QSA Presents: Thanksgiving Potluck

Hey Y'all!!!

Can you believe Thanksgiving is just around the corner!? This semester is flying by!!! Well any who, for this meeting we will be having a potluck for Thanksgiving where everyone is 'recommended' to bring something....to eat....or to drink. We hungry and thirsty y'all!! Like I said it is recommended, but not required. 

Let us all rejoice and remember that a grateful heart is a joyful heart. 

Sign up here to put what you will be bringing! QSA will take care of the plates, cups, napkins, plasticware, and all misc. items so no need to worry about that stuff! We are looking for everyone to bring the essentials to make this an awesome Thanksgiving.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ArJ1XYSlXXYkdEVFc3ZrRmplZHVlWFV5SWhjTnJ2ZUE#gid=0

"Forever on Thanksgiving Day
The heart will find the pathway home."

Facebook Event

See you all there!!
-- QSA Executive Board

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

5-6 P.M.

Parlin Hall (PAR) Room 201

Queer Texas Conference 2012

HEY EVERYONE!!!

So don't forget about Queer Texas Conference (QTC) this Saturday from 10-5! Registration is only $15 and guarantees you refreshments at the beginning, a T-shirt, and lunch! It is honestly going to be an amazing event and I really look forward to seeing everyone there! ALSO, you can register at the door!!

Here is the Facebook Event:

http://www.facebook.com/events/445166525524716/?fref=ts

Here is the QTC Program (It's also under the file tab):

http://powerpoint.office.live.com/p/PowerPointView.aspx?FBsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdownload%2Ffile_preview.php%3Fid%3D290773194368634%26metadata&access_token=1801450309%3AAVKSEsaKdp0HgaDOG2PEnum_SSQj_G6duM28IL3iHc6O1A&title=2011+QTC+Program+2C.pptx

Here is the Sign Up link (Note it's too late to sign up for a presentation):

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFdmeDBrbTkxbTJTUUJySXNKSUZWR1E6MQ

IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS COMMENTS OR CONCERNS, THEN FEEL TO CONTACT:

DILLON MATHERS -- 512.869.9593
KENNON KASISCHKE -- 936.232.2023

Public Relations Committee

HEY Y'ALL!!!

I just wanted to go ahead and remind everyone about the Public Relations Committee I briefly discussed during our last meeting.

For those of you who do not know me, my name is Dillon Mathers and I am a second year Marketing & Hispanic Studies double major and am currently the Public Relations Coordinator for QSA.

This coming spring semester (Spring '13), I will be studying abroad in Vienna, Austria. This means that I will no longer hold my officer position within QSA. In order to appoint a new Public Relations Coordinator, we (the QSA E-Board) have decided to create a Public Relations Committee.

The Public Relations Committee will be comprised of 2-3 students chosen by myself after an extremely informal interview. I honestly just want to set up a time to talk about why you want to get involved, any experience that you may or may not have, and to get to know a little bit about you. If chosen, then you will work with me to see what exactly I do and to slowly but surely take over my position. At the end of the semester, the Public Relations Coordinator will be appointed from the students involved in the committee.

I strongly encourage all of you to at least set up a time to meet with me to discuss this opportunity. It will definitely be a great way to get involved with QSA this year, but also to get a head start on continuing your involvement with this student organization.

If you are interested at all, then please email me. In addition, I am more than willing to assist with any questions, comments, or concerns. I have already received a couple emails concerning the committee and will be setting up those meetings by the end of this weekend.

Please email me at Dillonmathers@yahoo.com

Best,

Dillon
QSA - Public Relations Coordinator
<3<3<3

FREE HIV/STI Testing!!!

HEY ALL QSA'ers! 
So sorry about the extremely short notice, BUT (if you didn't know already) tomorrow there will be FREE yeah that is EXACTLY what I said FREE HIV/STI testing from 9-4 in the SAC Ballroom! 

Everyone should definitely take advantage of this event! You all should regularly get tested and this is an opportunity to have it done for FREE!!!

http://www.facebook.com/events/182819721853757/

Queer Texas Conference 2012

Hello all LGBTQA'ers! 

I just wanted to go ahead and let you all know that I have just posted the link to this year's Queer Texas Conference!!!

WHOOOO X-D

The theme for this year's conference will be "Embracing Your Identities"

Check out the tab for information! HOWEVER, more detailed and updated information will soon follow! QTC is an amazing event and I really look forward to everyone participating. You will NOT want to miss this year's!

