Harvard QSA

QSA Minutes 4 December 2011; Transition Meeting

2011-12-04T22:59:00.000-08:00

Icebreaker:strongly/slightly dis/agree with statements about the QSA

Affirmations: co-chairsspeak share experiences/statements about each other.

Welcome statements by oldboard member to new board member counterparts

Sarina welcomes Ben

Trevorwelcomes Philip

Keithwelcomes Ken

Chriswelcomes Edith

Outgoing board membersshare experiences, takeaway, advice

· Chris: wouldhave liked to come into the QSA knowing how to balance extra-curriculars; goodinsight into how a student organization at Harvard is run

· Sam: despiteprevious misgivings about the QSA, joined the QSA to promote LGBTQ Center andstayed on for PoComm; if people are afraid of men having a non-normative genderperformance, their feeling toward the QSA says more about them than about theQSA (internalized homophobia); very active PoComm season his first term,including trans issues; need for solidarity with trans community; ask “what arethe most marginalized identities?”; some of his goals as co-chair includedsocial cohesion among board members outside of meetings, support needed foreach other as we defend/promote QSA to rest of community; we were able tonavigate what we have in common and our differences better, but maybe at theexpense of important, contentious debates; disagreement is important, too;inclusion ≠ mainstreaming, becoming more accepting of marginalized communities

o Responses: do we want to reach out to other groups(especially with regards to marginalized identities) to alleviate the burden ofacceptance? Long time since there has been a black board member, for example. Gettingthe support of “cis-gender white males” not a goal (perhaps), so what is/arethey?

· Emma:

o A bit of history (BGLTSA); you’re the newer,fresher generation and grew up in a different high school environment

o Bringing QSA visibility to other identities forthose who can’t enjoy that visibility themselves

o What does it mean to be a queer leader? Not justcopying from the patterns of predecessors

o We inhabit different social spheres, as board andgeneral members

§ Took aninterest in GLOW to bring in people who can talk about race from themselves

o QSA is no longer an umbrella organization

§ “Umbrella” isempirically and prescriptively false—says that we are defining queer on campus;neither is “representation”

§ What we canclaim to be is a “resource”

· Can diminishour anxiety that we have failed to placate everyone out there; a “liberating”term

§ Each of us isa niche within that resource, bringing different perspectives

§ “Unmarkedcategory”

· When you say acertain term, you have certain assumptions that, unmarked, are the norm

· E.g. Gleestudy break—when you don’t have events that address intersections directly,those who come will only be people already comfortable in that unmarked space

§ Sayingeveryone is welcome is not enough (flipside: if you don’t come it's your fault)since having a cisgender white performer is not intrinsically per se.

o Response: Emma has proposed a new framework for theexistence of the QSA, so curious as to what will happen next; how can we be aresource without being representative of the student body (e.g. trans issues);how do we work with other student groups; what does it mean to be a member;balancing behind the scenes work with the administration and work within theQSA community and support; being out for those who can’t; co-sponsorshipsshould be sensitively and closely done, not just by email, and involve theother group(s) in planning and execution

· Self-reflection:why do you want to be a part of the QSA?

o Use that motivation to re-affirm and guide yourinvolvement and the work of the QSA, and to understand each other

QSA Minutes 28 November 2011; Special Elections

2011-11-28T22:57:00.000-08:00

New Board Members!

· Keith,Co-Chair

· Philip, Communications Chair

· Ken,Treasurer

Lgbtq-Talk

· How to makethe switch?

· Pub list withgroups not associated with QSA; attach it to other student groups (GLOW,Girlspot, TTF)

o Create inter-group consensus about using it andputting Activities Fair sign-ups onto it, for example

o Outside of queer groups, ask others like Dems andOSL and Contact to list this as a resource

o Make Allies welcome

· No need tomass-subscribe automatically?

