSEN and partners, the Centers for Disease Control makes sexual orientation items standard on their Youth Risk Behavior Survey, providing first-of-its-kind national government data on LGB students. In 2018, they add a question regarding transgender identity • In 2015, GLSEN’s No Name-Calling Week generates nearly 1,000,000 impressions of #celebratekindness on Twitter. • In 2018, fought to have school climate included as a condition for federal education funding in 27 states, distributed more than 250,000 resources to schools nationwide, supported 15,000 student clubs, trained more than 12,000 educators, and engaged over 100,000 student leaders