For Students
There are many ways to push for change in your community. Glisten is here to help you get started and come up with ideas.
This resource hub is the perfect place to start. Find collected writings from other LGBTQ+ youth, resources to create change, and frequently asked questions here.
Create Change
When youth lead the way, real change happens. These resources are here to support you as you navigate creating schools and communities where LGBTQ+ youth can thrive.
2026-2027 School Year Calendar
2026-2027 School Year Calendar
The school year is full of opportunities to participate in Glisten events, address LGBTQ+ and social justice issues, learn about diverse communities, and take action to create safe and inclusive schools for ALL! Use this calendar to schedule your GSA meetings, lesson plans, student events, and staff development workshops as part of your ongoing multicultural and LGBTQ+-inclusion efforts.
The school year is full of opportunities to participate in Glisten events, address LGBTQ+ and social justice issues, learn about diverse communities, and take action to create safe and inclusive schools for ALL! Use this calendar to schedule your GSA meetings, lesson plans, student events, and staff development workshops as part of your ongoing multicultural and LGBTQ+-inclusion efforts.
Download the Calendar
Rainbow Writes
2026-2027 Submissions are open October 9–31!
Rainbow Writes is a competition initiated by the 2022-2023 National Student Council cohort in direct response to widespread book bans throughout the nation. It emerged as a contest designed to amplify youth perspectives and revel in the exuberance of queer experiences.
This year’s theme is “MVPs”. MVPs are people who consistently show up and impact others in remarkable ways. Who are the people who make you feel seen, supported, and understood? Who shows up when you need them most? And when have you been that person for someone else? For this year’s Rainbow Writes contest, tell us about your personal MVPs – friends, family, and other supporters. We want to hear about someone who made a difference in your life, helped you feel more like yourself, or stood by you when it really mattered to have someone there. Or, write about a time when you stepped up as an MVP for someone else. Your story can be big or small, from recounting just one moment to a story that spans several years.
Submit your piece today!
Rainbow Writes Anthology
Rainbow Writes Anthology
Read the works of the 2026 Rainbow Writes contest. Last year’s theme was Insiders. It invited LGBTQ+ young writers to tell stories from the inside, exploring the places, relationships, languages, and moments where they feel seen. Rather than focusing on queerness as something defined by exclusion or otherness, youth have the power to reclaim the idea of being a part of something larger, defining what being an “insider” means for youth and their communities. This theme centers on belonging: the group chats, classrooms, fandoms, friendships, and chosen families where youth are simply being themselves. Insiders asked writers to reflect on what it means to share an unspoken understanding, a secret language, or a sense of affirming community. These stories uplift queerness as lived experience and collective connection, spotlighting the world’s young people build for and with one another.
Read the works of the 2026 Rainbow Writes contest. Last year’s theme was Insiders. It invited LGBTQ+ young writers to tell stories from the inside, exploring the places, relationships, languages, and moments where they feel seen. Rather than focusing on queerness as something defined by exclusion or otherness, youth have the power to reclaim the idea of being a part of something larger, defining what being an “insider” means for youth and their communities. This theme centers on belonging: the group chats, classrooms, fandoms, friendships, and chosen families where youth are simply being themselves. Insiders asked writers to reflect on what it means to share an unspoken understanding, a secret language, or a sense of affirming community. These stories uplift queerness as lived experience and collective connection, spotlighting the world’s young people build for and with one another.
Find Your Community
Get Involved
You can make a difference! LGBTQ+ student-led clubs and GSAs (Gender and Sexuality Alliances) are leading the work to create safe and inclusive schools. Find out how to start a GSA, get free resources, and register to join the national network of GSAs.
You can make a difference! LGBTQ+ student-led clubs and GSAs (Gender and Sexuality Alliances) are leading the work to create safe and inclusive schools. Find out how to start a GSA, get free resources, and register to join the national network of GSAs.
Learn about the National Student Council
The National Student Council (NSC) is a dynamic and empowering youth leadership and engagement program for high schoolers. The NSC, comprised of LGBTQ+ student representatives, provides invaluable feedback on GLSEN's processes, programs, resources, and overall strategy.
The National Student Council (NSC) is a dynamic and empowering youth leadership and engagement program for high schoolers. The NSC, comprised of LGBTQ+ student representatives, provides invaluable feedback on GLSEN's processes, programs, resources, and overall strategy.
Student-to-student Resources
Learn from your peers! Find resources from other LGBTQ+ youth working to create more equitable schools.
Frequently Asked Questions
We recommend looking outside of your school at community opportunities for community and support. If there is nothing locally in-person, you can source an online community as well. A great place to start is with our partners at the Trevor Project and their TrevorSpace.
We recommend looking outside of your school at community opportunities for community and support. If there is nothing locally in-person, you can source an online community as well. A great place to start is with our partners at the Trevor Project and their TrevorSpace.
Yes, GSA’s and similar clubs are open spaces for LGBTQ+ and allied youth to share community, network, and grow together. For more information about your school’s GSA talk with the advisor. If you do not know who that is you can often look it up on your school’s website or ask your school counselor.
Yes, GSA’s and similar clubs are open spaces for LGBTQ+ and allied youth to share community, network, and grow together. For more information about your school’s GSA talk with the advisor. If you do not know who that is you can often look it up on your school’s website or ask your school counselor.
There are many avenues you can take to advocate for more inclusive school policies. If you are not part of your school’s GSA, we suggest you start there. If your school does not have a GSA or you are not comfortable in that space, find a trusted educator at your school to support you. This trusted adult could be a counselor, teacher, coach, etc.
There are many avenues you can take to advocate for more inclusive school policies. If you are not part of your school’s GSA, we suggest you start there. If your school does not have a GSA or you are not comfortable in that space, find a trusted educator at your school to support you. This trusted adult could be a counselor, teacher, coach, etc.
Glisten has a lot of great resources for students, so we suggest you check-out our website for resources. You can also connect with your school counselor for local resources or send us an email at students@glsen.org and we can work to support you in finding resources.
Glisten has a lot of great resources for students, so we suggest you check-out our website for resources. You can also connect with your school counselor for local resources or send us an email at students@glsen.org and we can work to support you in finding resources.