Launch of the Gender, Identity and Sexuality Alliances (GISA) programme

Welcome to the GISA website ! Here is some important information to get you started:

What is a GISA?

It is a committee of young people that aims to create a safe space where every person is accepted, whatever their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. The goal of a GISA is to promote acceptance and solidarity within schools and any other youth sector organizations. A GISA helps to fight discrimination, bullying, violence and prejudice based on sexual orientation or gender identity and gender expression. It is an association by and for youth, but the help of supportive adults is very often appreciated and even sometimes necessary.

GISAs are Interligne’s new programme: we offer a starter kit so that teens or supportive adults have all the information and help they need to launch a GISA at school or in their communities.

How to start a GISA?

You can start by downloading the GISA Starter kit, which contains: :

• The Gender, Identity and Sexuality Alliances (GISA) Guide that aims to help youth and supportive adults create a diversity alliance at their school or youth sector organization.
• The Activity Booklet which contains more than twenty activities that can be led by members of a GISA.
• The Workshop Catalogue: these workshops are entirely free and aim to help you create your own GISA. We currently offer 9 workshops that deal with such subjects as leadership, communication, project management, conflict management, but also LGBTQ + realities, etc. The Interligne team can facilitate these workshops in most regions of Quebec. If you are in a remote area, we can also send to you the content so that you can facilitate them on your own.

What’s more, our website offers a lot of other resources for people that are concerned with or interested by gender and sexual diversity: a variety of workshops available for schools and youth sector organizations, helpful resources for LGBTQ+ youth, a guide to being a more inclusive organization, and many more! If you want to chat with other GISA members, you can also join our online forums.

Is it possible to have financial support to start a GISA?

Good news! If you need financial support to start a GISA, Chantiers jeunesse, one of our partners, will offer $500 grants to the first give groups that will fill out the funding application. So if you’re planning to create your own GISA, now’s the time to visit the “grants” section of  our website.

For more information

For more information, to ask questions, or for a personalized follow-up, you can contact the person in charge of the GISA program at [email protected] or at 514 866 6788, extension 134.

Thank you for getting involved, and we wish you great success with your GISA!