· How do we makesure that it’s a safe space?

o TBD with other partner groups, let’s talk with themfirst, create the list, and discuss moderation etc. later

o Personalize the membership of the list; you’re lesslikely to attack people you know

· On anothernote, revitalize QSA-Members as a place for community

· Timeline(revised) for shutdown: by the next email (Sam sends it)

o Resend a final reminder of the reasons and the linkfor LGBTQ-Talk

o Current and future Communications Chairs shoulddraft pub emails and outreach to other queer and non-queer student groups andadministrative resources

· Vote: to sendout last reminder email and shutdown QSA-Open tonight

o For: all

o Against: none

QSA Minutes 20 November 2011

2011-11-20T22:55:00.000-08:00

Week in review

· LGBTQ Dating,Part II

o “perfect,” it would be great to have had a broaderaudience, not just LGBTQ, candid and approachable speakers, personal resources;“we’re having problems now”

· GenderDiversity Week – success given the limited resources and planners, and history

o F to (e)mbody

§ Well attended,many new faces

o Faces of Gender: not well attended

· Out for theHolidays

o Not pressure to be out, good panelists (allstudents, peers), good resources, allies attendance

Upcoming events

· QueerThanksgiving? No, infringes on Contact’s event last week.

· Elections

o Co-chair nominations are closed as of Friday.

o Hold Co-chair and Communications elections togetherthis term; hold special elections next term for whatever position is vacated

o Roland sends outreach emails with positions, askthem to declare their interests

o Voting procedure for the third seat?

o Vote

§ Result: allpresent in favor of electoral procedure outlined in TASKS

· QSA-Openchanges

o Proposal: see Sam’s most recent email (Sunday, 20November 2011 13:53)

o Changes to email explanation

§ Addjustification of ending QSA-Open: dissociate QSA from views expressed on thelist even more explicitly

§ Not only tomake sure questioning students welcome, but also students who don’t hold thesame views (whether expressed by members or not) that they perceive aredominant over QSA-Open; we’re hoping to include all points of view

§ LGBTQ-Talkwill remain un-moderated but must make clear the separation between QSA and thetall

§ Emphasize thatboard members will no longer be pubbing QSA events over LGBTQ-Talk

§ QSA-Announce:roughly 1 email per 1 event per day

§ QSA-Announce:put weight of moderation onto Communications Chair

§ Deadline:QSA-Open will be put offline next Sunday

· Changesignature to inform all deadlines

o Vote: all in favor of QSA-Open announcement changesand deadlines

· Glee,change status to tentative for November 29

Long-term planning

· Schedulespring retreat

o Has everyone booked return flights?

o Make this retreat a priority: save the date 28-29January

· 1^stsocial event: Golf

o Know any 21+ members? Email Josh.

Announcements, beforecommittee time:

· Check-ins

· Icebreaker

· QSA-Openshutdown in 1 week, LGBTQ-Talk replacement

· Specialelections

o We’ll solicit statements of interest for eitherTreasure or Diversity.

o 3 positions contested: Co-Chair (Spring 2012 term),Communications Chair (Spring 2012 term), and TBD vacated position (Spring 2012term; either Treasurer or Diversity Co-Chair; contingent on who is the newlyelected Co-Chair)

o At the elections, vote on Co-Chair andCommunications. Then ask for candidates to run for the newly determined, openposition.

QSA Minutes - Community Conversation: the BGLTQ Office

2011-11-15T22:53:00.000-08:00

Where are we?

· Emily holding drop-inhours, 3-5 students have stopped by every week.

· Renovationsover break and J-term. Open 1^st week in February.

· Website on OSL,local and national resources; transgender, religious, mental health, and peercounseling included.

o Feedback?

o What kind of resources/materials do you want tosee?

· QRC is notgoing away.

Where are we going?

· Intern programto launch Fall 2012

o Met with Gina last week to see how Women’s Centerruns theirs

o Fill demand for internships (lots of applicants forWomen’s Center)

o Serve as ambassador to Foundation, Women’s Center,etc.

· Next semester:hire 1-2 students to make pamphlets, brochures, publicity

· Directorsearch process begins next semester, for new hire to begin in the summer

o How long? However long it takes to get “the rightperson”

o January – major LGBT higher education confidence(recruitment opportunity)

· Designing alogo: wanna help?

Q&A?

· In speakingabout LGBTQ office’s responsibilities, what do you mean by events?Student-initiated or office-led?

o Office-led possible, but majority of role tosupport student efforts; if an organization isn’t official for a year (e.g.Girlspot), the office can step up to provide that programming without forcinganyone into a leadership position.

Brainstorming

· What do yousee as the function of the office?

o Advertise LGBTQ events from all studentorganizations, like a looping announcement on screens.

o Coordinate and facilitate communication betweengroups, to avoid overlap and encourage cooperation.

