What is a GSA?
A Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), Genders and Sexualities Alliance (GSA), Queer-Straight Alliance (QSA), Sexuality and Gender Acceptance (SAGA), Queer Intersectional Alliance (QIA), Rainbow, or Pride Club is a student-run club, typically in a high school or middle school, which provides a safe place for students to meet, support each other, talk about issues related to sexual orientation, and work to end homophobia and transphobia. Many GSAs function as a support group and provide safety and confidentiality to students who are struggling with their identity as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or questioning.
In addition to support, some GSAs work on educating themselves and the broader school community about sexual orientation and gender identity issues. Other GSAs are activist clubs and have worked to get LGBTQ issues represented in the curriculum, LGBTQ related books in the library, and progressive non-discrimination policies implemented at a district level. All of these different types of GSAs also provide a social outlet for LGBTQ students and their straight allies.
For more information and resources about GSAs, please visit the GSA Network, a nonprofit organization that supports students in starting and maintaining active GSAs. To learn more about how to start a GSA or how to make your GSA virtual, visit their websites:
We See You!
You’re going to get through this. Stay strong, stay safe, take care of yourself and one another, and reach out when you need help. — Safe Schools Project
2022-2023 GSA’s, QSA’s, SAGA’s, QIA, Rainbow, and Pride Clubs
Santa Cruz County
Alianza Charter School 4th/5th grade Rainbow Club
Advisor: Jen Salinas-Holz / Pronouns: she/her / Jen_Salinas-Holz@pvusd.net / (831)786-2100 x 5977
Aptos High School “Rainbow Alliance” GSA
Advisor: Erika Cobain / Pronouns: she/her / erika_cobain@pvusd.net / (831) 728-7832
Aptos Junior High School “Pride Club” GSA
Co-Advisor: Kerry Gil / Pronouns: she/her / kerry_gil@pvusd.net / (831) 728-7834
Co-Advisor: Stefanie Bishop / Pronouns: she/her / stefanie_bishop@pvusd.net / (831) 728-7834
Co-Advisor: Julia Lipari / Pronouns: she/her / julia_lipari@pvusd.net / (831) 728-7834
Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County Live Oak Branch “Rainbow Pride Mafia” GSA
(831) 477-4095
Branciforte Middle School “The Muskequeers” GSA
Co-Advisor: Rhiannon Soto / Pronouns: she/her / rhiannonsoto@sccs.net / (831) 429-3883 x 52309
Co-Advisor: Shelli Stepps / Pronouns: she/her / shellistepps@sccs.net / (831)429-3883 x 52221
Branciforte Small Schools Campus: Alternative Family Education, Ark Independent Studies, Costanoa High QSA
Advisor: Sean Crossno / Pronouns: they/them / seancrossno@sccs.net / (831) 429-3898 x 55116
Ceiba College Preparatory Academy QSA
Co-Advisor: Matt Grist / Pronouns: he/him / matt.grist@ceibaprep.org / (831) 740-8800
Co-Advisor: Micaiah Sutter / Pronouns: he/him / micaiah.sutter@ceibaprep.org / (831)740-8800
Cesar Chavez Middle School GSA
Co-Advisors: Veronica Fernandez & Angelica Flores
Email / (831) 761-7699 & Email / (831) 761-7699
Cypress High School GSA
Advisor:
Delta Charter High School QSA
Advisor: Jamie Cutter / Pronouns: she/her / jcutter@deltaschool.org / (831) 477-5212
Edward A. Hall Middle School “Diversity Club” GSA
Advisor: Neil Cannon & Emma Ochsner
Email / (831) 728-6270 x 4025 & Email / (831) 728-6270 x 4015
Georgiana Bruce Kirby Preparatory School GSA
Co-Advisor: Jessa Kirk / Pronouns: / jkirk@kirby.org / (831) 423-0658
Co-Advisor: Melissa Fiegel / Pronouns: / mfiegel@kirby.org / (831) 423-0658
Harbor High School QSA
Advisor: Elaina Ramer / Pronouns: she/they / ElainaRamer@sccs.net
Lakeview Middle School QSA
Advisor: Jen Salinas-Holz / Pronouns: she/her / jen_salinas-holz@pvusd.net / (831)728-6455 x 5977
Mission Hill Middle School GSA
Co-Advisor: Christy Fairbain / Pronouns: she/her / christinafairbairn@sccs.net / (831)429 3860 x 5311
Co-Advisor: Steve Perez / steveperez@sccs.net / (831) 429-3860
Mount Modonna Middle School Rainbow Unicorns GSA
