Editing GLSEN (section)

{{Short description|American nonprofit organization}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2015}}
{{Use American English|date = October 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date = October 2019}}
{{Infobox organization <!-- See: [[Template:Infobox non-profit]] -->
| name              = GLSEN
| image             = GLSEN logo.svg
| type              = LGBT Youth Awareness Campaign & Education Lobbying Institution
| founded_date      = 1990
| leader_title      = Executive Director
| leader_name       = Melanie Willingham-Jaggers
| founder           = [[Kevin Jennings]]
| location          = [[New York City]]
| area_served       = [[United States]]
| former name       = Gay and Lesbian Independent School Teachers Network
| homepage          = {{Official URL}}
}}

'''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 culture|LGBT cultural inclusion and awareness]] in [[K–12 (education)|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|post=,}} there are 39 GLSEN chapters across 26 states that train 5,000 students, educators, and school personnel each year.<ref name="GLSEN chapters">{{cite web|url=http://www.glsen.org/chapters |title=GLSEN chapters |access-date=2018-02-24}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=August 2019}} The chapters also support more than 4,000 registered school-based clubs—commonly known as [[gay–straight alliance]]s (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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.glsen.org/safespace|title=GLSEN Safe Space Kit: Be an ALLY to LGBTQ Youth!|website=GLSEN|language=en|access-date=2019-05-31}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=August 2019}}

Research shows that in response to bullying and mistreatment, many LGBTQ students avoid school altogether; this can lead to academic failure.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Palmer |first1=Neal A. |last2=Greytak |first2=Emily A. |title=LGBTQ Student Victimization and Its Relationship to School Discipline and Justice System Involvement |journal=[[Criminal Justice Review]] |date=17 May 2017 |volume=42 |issue=2 |pages=163–187 |doi=10.1177/0734016817704698 |s2cid=149429285 }}</ref> 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 [[United States Department of Education|Education]], [[United States Department of Justice|Justice]], and [[United States Department of Health and Human Services|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".

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