§ A QueerCabinet (a la Women’s cabinet?), including graduate groups?

§ Would bridgedistinctions (“this a GLOW event” “this is a QSA event”…)

§ Queercalendar—event printed, oversized calendar?

§ E-mail listfor this office

o Events for queer people of color, not just GLOW.

o Meeting space for student groups

§ This side ofthe building locks at 6pm. Not possible at this point / working on it…

§ Reserve therooms on both sides (though built-in delay because these rooms are used assections).

§ Could studentleaders/employees (only) get the key to this space at night?

§ “We just needto move the door” – add an alarm?

· Finish thesentence “This office must…” (See above)

· Finish thesentence “It would be great if this office could…”

o Share resources and training with the Foundation andWomen’s Center (especially with interns)

o Hire/train staffers for the QRC, as an oversightauthority

§ Setexpectations for behavior and service

§ Office cansponsor/conduct this QRC training/bonding for new staffers

o Provide/conduct training for PAFs and other queerand other student organizations

o Revive First-Year Group (formerly run by Contact) –make it open, in the spirit of GLOW’s Safe Zone but explicitly open to allidentities

o Directing freshmen programs (Sex Signals, first-years’Community Conversations) to be more inclusive of LGBTQ issues

§ Provide,connect programs with capable facilitators like FUP-leaders, Sustained Dialoguemoderators

· What is goingwell for BGLTQ students on campus?

· How can weimprove their experiences at Harvard?

o Can the office improve outreach to questioningstudents (easier to approach than a peer-based group)? – The space is open tothrough traffic, might encourage people to stop by. Compare to QRC: it’s ahistorical place (show previous events).

· Actualphysical appearance of the renovation

o Floor redone, repainting

o Curtain on glass door for confidential meetings?

Survey, to be sent out toemail lists

1. What would youname this space? (e.g. MIT’s Rainbow Lounge)

2. What resourcesdo you want to see…?

3. What programsand events do you want to see supported by this office?

4. What programsand events do you suggest the office plan and implement?

5. Is thereanyone who you would like the Office of BGLTQ Student Life to bring to campusto speak or perform

6. How could thisoffice help to improve the BGLTQ student experience at Harvard?

7. Any othercomments or suggestions for the continue development of the office?

8. Otherquestions that we can include in sending out the survey?

a. What would youdo as director? What would your first priorities be? Long-term? What would youchange?

b. What’s goingwell for LGBTQ students?

Emelyn dela Peña’s role

· Supervisor newdirector

· Liaise withthe Open Gate Foundation and HGLC, cultivate undergrads with alums

· Help developthe internship program

· Compare to currentrelationship with the Women’s Center

· Eventually…collaboration between BGLTQ center and Women’s Center and Foundation

o Nothing is “just a women’s/queer/diversity issue”

QSA Minutes 13 November 2011, and elections

2011-11-13T22:50:00.000-08:00

UC candidates – Q&A

Questions to ask:

1. What specificinitiatives do you have to increase LGBT inclusion in the functions of the UCleadership body itself?

Trejo andLaBoeuf: training session for candidates; focus on racial/ethnic/sexualitydiversity through outreach; more outreach to student groups/leaders outside ofUC committees.

Bicknell andYalamanchi: working on women outreach for candidates, member of Women’s Cabinet(Bicknell), working with the new BGLTQ center and OSL, outreach to potentialallies; “Advocacy” Tuesday to email all events monthly to student body.

2. What is the differencebetween inclusion and tolerance? What steps do you plan to take toward LGBTinclusion in UC-driven functions and events?

T & L:inclusion = making sure spaces and events don’t promote one dominant group overothers (i.e. not hetero-normative), allow individuals to participate in all groups;tolerance is status quo, inclusion is supporting student groups (e.g. 4meetings with student groups/semester).

B & Y:“building community” vision, not merely “acceptance” but willing to converseand dialogue (reform Community Conversations to include germane issues).

3. What College-wideevents and institutions addressing gender and sexuality do you see the UC ashaving influence over? How can they be made more LGBTQ-inclusive? For example,sex signals, Community Conversations, restrooms, mixed-gender housing, socialspaces.

T & L: pushfor gender-neutral bathrooms for houses and science center; gender-neutral“bedrooms” dialogue with administrators; events: communication with HarvardFoundation, CEB, Senior Class; “where do we want to have influence?”aspirational influence; “amplify the voice” of Emily Miller, and future BGLTQdirector; bringing the student body in on issues.

