QSU is a student-run organization committed to LGBTQIA liberation.
Our purpose is to enhance and sustain the well being of all LGBTQIA people by providing essential programming, resources, activities, advocacy, and empowerment.
Our mission is to create a more safe, inclusive campus at UNCG while being committed to dismantling all forms of oppression.
Our History & Who We Are
Our organization was first founded at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro as G.L.B.S.A (The Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Student Association) in 1972, making us one of the oldest LGBT student organizations in the United States. At the turn of the millennium, the group's name was changed to P.R.I.D.E, which stood for 'Proudly Representing Individuality, Diversity, and Equality,' a motto we still hold close to our hearts today. Over the past few decades, this organization has held its ground as a student group that made strides as the first of its kind in the public university system, with a dedication to LGBTQIA liberation and social justice.
Since the flyer for G.L.B.S.A's first meeting was posted in UNCG's Brown Building way back in 1972, there have not only been several name changes, but many victories and challenges, which has resulted in having a queer presence here at UNCG that is unique and full of so much history. As of today, we are now the Queer Student Union; a collective of young people here at UNCG devoted to the implementation of queer liberation and social justice, in this ever-growing and rapidly changing world that exists today. Our purpose and mission revolves around the demand of liberation and equity for all, no matter their race, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, social class, or ethnic background.
Our Position On What Really Matters
Gender expression and identity statement
Gender expression and identity are important facets of individual identity, and inform our social interactions and relationships with the world at large. We as the Queer Student Union believe that self-determination and agency, particularly as it pertains to gender identity and expression, is an inalienable right of all people. We as an organization manifest our commitment, to this belief in the following ways, but do not limit ourselves to them…
Maintaining correct pronoun usage for all students, conducting all inquiries regarding pronouns in a respectful and dignified manner, affirming and respecting the gender identities and expressions of all members, maintaining a zero tolerance policy for sexism (including misogyny and misogynoire) and transphobia (including transmisogyny, transmisogynoire, and cissexism), standing in solidarity with trans, gender non-binary, genderqueer, bigender, and agender students, as well as those who identify under other iterations of gender, providing resourcesand community support for trans, nonbinary, genderqueer, and agender students, as well as those who identify under other iterations of gender, providing resources and community support for trans, nonbinary, genderqueer, and agender students, as well as those who identify under other iterations of gender, partnering with organizations which center trans and gender non-conforming people in their work, and providing a safe, equitable, and inclusive space for trans, genderqueer, gender nonbinary, bigender, agender, as well as those who identify under other iterations of gender.
We as an organization hold that these statements form the core ethos of this organization, and as such form our policies and guide our actions. All members in the organization are expected to familiarize themselves with these statements, as they represent that hopes and expectations of this organization. We hold that the practices and paradigms of oppression have no place in this organization, and as such, all violations of these statements will be taken seriously and considered grounds for revocation of membership, this being done in the best interests of the organization and protection of its members.
Anti-racism statement
We the students and faculty of the Queer Student Union of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro firmly believe that anti-racism work is queer work. This work is vital to the greater goal of liberation of for all and the advancement of our community. The voices of queer and trans people of color have long been silenced and and as such we strongly assert that it is our duty to raise up and amplify these voices in our community.
This entails, but is not limited to: partnering with historically black colleges and universities, partnering with community organizations which center queer and trans people of color in their work, partnering with campus organizations which center people of color of all orientations and gender identities in their work, supporting and standing in solidarity with undocumented students, maintaining a zero tolerance policy for racism in our organization here defined as the intersection of prejudice (economic, social, judicial) and privilege (economic, social, judicial), sharing and providing community resources for the physical, mental, and social well being of our members and community, acknowledging and celebrating the work and achievements of queer and trans people of color, and providing a safe, affirming, and equitable space for queer and trans people of color, and undocumented students.
We as an organization hold firm to our commitment to racial justice, equity, and empowerment. We hold that racism is antithetical to liberation, and that true social justice and liberation cannot come from any movement which is not fully inclusive and queer and trans people of color and undocumented people. It is our duty to love and care for one another, and it is in this spirit that we as an organization stand in solidarity with queer and trans people or color and undocumented people.