<3 :) <3

Austin PRIDE 2012

ATTENTION ALL LGBTQA'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just to make sure that everyone knows! Today, Saturday, August 22 is Austin PRIDE! I apologize if you didnt know about it before now. The first event of the day has already happened (PRIDE 5K Rainbow Run), BUT!! The other two events have not yet happened. I have listed below description of the two remaining main events for Austin PRIDE 2012. Go forth and express your pride!

Austin Pride's 2nd Event: PRIDE FESTIVAL 
Saturday, September 22nd 11am-6pm
Fiesta Gardens, 2101 Jesse E Segovia St.

The 2012 Austin PRIDE Festival will be held Saturday, September 22nd from 11am to 6pm at Fiesta Gardens on the beautiful, shady shores of Lady Bird Lake! Each year the PRIDE Festival keeps growing and this year should be no exception with a Carnival Atmosphere! In addition to the rocking DJs and entertainers on the main stage, the 2012 PRIDE Festival will feature a second stage of DJs, unlimited carnival themed games and activities, free photo booths, face painting, balloon twisters, drinks, carnival foods, and over 100 booths featuring local businesses and non-profits that support Austin's LGBTQ community!

Austin Pride's 3rd Event: PRIDE PARADE!!!! X-D
Saturday, September 22nd 8pm
Downtown Austin

The biggest event of Austin PRIDE, the 2012 Austin PRIDE Parade returns as an evening event with a new route!! This year, entries will line up at the Capitol and proudly march down Congress Avenue and through the 4th Street Warehouse District. Special pre-Parade entertainment by DJ C-Rail and a special mid-Parade booty shakin' dance party will all occur on Congress Avenue outside the Paramount Theatre. A celebration of our entire LGBTQ community, the Parade will feature a Carnival Atmosphere with a variety of entries, grand floats, spectacular pageantry, and fun! 

UT'S Queer Student Alliance will be organizing groups to bus down so definitely let us know if you would like to not go alone and instead go with the KOOLIEST people....in the world....ever....forever. :P 

If you all have any questions at all feel free to contact:
Dillon Mathers Kent Kasischke
dillonmathers@yahoo.com kennon.kasischke@gmail.com
512.869.9593 936.232.2023
QSA Public Relations QSA Director

INVITE YO KIDS, INVITE YO WIFE, AND INVITE YO HUSBAND BECAUSE THEY.....ALL WANNA HAVE A GOOD TIME OUT THERE :P

QSA Updates!!

Hey QSAers,

Thank you again for a great first meeting. If you couldn't attend then stay tuned, for the powerpoint slides covering our presentation shall follow shortly!

UPDATES:

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 20th at 8PM I wanted to get all of those who are interested in the QSA Subcommittees together to discuss how they will run, be organized, and also to allow everyone to get to know each other a little better. Remember the topics will be: Competitive Insurance Benefits ( previously Domestic Partnership Benefits) and Gender-Inclusive Housing (GIH). We will be meeting in the SAC (right outside the SG office 2.102) and find a place to sit down, talk, and discuss aspects of the semester.


SATURDAY: Austin Pride 2012
Check out our FB event at: https://www.facebook.com/events/366535096757400/
Join QSA as we venture downtown for the parade Saturday night. There will be a lot of other organizations (GBSA, AMSA, etc etc) which will be going down as well,but if you do not have a group yet we would love for you to join us. Updates on that will be mainly seen on the FB group and event so please stay up to date there. If you have any further questions, contact me directly.


NEXT WEEK: 9/24-9/28 is Suicide Prevention Week
I am very happy to announce Suicide Prevention Week which is a combined effort of The Center of Mental and Health Services, Tejas Club, Student Government, and a plethora of other great organization and sponsors. To give you some statistics of why this is relevant issue: 

- Suicide attempts by LGB youth and questioning youth are 4 to 6 times more likely to result in injury, poisoning, or overdose that requires treatment from a doctor or nurse, compared to their straight peers. (2011, CDC, “Sexual Identity, Sex of Sexual Contacts, and Health-Risk Behaviors Among Students in Grades 9-12: Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance”)

 - LGB youth are 4 times more likely, and questioning youth are 3 times more likely, to attempt suicide as their straight peers. (2011, CDC, “Sexual Identity, Sex of Sexual Contacts, and Health-Risk Behaviors Among Students in Grades 9-12: Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance”

 - LGB youth who come from highly rejecting families are up to 8 times as likely to have attempted suicide as LGB peers who reported no or low levels of family rejection. (2010, Family Acceptance Project™ “Family Acceptance in Adolescence and the Health of LGBT Young Adults”)

 - Nearly half of young transgender people have seriously thought about taking their lives and one quarter report having made a suicide attempt (2007 , The American Association of Suicidology, Grossman, D’Augelli, “Transgender Youth and Life-Threatening Behaviors”)

- Overall 36.5% of LGB and 33.2% of Transgender youth have attempted suicide.