B & Y:hosting large, collaborative events e.g. All of the Lights (QSA co-sponsored),seek out groups’ participation and connect groups among each other; public,visible dialogues/conversations with student group leaders

4. Other questions?

T & L:experience with gender-neutral bathroom coverage; campaign againstanti-gay-marriage state representative (LeBoeuf). Outreach to female candidatesand push for gender parity act (Trejo).

B & L:actually accomplish platforms, strive for vision; open underutilized spaceslike Ticknor Lounge; SIP funding for events in House common spaces;reservations without needing a resident of that house.

Endorsement?

· Discussionabout realistic goals vs. aspirations, experience with administration

· Bicknell and Yalamanchi

Tasks review

· Seminarianscould co-sponsor event about religion and sexuality; compile gay-friendly list(we already said that could be troublesome)

Week in review

· Diversitas:Ken and Avinaash tabled,

· Dating in theLGBTQ Community, part 1

o “Fun andawkward but in a fun way,” great support from OSAPR

· Machine: notas many women, issues with discount (Machine policy that 21+ for discount) butthey still left 21+ members to go in for free. Future possibilities: Dyke Night(for 21+).

Elections

Political

· How do weinclude diversity of political viewpoints?

· Whatexperience or relevant interactions have you had with other political/advocacygroups on campus?

Diversity

· Sometimes,board of other organizations won’t vote to support LGBTQ-cooperation without.How would you deal with that?

· What specificevent could you organize?

· What obstaclesdo you foresee when working on programming?

Co-Chair

· How do youthink the LGBTQ community at Harvard perceives the QSA and how would you dealwith negative perceptions?

· How would youmake safe spaces?

Results

Co-Chair:Trevor Coyle

PoliticalCo-Chair: Ben DeVore

DiversityCo-Chair: Edith Benavides

QSA Minutes 6 November 2011

2011-11-06T22:48:00.000-08:00

Week in review

· Gleestudy break

o No baking,cookie dough ice cream

· Religion andSexuality Film series update, sent in from Brandy

o “I had a battle with the Lowell JCR's new DVDplayer and flat screen, but I won! Even fewer people this week (Maybelike 10 ppl in total), but we had a couple people who didn't know what it wasthat wandered in and ended up staying for the discussion and had a lot ofinteresting points so that was cool. Everyone encouraged Chris (theLowell tutor from Mem Church that organized these) to continue such discussionsand viewings even if attendance is small like it has been. He said hewants to find more videos on other religions and homosexuality as well asvideos that discuss religion and trans issues because trans people werenoticeably absent from the three films we watched.”

o For thefuture, transgenderism and religion.

· GLOW OpenHouse Event

o Sounding boardfor leaderships from other cultural organizations

o For futureevents, make Diversity Co-Chair(s) point people for such events

Upcoming events

· Glee

o November 8?Text Josh about if Women’s Center is reserved. Sayantan can lead this (baking

· Diversitasrescheduled for Wednesday, 7-10pm

o Interactivetasks—bring notecards for messages; show videos on laptop (performances, ItGets Better, documentary on LGBT historical figures); give out pins/ribbons;world map with people to sign where they’re from

· Dating forLGBTQ workshop, back to Thursday!

o Location stillTBD, when Brandy hears back form Voop

· GenderDiversity Week

o Our mostrecent obligation-contribution: table and set-up

o Poster thiscoming Monday, November 14 (Sam, Chris) and Thursday, November (Trevor, Roland)

o Set-up forFaces of Gender exhibition (Erika Rickard will be moderating), from 7pm onNovember 16: Emma and Trevor

o Spoken wordperformance, November 14—chaperone for shuttle (direct people from station toshuttle) available from 7pm: to people who aren’t present at this boardmeeting…

· Machine outing,Friday, November 11

o Need to emailback manager about ages/numbers

o For thefuture, set up a Google form (privacy)

o Next planned: aweek after J-Term

· Elections:

o Roland sendsemails this week

o Currentcommittee co-chairs send encouragement to possible candidates to their acceptnominations and run

Long-term planning/issues

· Thanksgiving—co-sponsorshipwith Contact et al.

o Sarah Kimmel andpanelists will be there

· We could stilldo a study break Thanksgiving-themed anyways, without any panels/coming-outagenda—November 21

· Waltham Housevolunteering (home for LGBTQ youth): any volunteers?

o Alex Chivescutrying to organize clothing drive (in time for people who graduate)

§ Looking for:clothing for our age or younger, formal attire for job interviews

Committee Time

Ice breaker:

· Matchboxgame—ask a question, answer by picking someone else to ask a new question to.In the end, trace back steps

General announcements—eventsthis week

· Glee TBD thisweek

· Anyone want tovolunteer for Diversitas, 7-10pm?

