Q Center

You might have heard, but queer youth from around the Seattle area have been organizing to create something new. Last year, queer young people came together around a three hour “Queer Youth Mutiny” to debate and construct a new vision for serving all queer youth. A new and innovative model was crafted by young people to center the experiences of youth. No longer would non-profits merely serve young people, but adults and young people would be partners, collaborators, and social change mentors to young people, and vice versa.

We decided to form a new non-profit, and we brought together young people and adult supporters to come together to work with other young people for personal wellness. We have designed a new way to challenge the frustrating symptoms of oppression and heteronormativity that young people face (THREE WINGS) and we have based young people as the leaders and the visionaries of a physical location. Thus, now as we are getting closer and closer to opening our location, and as our leasing negotiations continue, we need your help.

If you are interested in helping out the queer youth community, either as adults or as young people, see “Get Involved” Give this movement a hand with your skills and your ideas that you hold true.

warmly, kyle r (q center staff + qys rep)

info@queeryouthspace

To find out what we have been up to, check out our site.

With five students, I am leading the University of Washington Q Center’s effort create a “Community Engagement Committee” (CEC) of Puget Sound citizens, organizational and student constituencies’ representatives. The committee’s purpose is to help community members engage, support, and invest in Q Center student constituencies’ goals. At its best, the committee can strategically unify the energies and resources from Seattle-area communities to serve the Q Center.

Potentially, the committee can help build a more resourceful and strategic UW Q Center. The committee’s goal is to create coherent student messages to the Seattle community welcoming their input and resources. The committee to work with community members to determine ways to invest financial and human resources to advance all our programs’ agendas.

Leoule’s role at the Q Center as a Research Assistant:

At the University of Washington, I work to create new learning communities. In teams, we develop strategies for new partnerships by merging organizational agendas. These teams implement ideas to promote student learning opportunities.

I use University of Washington’s social capital and networks to mobilize resources and create learning communities that merge students’ interests with organizational goals.

My work hopes to improve the quality of students’ relationship with the university and Puget Sound organizations.

It’s National Coming Out Day, so you may expect to see a blog about all the reasons that coming out is awesome. You may expect to see me encouraging people to come out en masse. But I am not going to do that.

Things I think:

It’s fucked up that there is pressure on queer people to “come out” regardless of what circumstances they are facing in their lives.

It’s fucked up that people are outed without their consent.

It’s fucked up that there is this idea that there is a state of “being in the closet” and being “out” as if they are two starkly different positions. People are very rarely “out” to everyone in their lives, and so it’s hard to distinguish what “out” really means.

I think it’s fucked up that coming out has been built up into this mandatory step in queer peoples’ lives, as if they can’t truly be queer until they start telling people.

You do NOT need to “come out” to be queer. If you identify as queer or lesbian or gay or pansexual or any of those other identities, then you are. And telling other people about that does not automatically make it any more legitimate.

Some people feel awesome after coming out.

For some people, coming out is really important, and it can be liberating.

Life can get a lot harder for some people when they come out.

Sometimes coming out is not in a person’s best interest, either because it could jeopardize their job, family relationships, or safety.

It can be really encouraging to have people around you come out, whether they are friends, family, or even celebrities. And that can lead to more “acceptance” (whatever that means) of queer people. And if you come out, you can in turn inspire people around you.

Here is what I ultimately think: only you are an expert in your life, and so you are the only person who should have ultimate say in the whens, hows, and whos of coming out. Some people will say that coming out is the biggest moment of being queer. I strongly disagree. I think that you can come to terms with being queer, love yourself as a queer person, and never tell another living soul. It’s all about what feels right for you, and you shouldn’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise.

