first page of report featuring diverse youth involved in the Genders and Sexualities Alliance Network's youth membership program holding up a "GSA Day 4 Racial Justice" banner with an LGBTQ+ flag in the background

From 2008 to 2019, the USC Equity Research Institute (ERI) published reports under our previous name, the USC Program for Environmental and Regional Equity (PERE). 

May 2017

By Veronica Terriquez, PhD, Abdiel Lopez, and Nicole White

Founded in 1998, the Genders and Sexualities Alliance (GSA) Network’s primary mission is to address and combat homophobia and transphobia in middle and high schools across the nation. The Boyle Heights, Long Beach, and South Los Angeles chapters of the GSA Network have sought to support the healthy development of their members while engaging them in organizing, advocacy, and other efforts to advance their community’s well-being.

This report draws on survey data collected from the regular participants, or “core” youth members, of the BHC-affiliated Boyle Heights, Long Beach, and South Los Angeles chapters of the GSA Network. The purpose of this report is to provide a brief overview of GSA’s youth membership and outline some of the ways young people have been involved in and have benefited from this group.

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Gender and Sexualities Alliances Network: Supporting Leadership and Healthy Development of Youth in Boyle Heights, Long Beach, and South Los Angeles

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