Co-Advisor: Lisa Catterall / Pronouns: she/her / lisa.catterall@mountmadonnaschool.org / (408) 847-2717
Co-Advisor: Chrislaine Miller / Pronouns: she/her / chrislaine.miller@mountmadonnaschool.org / (408) 847-2717
Mount Modonna Upper School GSA
New Brighton Middle School QSA
Co-Advisor: Erica Márquez / Pronouns: she/her / EMarquez@suesd.org / (831) 464-5660 x 413
Co-Advisors: Em. Whitwell / Pronouns: she/her / ewhitwell@suesd.org / (831) 464-5660 x 413
Pacific Collegiate School (PCS) GSA
Advisor: Andrea Roth
Email / (831) 479-7785
Pajaro Valley High School GSA
Co-Advisor: Heidi Story / Pronouns: she/her / Heidi_Story@pvusd.net / (831)7288102 x 3558
Co-Advisor: Julie Brusa / Pronouns: she/her / julie_brusa@pvusd.net / (831)7288102 x 3515
Pájaro Middle School “Rainbow Alliance Club” GSA
Co-Advisors: Diane Bloch, M.A.Ed., Karina Alvarez, & Emely Carmona
diane_bloch@pvusd.net / (831) 728 – 6238 x 4166, karina_alvarez@pvusd.net / (831) 728 – 6238 x 4168, emely_carmona@pvusd.net / (831) 728 – 6238 x 4109
Rolling Hills Middle School “QSA Equality Club” GSA
Advisor: Laura Reeve
laura_reeve@pvusd.net / (831) 728-6341 X 4815
San Lorenzo Valley High School “Gender and Sexuality Awareness” GSA
Co-Advisor: Jen Ruby / Pronouns: she/her / jruby@slvusd.org
Co-Advisor: Sarah Young / Pronouns: she/her / syoung@slvusd.org
San Lorenzo Valley Middle School GSA
Advisor: Rex Olivieri / rolivieri@slvusd.org
Santa Cruz High School “Rainbow Alliance” GSA
Advisor: Conor O’Brien
Email / (831) 429-3960
Scotts Valley High School Sexuality and Gender Acceptance (SAGA) GSA
Advisor: Savannah Wohlstatter / Pronouns: She/her / swohlstattar@scottsvalleyusd.org / (831) 439-9555 x 157
Scotts Valley Middle School GSA
Advisor: Abbie Stevens
Email / (831) 438-0610
Shoreline Junior High School “SAGA (Sexuality and Gender Acceptance)” GSA
Co-Advisors: Nick Falco Elias & Rachel Dysart
Email / (831) 475-6565 x 1102 & Email / (831) 475-6565 x 1214
Soquel High School “Gender and Sexuality Diversity Club” GSA
Advisor: Carina Wandel
cwandel@sccs.net / (831) 429-3909
Watsonville Charter School of the Arts GSA
Co-Advisor: Jen Salinas-Holz / Pronouns: she/her / jen_salinas-holz@pvusd.net / (831)728-6455 x5977
Co-Advisor: Angela Rebol / Pronouns: she/her / angela_rebol@pvusd.net / (831)728-8123 x7718
Watsonville High School Sexuality and Gender Acceptance (SAGA)
Co-Advisor: Robert Pelz / he/him / robert_pelz@pvusd.net
Co-Advisor: Katrina Johnson/ she/her / katrina_johnson@pvusd.net
Monterey County
Alisal High School “Be Yourself Club” GSA
Advisor: Jaquelyn Gallardo
Email / (831) 796-7600
Everett Alvarez High School GSA (Gender/Sexuality Alliance)
Email / (831) 796-7800
Gonzales High School “Pride Club” GSA
Advisor: Stephanie Boerlin
Email / (831) 675-2495
Main Street Middle School “Skittles” GSA
Advisor: Aidee Aldaco
Email / (831) 678-6460
Marina High School “Love is Love Club” GSA
Advisor: Cory Ward
Email / (831) 583-2060
Monterey High School GSA
Advisor: Lauren McMercury
Email / (831)392-3801
North Salinas High School GSA
Advisor: Cathie Culver
Email / (831) 796-7500
Pacific Grove High School GSA
Advisor: Tara Tullius
Email / (831) 646-6590
Rancho San Juan High School GSA
Advisor: Natalie Bernasconi
Email / (831) 273-7700
Salinas High School “Be Yourself Club” GSA
Advisors: Kacee Fujinami, German Cortez, Holly Hollingsworth
Email, Email, Email / (831) 796-7400
Seaside High School GSA
Advisor: Andrea Diehl
Email / (831) 392-3530
Soledad High School GSA
Advisor: Artemisa Delgado
Email / (831) 678-6400
Washington Middle School “Be Yourself Club” GSA
Advisors: Lauren Rubin, Gabrielle Devilla
Email, Email / (831) 796-7100
York School “Q&A Club” GSA
Advisor: Kande Williston
Email / (831) 372-7338
Compiled by the Safe Schools Project, a program of the Queer Youth Task Force (QYTF), the Diversity Center Youth Program, TransFamilies Santa Cruz & Watsonville, and Our Gente, a program of the Epicenter. Subject to change due to staffing changes within the school system. For more information, contact QYTF at email or (831) 427-4004.
HTP, Intern, Safe Schools Project, Spring 2022
Last updated March 2023