– Jessica

The UW community welcomes its students back to campus with an annual week-long extravaganza of events, introductions, and workshops called Dawg Daze.  To new students this is an opportunity to embrace all that the campus has to offer- clubs, resources, student groups, academic programs, housing accommodations, and more.  This was how i found the Q center when i first came to campus- during the sexuality, gender, and treats information session- the rest is history.  As a returning student it is an opportunity to share what i have learned with new students and explore the campus in a new light, one with a year’s experience- that of having changed (potential) majors, of having been acquainted with new perspectives and goals, of inhabiting the truths of my true gender identity, and the need rediscover the campus with these changes in mind.  The events are designed as such- for all students.  This said, the Q Center, along side GBLTC, DLP, and CCSL has planned a week full of queer events!  Be sure to check them out for more information on queer resources on campus, how to get involved, and meet new friends!  Don’t be shy, come on by!

For questions, comments, concerns, accessibility accommodations, or more details email uwqcwebmaster@gmail.com

THIS IS YOUR QUEER GUIDE TO DAWG DAZE!
official dawg daze site

*Monday 9/26– Gay Bingo
2pm-3pm Mary Gates Hall 238

Come join the brothers of Delta Lambda Phi for five intense rounds of bingo and compete for fabulous prizes. The only fraternity for gay, bisexual, and progressive men will ensure that you have a good time, with ice breakers and complimentary refreshments. Feel free to come and go as you please, drop-ins are more than welcome.

Hosted By: Delta Lambda Phi

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*Tuesday 9/27– Sexuality, Gender, & Treats! OH MY!
10am-11am, 11am-12pm, 1pm-2pm Q center- 450 Schmitz Hall

Meet new people, get some info, and eat candy at the Q Center- 450 Schmitz Hall!

*Tuesday 9/27– Brown Bag it at the Q
12pm-1pm Q center- 450 Schmitz Hall

BYOF! Bring your lunch and hang out in the Q Center to meet new friends, catch up with old ones, and just generally queer it up! The Q Center is the UW’s gender and sexuality resource center and is located at 450 Schmitz Hall.

*Tuesday 9/27– Queer Social
3pm-5pm Q center- 450 Schmitz Hall

Come hang out at the Q Center- 450 Schmitz for a chance to have fun, play games, and meet other queer students. Treats will be provided!

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*Thursday 9/29– Ask the Sexpert Panel
5pm-6:30pm Mary Gates Hall 389

Brought to you by the Campus Coalition for Sexual Literacy, this is a whole new level up from your high school Sex Ed class! Ask the Sexpert is an open and respectful forum where all your questions about sexuality can be answered. We’ve got some sexuality professors and experts at your disposal. If you’ve got questions (no matter how “strange”) or if you’re interested in sexuality education and activism, check this event out! There will be free condoms!

Hosted By: Campus Coalition for Sexual Literacy

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*Friday 9/30– Welcome Luncheon
11:30am-1pm Walker Ames Room, Kane Hall

Kick of school year with a gathering of queer students, staff, faculty, and allies! A great way to meet people and get information on queer happenings and resources on campus over some free food!

*Friday 9/30– Queer Rollerskating
7pm-9pm IMA Gym A

Come cruise the IMA gym on your roller skates! Skate your way around Gym A to some fabulous roller disco music. Admission is free for currently enrolled students and faculty/staff, and spouse/same sex domestic partner IMA members. There is a $7.00 fee for guests (16 yrs of age or older). All equipment is provided. Skate rentals are free w/Husky Card, faculty/staff ID, or spouse/same sex domestic partner IMA membership card. There is a $1.00 skate rental fee for guests (16 yrs of age or older). Faculty/staff without an IMA membership pay the IMA single use fee of $5.00

Hosted By:
ASUW Gay, Bisexual, Lesbian, Transgender Commission (ASUW GBLTC), the Q Center

Inclusivity at it’s sexy best!

“fierce bodies is a little company that believes in another way of doing business. we are a cottage industry that makes small, high quality batches of beauty products out of our home. we give you the transparency and input that we expect from all companies, large or small. we make products that are safe and healthy for people and the environment. they fit the needs of people with all body types.”

This local business is queer friendly, MCS friendly, Earth friendly, and body friendly. That’s A LOT OF FRIENDLY! The punchline is the commitment to community and building “positive, sustainable and successful relationships”.

Help them start up by donating!