GLSEN

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GLSEN

Founded	1990
Founder	Kevin Jennings
Type	LGBT Youth Awareness Campaign & Education Lobbying Institution
Location	New York City
Area served	United States
Executive Director	Melanie Willingham-Jaggers
Website	www.glsen.org
Formerly called	Gay and Lesbian Independent School Teachers Network

GLSEN (pronounced glisten; formerly the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network) is an American education organization working to end discrimination, harassment, and bullying based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression and to prompt LGBT cultural inclusion and awareness in K-12 schools. Founded in 1990 in Boston, Massachusetts, the organization is now headquartered in New York City and has an office of public policy based in Washington, D.C.

As of 2018,^[update] there are 39 GLSEN chapters across 26 states that train 5,000 students, educators, and school personnel each year.^{[1][better source needed]} The chapters also support more than 4,000 registered school-based clubs—commonly known as gay–straight alliances (GSAs)--which work to address name-calling, bullying, and harassment in their schools. GLSEN also sponsors and participates in a host of annual "Days of Action", including a No Name-Calling Week every January, a Day of Silence every April, and an Ally Week every September. Guided by research such as its National School Climate Survey, GLSEN has developed resources, lesson plans, classroom materials, and professional development programs for teachers on how to support LGBTQ students.^{[2][better source needed]}

Research shows that in response to bullying and mistreatment, many LGBTQ students avoid school altogether; this can lead to academic failure.^[3] To combat this problem, GLSEN has advocated for LGBTQ-inclusive anti-bullying laws and policies. GLSEN has also worked with the U.S. Departments of Education, Justice, and Health and Human Services to create model policies that support LGBTQ students and educators. GLSEN has considered their signature legislation to be the Safe Schools Improvement Act and has been honored by the White House as a "Champion of Change".