Factors associated with straight allies' current engagement levels within Gay–Straight Alliances

• We examined factors related to ally engagement in Gay–Straight Alliances (GSAs).
• We analyzed surveys from straight youth attending state-wide GSA conferences.
• Strongest contributors to GSA engagement were LGBT friends and positive feelings.
• A social and welcoming GSA environment is needed to foster active GSA engagement.

Gay–Straight Alliances (GSAs) can foster action-oriented engagement among straight youth allies. The objective of the current exploratory study was to identify factors related to straight youth allies' greater engagement in GSAs. Participants included 156 straight members of 48 high school GSAs (78.2% female, Mage = 15.71) who attended regional GSA conferences in 2013. The survey asked youth to report their engagement in their GSA based on multiple items, and it measured factors external to the GSA and GSA-specific experiences that could be related to GSA engagement. In an overall model with all factors as independent variables and engagement as the dependent variable, initial positive feelings after the first few GSA meetings and having more current LGBT friends emerged as the clearest contributors. This study broadens our understanding of how factors external to the GSA and GSA-specific experiences relate to straight youths' role in promoting social change through their GSA engagement.