Middle schoolers at the NYC GSA Summit proved these conversations matter.

The Next Generation is Showing Up for Consent Education

When we walked into the NYC GSA Summit at LaGuardia High School, we expected to see a room full of high school students ready to dive into conversations about consent, bystander intervention, and healthy relationships. After all, that’s who our SafeBAE presentation was originally designed for.

But what happened next was something we didn’t expect—and something that left us more hopeful than ever.

Before our session even started, an entire classroom full of middle schoolers walked in, not because they were required to, but because they chose to be there. They saw the topic, read the description, and decided for themselves that conversations about consent, boundaries, and relationship safety were something they wanted to learn about.

In a time when conversations about sexual violence prevention and LGBTQ+ inclusion are being challenged across the country, seeing young students self-select into this space was more than inspiring—it was proof that the next generation is ready to step up, ask questions, and keep these critical conversations going.

And they didn’t just show up. They engaged. They asked smart, thoughtful questions. They wanted to know how to recognize red flags, how to step in when they see harm happening, and—most importantly—how to bring SafeBAE to their own schools.

This moment was a reminder that young people are not only willing to learn about consent, they are hungry for it.

Why This Moment Matters More Than Ever

It’s no secret that conversations about consent, sexual violence prevention, and LGBTQ+ inclusion are under attack. Across the country, school districts are rolling back sex education, banning books that discuss healthy relationships, and restricting discussions around identity and safety. Some lawmakers and school boards are pushing the idea that young people aren’t “ready” to learn about these topics, despite overwhelming evidence that early education is the key to prevention. It’s not just political rhetoric—federal funding for sexual violence prevention is actively being slashed, and it’s already having devastating consequences for organizations like SafeBAE.

But at the NYC GSA Summit, these middle schoolers proved otherwise.

They weren’t just willing to be in the room—they actively sought it out. They chose to have conversations about boundaries, about standing up for each other, about what it really means to give and receive consent. And that matters.

Because when young people—especially those in middle school—start asking these questions, it means they’re thinking critically about their relationships and their safety. It means they recognize that these conversations impact them now, not just in some distant future. It means they aren’t waiting for permission to learn how to protect themselves and their peers.

And perhaps most importantly, it means they are invested in prevention.

In a climate where adults in power are trying to silence these discussions, this moment was a direct counterargument to those efforts. Young people are not only capable of engaging in these conversations—they are demanding them.

Why Conferences Like the NYC GSA Summit Are Critical

Moments like what we experienced at the NYC GSA Summit don’t just happen by chance—they happen because SafeBAE is there, ready to provide the education that young people are actively seeking out. They happen because we show up in spaces where students feel safe enough to ask hard questions, challenge what they’ve been taught, and take real steps toward preventing sexual violence in their own communities.

But the reality is that without funding, we can’t keep showing up.

With federal funding cuts limiting access to prevention education, conferences like this become even more critical. These events give students a space to engage in conversations that they may never get in their own schools. They allow us to reach young people before harm happens, equipping them with the tools they need to set boundaries, support survivors, and stop violence before it starts.

And that’s where you come in.

Every single training, every peer-led session, every resource we create is made possible by the people who believe in this work and choose to support it. We don’t receive enough federal funding to sustain our programs—we rely on our community.

Here’s how you can help:
🔹 Donate today to help us continue attending life-changing conferences like the NYC GSA Summit. Even a small contribution goes directly to funding our workshops, resources, and peer education programs. Donate here
🔹 Bring SafeBAE to your school! We work with middle and high schools nationwide to provide peer-led consent education. Learn more here.
🔹 Join the movement. Whether you’re a student, educator, or ally, you can get involved by signing up for our Peer Educator Training or supporting our work in other ways.

The students at the NYC GSA Summit showed up for prevention work. Let’s show up for them. Donate now and help us continue our life-saving mission.

all youth.