About Us

History

• Support, educate, and cultivate an accountable and inclusive environment In 1971, the Gay Students Association (GSA) was first established. The name of this group was changed in 1974 to the Gay People's Association (GPA), and then changed again to the Gay Men and Lesbian Association (GMLA) and finally to the Gay Bisexual and Lesbian Association (GBLA).
• Then, in May of 1991, the ASUW Board of Control passed Bill #144 which granted commission status to the GBLA. The final name of the commission was changed in September of 1997 to the Gay, Bisexual, Lesbian, Transgender Commission (GBLTC). In December of 2011, after much discussion, the commission's name was changed to the Queer Student Commission (QSC) to better reflect our mission's goals, values, and inclusivity. Throughout the years, the commission has promoted activism, community, and equity for queer and trans students at the UW.

Mission

• Support, educate, and cultivate an accountable and inclusive environment
• Advocate for an LGBTQ+ affirming atmosphere at the UW
• Provide non-heteronormative, anti-racist, anti-ableist, and anti-sexist programs
• Promote solidarity within the community, recognizing our intersectional identities
• Decolonize conceptions of LGBTQ+ identity

Events, Programming, and Services

• Hosting our annual Drag Show in the spring
• Staging the QSC Queer Prom (previously known as QSC Ball) during the winter quarter
• Fought for the implementation of an inclusive name system within UW’s IT system
• Facilitating community vigils for Transgender Day of Remembrance
• Sponsoring legislation in the ASUW Student Senate
• Bringing guest speakers like Laverne Cox and Laura Jane Grace to campus
• Working closely with the other members of the ASUW Joint Commissions Committee
• Advocating at spaces like the Student Advisory Board and the Student Safety Advisory Board
• Connecting students to proper resources
• ...and much more!