Welcome to the LGBTQ+ Campus Preview!

The LGBTQ+ Resources Center staff have curated a list of our community events in the upcoming month. Keep reading to find exciting and engaging activities!

Table Of Contents

1. Spooky Season Schedule Changes
2. LGBTQ+ History Month Events
3. On the Same Page Book Club Begins Tonight!
4. QT BIPOC Initiative
5. Proudly United
6. Save the Dates: Trans Awareness Week & Transgender Day of Remembrance
7. Trans Clothing Closet Resource
8. Queer Buddy System

Spooky Season Schedule Changes

How is it October already??

Luckily, it is LGBTQ+ History Month and we have many events to share with you!

We do want to alert you to two upcoming schedule changes: the LGBTQ+ Resources Center will be closed on the following days

• Monday 7 October: Please join us instead at the LGBTQ+ Student Showcase in Merten Hall 10am-5pm.
• Monday 14 October: our student staff are going to be off enjoying their Fall Breaks, and we hope you are going to do the same!

If you haven't been to visit us (in Student Union Building I, Suite 2200) our regular hours are Monday - Friday 9am-5pm. See you soon!

LGBTQ+ History Month Events

LGBTQ+ History Month is all about connecting to community and learning about the history of queer, trans, non-binary, and questioning folks.

Please join us to learn and grow this month at the following events, including next week's
LGBTQ+ Student Showcase
Monday, October 7, 2024 
10am-5pm
Merten Hall, First Floor 

Please join LGBTQ+ Resources Center, Graduate Student Life, Women and Gender Studies, College of Engineering and Computing, and College of Visual and Performing Arts on Monday, October 7 as your schedule allows between 10:00am-5:00pm for the second annual LGBTQ+ Student Showcase. The day will include posters & mingling, a series of 30-minute research presentations, a keynote talk by Dr. Van Bailey, FREE FOOD, and a sound bath. 

• Posters & Mingle 10:15-11am (Merten, 1201)
• Sound Bath 11:15-11:45am (Merten, 1202)
• Lunch 12:00-12:45pm & Keynote speaker Dr. Van Bailey (Merten, 1201)
• Student Presentations 1:00-4:55pm (Merten 1203 & 1204), including a student dance presentation on Representing Queerness through Dance

Keynote: Dr. Van Bailey (they/them) is an award-winning educator and trailblazer. They are a mental health advocate and are looking to carve out more spaces for queer and trans people to thrive in the world. Dr. Bailey holds a BA from Denison University in English and Black Studies, a MA from the Ohio State University in Higher Education and Student Affairs, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from California State University - Northridge. 

Please join us at the event when you can, we will be happy to welcome newcomers throughout the day!

On the Same Page Book Club Begins Tonight!

QT BIPOC Initiative

The QT BIPOC Initiative works to build community in GMU’s campus community for Queer and/or Trans Black, Indigenous, and People of Color folks.

In partnership with three undergraduate center interns who are hired, trained, and compensated by the LGBTQ+ Resources Center, our focus in the 2024-2025 academic year is laying the groundwork of community via regular meet-ups and visibility so GMU students, faculty, and staff who are QT BIPOC can have space and find each other.

We are lucky to also work with Juton Myers in African and African American Studies Program, who serves as an advisor to the group, and is deeply invested in this work.

Our QT BIPOC Center Interns have been working hard
After their first Community Gathering on Friday 20 September, the QT BIPOC Center Interns are going to be regularly offering space for QT BIPOC students to gather on Fridays in the Paul Robeson Room (JC 240A) 2:30-4pm. So, stop by if you have time and would like to be in community.

They are also planning a Halloween Movie night that will happen next week on Friday 11 October (same time and place: Friday 2:30-4pm in the Robeson Room)! If you have any questions or want to reach out / be part of the community, you can reach the QT BIPOC Center Intern team at qtpoc@gmu.edu or by following them on IG @qtbipoc_gmu

Proudly United

Proudly United is a bi-weekly, student-centered learning community facilitated by the LGBTQ+ Resources Center and CAPS focused on empowering queer, trans, non-binary, and questioning students in the face of personal and political stress. Come learn to embrace your identities, build community, and face the world’s challenges in a space of acceptance and celebration of what LGBTQ+ communities bring to the world. Hope to see you at one of this month's meetings!

Save the Dates: Trans Awareness Week & Transgender Day of Remembrance

Every year the LGBTQ+ Resources Center and our partners in the Center for Leadership and Intercultural Education hold Mason's observance of two important events, Trans Awareness Week (TAW) and Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR). 

Transgender Awareness Week (TAW) is observed the week leading up to International Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), November 13-19. This year, we are working on 2-3 events for TAW. If you are interested in helping out with any of these self-care or visibility events, please reach out to us at lgbtq@gmu.edu to volunteer at one or more of these events.

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is an internationally held event on November 20th to recognize and remember trans and nonbinary people who have died due to anti-trans violence in the past year. During Mason’s 2024 observance of Transgender Day of Remembrance we will hold space to acknowledge the losses of our last year and spread awareness about the continued violence against trans and non-binary folks. Please save the date or register below:

🏳️‍🌈 Trans Clothing Closet Resource (TCCR) 🏳️‍🌈

Created in 2019, the Trans Clothing Closet is a resource where transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming students can find free clothing and accessories. No one has to prove they are “trans enough” to use the closet.

The Trans Clothing Closet Resource is IN our LGBTQ+ Resources Center, in Student Union Building (SUB) I, Suite 2200.

We are generally overstocked, so stop by and get a new fit!

You can read more on our website or reach out to us via email with questions.

TCCR on the Go @ GMU Farmer's Markets

You can now find us at the Farmer's Market every month, as we Swap and Hop with our partners in Patriot Pack Out's Free Store. Sign up and/or read more about this program here and register for the farmer's markets below:

Queer Buddy System

We're excited to continue to offer our Queer Buddy System Discord server, a resource available to students seeking community virtually! If you haven't already, be sure to open the verification channel and fill out the form required to gain access to all channels of the Queer Buddy System server.