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GSA List

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:

  • GSA Development
  • Build the GSA Movement
  • Virtual GSAs In Action

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
Advisor: Jessa Kirk & Carolina Martinez
Email / (831) 423-0658 & Email / (831) 423-0658 x 324

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

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