(Queer Student Union)
Contact: qsuwku@gmail.com
Faculty Advisors: Jessica Folk and Samantha Williams
Purpose:
“The Queer Student Union will work to improve student life for all gender identities, gender expressions, and sexual orientations through outreach, support, and education by acting as a queer resource advocate specifically to the administration of WKU.”
History:
The timeline below is put together by interviews and remains of papers found in the WKU archives.
1988
Small group discussions in Housing & Residence Life by students.
1991
Founding of the Lambda Society October 9th after a Homophobia Workshop held in the spring.
Regular Meetings were started in Garrett Conference Center "Garrett's Closet". After Dr. Mary Bricker-Jenkins of the Sociology Department agreed to be the Faculty Advisor.
First issue of the Lambda Letter was printed October 9th.
University Recognition November 13th.
1992
Meetings were moved to the Downing University Center.
Lambda took group photo used in the Talisman: A Sense of Place (1992)
First issue of The Triangular Times was printed October.
1993
Planted tree for former librarian that supported the group.
1999
First issue of the Lambda Times was printed February 9th.
February 28th Lambda Society hosted a Faculty - Staff Dinner to raise money for Rainbow Literacy Program. Books were then placed in the Helms-Cravens Library. Topics included gay, lesbian, and bisexual issues.
2000
2006
Diversity Coalition renamed.
2012
Coalition Zine printed.
2016
Student Identity Outreach was renamed to Queer Student Union. Trans Non-binary formed in addition to Queer Student Union to help support the Transgender and Non-binary students and community.
2018
Opening of the Pride Center in Downing Student Union as an extension of the Intercultural Student Engagement Center.
2021
First Queer Prom
2022
Trans Non-binary group was pulled back within QSU to streamline and better provide university support to the groups.
2024
We have rebranded Trans Non-binary group as the Gender Identity Alliance (GIA). We've created the Diversity Coalition (DC) – a callback to one of QSU's old names – which is a safe space for queer and trans People of Color. We have brought back the Gender-Affirming Items Program (GAI Program), a program that provides QSU members the opportunity to receive gender-affirming items (binders, packers, etc.) free of charge.
(Out in Honors)
A student group for LGBTQIA+ who are a part of the Mahurin Honors College.
Advisor: Dr. Audra Jennings audra.jennings@wku.edu
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