GSA Activities GLSEN Jump-start—ExcerptHere are some excerpts from the GLSEN Jump Start Manual for GSAs, with some activities for GSAs. The entire document is available at:
http://www.glsen.org/binary.data/GLSEN-Attachments/file/182-2.pdf Or by going to www.glsen.org, clicking on the GSA link, and searching for the Jump-Start section
1) Common Ground - Source: Kerry Ashforth Students and faculty advisors stand in a circle. One person begins by saying, "I've got a younger sister," or some other statement that is true for them. Everyone for whom this is also true steps into the center of the circle. Everyone who doesn't have a younger sister stays on the outside. You can always choose not to step into the circle. The game often brings up personal and important issues that students may not want to discuss in a more formal setting. This also allows everyone to recognize their differences and similarities.
2) Gender Stereotypes - Source: Various Trace a male and a female body on butcher paper, then have a free-for-all where everyone writes as many gender stereotypes as they can think of on the bodies where they would apply (i.e. "boys are smart at math" would be placed on the head of the male body). From here, you can talk about how gender stereotypes and traits relate to perceptions about gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people - as well as how these stereotypes limit our possibilities, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. These exercises can also be done using stereotypes of gay men and lesbians, helping us to recognize that everyone has different traits that don't define our sexual orientation or gender.
3) Heterosexism in the Media - Source: Various Bring in popular, mainstream magazines, newspaper, or web documents, and cut out images you perceive to be heterosexist. Explain what you think heterosexism is and how it affects people. This can be an eye-opening experience for those who have never looked at how media plays a part in the formation of our identities. With all the images you collect, your GSA can make a collage or exhibit that examines heterosexism. To go a step further, bring in LGBT publications, and make posters of images that are not heterosexist. Show lots of different sexual orientations, genders and gender identities exhibiting the spectrum of diversity in society. You can compare the posters you make, and even display them somewhere in your school, such as the library or a display case. You might include some statements about what heterosexism is and how it affects all of us, especially LGBT youth.
4) Three Chair Listening Exercise - Source: Various Three Chairs are set up in a row, the end two turned towards the middle one. The chair on the left holds the position of the "specialist," the middle chair, the "listener," and the right chair the "real story." The “specialist” person and the “real story” person talk to the listener simultaneously, while the listener tries to listen and respond to both, as best they can. The two talkers are competing for the listener's attention, and the goal is for the listener to see which talker holds their attention more. The “specialist” talks as if they're a doctor or clergyman or professional in some field related to LGBT youth and issues in the schools. They may site statistics, give medical information, and so on. The “real story” person is the one who speaks as if they're someone you might meet on the street. They can tell a true story from their life or make up a story related to the experiences of LGBT youth in the schools. The story should be "personal." When playing with more than three people, let each trio act for two minutes and then call time. The “real story” person then leaves the trio, and the other two players move into the seats to their left (the “listener” to the “real story” chair and the “specialist” to the “listener” chair). The next player in line takes the chair of the “specialist.” After the game has been played for a while, your group can discuss which "chair" they found themselves listening and responding to more attentively. You can then discuss how different techniques are used to portray LGBT people in different lights. You can discuss how your own listening style might make you more apt to internalize information presented according to one approach or the other.
5) Concentric Circles, Inner/Outer Circles - Source: Jason Fleetwood-Boldt This exercise works great to open dialogue. It requires an even number of people, with a minimum of 6 or 8. It works best with 20 or more. Have people count off by twos (1, 2, 1, 2...). Tell the ones to make an inner circle and the twos to make an outer circle. The inner circle should face outward and the outer circle should face inward, each person having a partner in the other circle. The facilitator instructs that they will ask a question and the outer circle is to talk for one minute as the inner circle listens. If it is a group that doesn't know one another, you can have them introduce themselves to their partners before they begin answering the question asked. After the minute is up, the inner circle answers the same question. Then the outer circle moves clockwise two people over, so everyone has a new partner. A new question is asked of the outer, then inner, circles. When finished, the participants should discuss their conversations as a large group. Sample Questions: "Growing up, what were all of the names (positive, negative, neutral) that you heard related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people?" " Growing up, what were some of the stereotypes you heard about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people? ""What were some of the things you heard about these groups that you have found to be inaccurate? "
6) Culture Walk - Source: Kerry Ashforth There are one or two mediators, and they begin by asking a group of people, for example, women, to move to one side of the room. The people who then haven't identified as women ask questions, and the women give them answers. Then the women get to say what they'd like other people to know about them. You don't have to "talk" or "walk."
7) Cultural/Identity Linking - Source: BiGLTYNY Leadership Everyone closes their eyes and looks into their "inner mirror." Examine what culture means to you and what you think of as your own cultural identity. Look for the cultural identities you claim and, when you are ready, open your eyes and look around the room. Without talking, find someone whom you think shares a cultural identity with you. Approach that person and link hands. If the person you approach does not think that you share a cultural identity, they may refuse to link hands. If someone offers their hand to you, try to find a cultural commonality. Link hands only if you think you have found one. There should be no talking. Once everyone is linked, stand the group in one large circle, and take turns answering the questions "Why did you offer your hand to someone?” and “Why did you accept/refuse someone's hand?" Other questions: "How did it feel to assume someone's cultural identity? " "Were you always correct? " "Was it easy to find a cultural commonality? " "How did it feel not to make a link?"
8) Pretzel, Knots - Source: Various Everyone stands in a circle. Everyone puts their right hand forward into the middle and grabs the right hand of someone. Then, take your left hand and grab the left hand of someone else in the circle. Thus, with your right hand you are attached to one person's right hand, and your left hand is attached to another person’s left hand. You are now in a tangled ring of bodies. Without letting go, untangle yourselves. You may switch the positions of your hands, but do not break the ring. Sometimes the group is tangled in one big loop, but sometimes it is tangled in several smaller ones. Tip: When starting the game, ensure that no one is holding on to the same person’s left and right hands. Note: The word culture is used to keep this activity open-ended. People often interpret "culture" as race, ethnicity, religion, color, nationality, class, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ability, profession, and so on. Additional Note: You can expand on this game if everyone ends in a large pretzel or knot - see the next.
