Vision Statement
Gay Straight Alliance for Safe Schools (GSA for Safe Schools) envisions educational systems where all students thrive regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

Mission Statement
GSA for Safe Schools is a public benefit organization committed to safe middle schools and high schools for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender youths and all students.

Colleen Capper to Participate in Ironman World Championship in Kona!

This year, one of Madison’s own Ironman participants, Professor Colleen Capper, UW-Madison, was chosen to participate in the Hawaiian Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, on October 11, 2008. Colleen has dedicated all funds raised in her honor to support Gay Straight Alliance for Safe Schools in our efforts to make schools safer for LGBT students. Participating in Ironman takes tremendous dedication and effort, but these efforts belong in the arena of sports. Colleen says, “School should not have to be an endurance event for LGBT youth.”

Colleen has raised several thousand dollars for GSAFE since she began participating in the local Ironman in Madison four years ago. She hopes to make this Ironman venture in Kona her largest fundraising effort for GSAFE yet! Please help support Colleen in the Kona, Hawaii Ironman World Championship and help support GSA for Safe Schools.
Colleen Capper
Ironman 2007 in Madison

• Ways to donate:
• Online: https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/CommunitySharesofWisconsin/OnlineGiving.html
  Under Gift Information scroll down to Gay Straight Alliance for Safe Schools
  Include Ironman under Comments
• Checks may be mailed to GSA for Safe Schools, #1, Madison, WI 53703 Remember to include Ironman in the memo or another note
• Call in a payment by credit card: 608-661-4141

The Ironman World Championship will draw 1,700 outstanding triathletes from around the world who will compete in 2.4-miles of swimming in tough ocean waves, 112-miles of biking and a 26.2-mile run over challenging lava-covered terrain.

2008 Leadership Training Institute, August 23rd-25th
Apply for a spot on this year's class. Available spots filling up quickly. Apply NOW!

GSAFE wants to know if you think you have the stuff to apply for our Leadership Training Institute (LTI), which is scheduled for August 23-25, 2008. LTI builds and fosters student leaders who want to create safe schools for LGBT youth and their allies in Wisconsin. Students are selected to participate in LTI based on demonstrated or potential leadership capacity. You don't already have to be a leader in your club or school to apply - we want to help you develop these skills!

Enrollment for LTI will be capped at 30 total participants.

Click here to learn more and download an application form.

Student Safety
Each student has a right to feel safe and be celebrated. We try to make this happen by

• supporting over 78 Gay Straight Alliances and 250-300 student leaders in South Central Wisconsin through direct contact and youth conferences
• working in partnership with the Department of Public Instruction to lead workshops on LGBT issues and anti-bullying throughout the state for school professionals through Cooperative Education Service Agencies (CESAs)
• partnering with the Madison Metropolitan School District to lead sessions on Bystanders to Allies (B2A), a middle school anti-bullying program developed by Wisconsin Public Television

Each gift makes a difference. Thank you for supporting our mission to make schools safe for LGBT students and all youth!