Solidarity Week

Solidarity is a voluntary collective action by different people based on finding common objectives and solutions. Solidarity work happens when you show up to help and support others experiencing some form of harm by centering their leadership, decisions, needs, requests, and ideas.

You have probably already practiced solidarity in some form, whether using a peer’s correct pronouns or signing a petition. In the days after the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, students organized the largest single day of protest against gun violence in history. In June, protests broke out across the country demanding justice for George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by police in Minneapolis, MN. As more murders of Black people including Black transgender women, young people started organizing their own protests addressing anti-Blackness and racism in their schools. Many of you participated in GLSEN’s Day of Silence, the largest LGBTQ+ student focused and led action to raise awareness around the bullying, harassment and erasure of LGBTQ+ students in schools.

Solidarity work happens in many forms and on many different issues. The important part of understanding solidarity work, is that collective action is powerful in enacting change, in fact, solidarity can either be the biggest threat to oppression, or one of the biggest allies in upholding and reinforcing it. How you show up...or don’t, makes all the difference.

How to Participate

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Join the Conversation

LGBTQ+ students, how can people at your school in your community be in solidarity with you? How are you showing solidarity with others? These are great GSA conversation starters! Share on social media using #SolidarityWeek, and snap a selfie with our #InSolidarityWith sign!

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Learn

Recognizing our own privilege(s) is important to solidarity work because recognizing our privilege(s) acknowledges that they exist! Then we can enter collective actions in mindfulness and uplift the most marginalized voices and elevate their leadership. Check out GLSEN’s student resources on allyship and solidarity. If you’re an educator check out our actions we've listed specifically for educators looking to be allies to LGBTQ students and all their intersecting identities. Learn about Solidarity Week by checking out our webinar here.

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Support

GLSEN is here to support your week of action. Email us at students@glsen.org with questions and we will do our best to get back to you as quickly as possible. Don’t forget to register for Solidarity Week! You will get first invitations to webinars, emails, and other material to use as resources.

If you are an educator, utilize the GLSEN Educator Guides for information, activities and other ways to participate.
Educator Guide for Middle and High School
Educator Guide for Elementary

Solidarity Week Organizational Allies

These organizations have endorsed Solidarity Week in support of LGBTQ-inclusive schools.

ALSO Youth
American Civil Liberties Union
Athlete Ally
Beta Phi Omega  Sorority, Inc.
Boston GLASS
Brooklyn Community Pride Center
CAMBAs Project Accept LGBTQ Youth (ALY)
CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers
Civil Rights Memorial Center
El Paso Safe Schools Texas
Futures Without Violence
Gallaudet University
Gay Youth Milwaukee
Gay-Straight Alliance Network
Global Business Academy
Globeautique /Diversity Fest
GroundSpark
Helping Women Win
Improve Sexual Health and Right Advocacy Initiative (ISHRAI)
It Gets Better Project
Jacksonville System of Care
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center
Lotus Rising Project
Memphis Public Library and Information Center
National Women's Coalition Against Violence & Exploitation (NWCAVE)
New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault
NOH8 Campaign