Gay-Straight Alliances, or GSAs, are student-led organizations that work to create safe and supportive environments in schools. Several DMPS secondary schools have GSAs, a way for LGBTQ students and their allies to work on raising awareness and support. At Merrill Middle School, students literally took matters into their own hands as they picked up paint brushed to create signs of support. Several students worked on a banner to be displayed while others painted smaller signs available for teachers. The 30 members of Merrill’s GSA meet a few times each month to work on school projects, and several will be participating in the Iowa Governor’s Conference on LGBTQ Youth later this spring.