A Gay Safe Space (GSS) is a student-run club, typically in a high school, which provides a safe place for students to meet, support each other, talk about issues related to sexual orientation, and work to end homophobia. Many GSSs function as a support group and provide safety and confidentiality to students who are struggling with their identity as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (GLBTQ)  teens. In addition to support, some GSSs work on educating themselves and the broader school community about sexual orientation and gender identity issues. They may bring in outside speakers to cover a particular topic such as GLBTQ history. 

They may organize a "Pride Week" or "GLBTQ Awareness Events" and offer a series of educational workshops, panels, and pride celebrations. Many participate in the Day of Silence, a day when participants remain silent all day as a way of acknowledging the silence induced by homophobia in our society. Some GSSs organize a "Teach the Teachers" staff development day which focuses on teaching school staff how to be better allies for GLBTQ students. For example, GSS members would present scenarios about discrimination or harassment and get teachers to brainstorm how to respond to those situations.
Other GSSs are activist clubs and have worked to get GLBTQ issues represented in the curriculum, Pride Parade in Philadelphia, and attend conferences together. GSSs are a great way to build GLBTQ related books in the library, and progressive non-discrimination policies implemented at a district level. All of these different types of GSSs also provide a social outlet for GLBTQ students and their strait allies. Lots of GSSs organize barbeques or movie nights, or the GLBTQ community at your school and lessen the isolation that GLBTQ students might otherwise experience.