Please support UT's efforts in helping these individuals and providing proper education to our University as a whole.
Full list of events at: https://www.facebook.com/events/239432242845532/

QSA's First General Meeting of the 2012-2013 School Year!!!

HEY AGAIN Y'ALL!!!

I know each and every single one of you have been looking forward to this day for SUCH a LOOOOOONG time! On Wednesday September 12th from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM, your very own Queer Students Alliance will be holding it's first general meeting of the year! WHOOO! That's right! Get excited! X-D The Executive Board for QSA has been hard at work putting everything together for a great year and we are really excited for y'all to begin experiencing it!!

Here are the deets for the meeting: 

>We will be introducing and describing all the members of the Executive Board (become friends with those kool kats :P) 

>Participating in an ice breaker activity to get everyone a little settled in and loosened up.

>FREE FOOD AND DRINKS!!! (THAT'S RIGHT I SAID FREEEE!!)

>Presenting our upcoming social events

>Presentations from a few other great student organizations

>Main discussion

>Wrap-up

>Closing mingling (can you use two -ing words in a row? Just did!)

Make sure you obviously yourself, but do not forget to bring all of your friends! Also, don't forget that QSA invites anyone and everyone to these meetings, allies are most certainly welcomed!!

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, then please feel free to shoot Dillon Mathers or Kent Kasischke a message on Facebook or just post in this event page! 

To stay up to date with all of the current events and information make sure to utilize these resources:

Here is QSA's official group page

http://www.facebook.com/groups/texasqsa/

Follow us on Twitter! 

@texasqsa

I better see you there! If I don't, then you are definitely going to wish that you would have gone!!! :) <3 

Queer Welcome Carnival

• Queer Students Alliance Presents: QUEER WELCOME CARNIVAL X-D Thursday, August 30, 2012 From 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM UT Rec Sports Center (RSC) 2.200 Make sure y'all stop on by the UT Rec Sports Center (RSC) 2.200 on Thursday, August 30th for a fun packed event to get the new school year kicked off in the only true manner. You might ask youself, "Hmmm, self, what is the only true manner to kick of the new school year?" Well do not fret, for I will tell you.... A WELCOME CARNIVAL DUH!!! There is going to be music (so you can get your twerk on, during the day this time and not DT...), cotton candy, many different games and booths, bouncy houses [my perso nal favorite :) ], of course all of your amazing friends that you obviously have missed oh so dearly this summer, and MUCH MORE! Various LGBTQ and Allied student organizations from across campus will host "carnival booths" with different fun activities as well as information on their specific student organization. If your student organization would like to also participate, then please contact texasqsa@gmail.com. SOOOOOOOOOO! Basically this means when 5:00 PM rolls around on Thursday, August 30th, you and ALL of your friends better make your way over to party central [AKA UT Rec Sports Center (RSC) 2.200] Make sure you bring all of your Ally friends as well. Without them, the LGBTQ community would for sure be in another dimension or something crazy scary like that... : - O However, unfortunately, if you do not have a current student ID card for UT, then you will not be able to be allowed into the building :-/ (Can you say throwing it down in the parking lot though??) Seriously though, if you do not show up ready and in the mood to have some fun, then we might have a problem... All of us with QSA look forward to seeing y'all come and have a great time. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, then feel free to ask: Kent Kasischke (QSA Director) http://www.facebook.com/kennon.kasischke

-OR-
Dillon Mathers (QSA Public Relations Officer) http://www.facebook.com/dillonmathers

ALSO, DO NOT FORGET to join the Queer Students Alliance (QSA) Facebook group http://www.facebook.com/groups/texasqsa/

AS WELL AS follow us on Twitter @Texasqsa to stay up to date with all of the LGBTQA current events happening on campus, around campus, and just everywhere in general actually!

See y'all there!!!! ♥