· Thursday,8-9pm LGBT dating workshop in Kirkland (possibly JCR)

o Voop’s cool.Come.

· Friday Machineouting

o Meet in frontof the T at 10pm. We’ll most most probably get a discount on the cover. Sign upon the Google Doc (see Trevor’s email from last week!)

o Post-machineIHOP

· Elections nextSunday, at 3pm

o Questions toRoland (roland_yang@college.harvard.edu)

o In person,short statements from candidates, short Q&A

o Confidential,group deliberation (when candidates leave the room)

o Secretballots—co-chairs and secretary tally

QSA Minutes 30 October 2011

2011-10-30T22:46:00.000-07:00

Week in review

· DragNight/Kirkland parade

· DDR in the Women’sResource Center, study break

· Jihad forLove, Faith and sexuality film series

o A bit lowerattendance overall (around 10), but more allies from faith perspective

Upcoming events

· Glee studybreak, starts at 8pm

o Check outtumblr “This is why you’re fat” for recipe ideas

o Sam will takecare of running it

· Diversitaspostponed, date not yet set; hoping for indoor location

o Food ideas?Frosting/rainbow cookies

o Flags (trans,gay, and bi) and 200 wristbands (rainbow, with “Harvard QSA”) will be here on time—totalcost $30+$68

· Dating workshop with OSAPR

o Brandy, firstone: November 10^th, Kirkland Grille, 8pm

o OSAPR willprovide posters and snacks

· GenderDiversity Week updates

o Final event,Transgender Day of Remembrance, in Boston

o TTF will needmost help for performances on Monday (set-up)

§ We’ll send outa doodle the weekend before for small, on-the-spot tasks

Updates on BGLTQ director

· As ofThursday, Lee Forest called to inform Dean de la Pena

· Emily Milleras interim coordinator; but also a full time graduate student with 30hr a week ofwork expected

o Can she find amentor, source of support?

o Have EmilyMiller visit local schools’ LGBT centers?

o Role asassistant vs. director

o We shouldidentify what areas need support in terms of college LGBTQ life

§ Connectionswith administration, an inside advocate

§ Lack ofcohesion and planning help

· Search (withsame committee) will resume this January (better for hiring prospects),director will begin this summer and be ready for next fall

· LGBT space:Dean de la Pena will be organizing a community conversation on this space, sostart brainstorming

Long-term planning/issues

· PoComm

o IOP event withTammy Baldwin; not a Forum event (fear of low attendance); but catered with IOProom; in the spring

§ Will onlyrevisit Forum idea if we can find more co-speakers

o Religiousgroups and LGBT acceptance on campus

§ Imposedsilence on homosexuality and women

§ Do otherreligious groups hold these views, too?

§ Notifyseminarians about LGBTQ-intolerance issues

§ Compile a listof LGBT-affirming religious groups on campus

o Queer FatFemme: for the spring

§ A comedy/performer/workshopblogger about issues of femme and fat phobia, including performance of herpiece “Lesbolesque”

§ Shoring up body-positivityon campus, getting Center of Wellness support

· Queer Thanksgiving—Monday,November 21

o SocialCommittee annually holds a Thanksgiving potluck

§ Last yearinvited mental health specialist talked about coming out (after two months inschool and being out)

o So do we wantsame guest? Yes

o Pienight—still potluck

· Girlspot (now inhibernation but still slowly rebuilding)—December 2 tentative

o Need for queerwomen’s visibility in the Harvard community

· Elections

o November 13

o 3 positionsturning over: Co-Chair (Emma), Adrian (PoComm co-chair), Chris (Events andOutreach co-chair)

o Send the emailsout now!

o Need todetermine eligibility for vote

o All Boardmembers eligible to run for co-Chair

o All QSAmembers eligible to run for PoComm and Events and Outreach chairs

o Board memberswill send personal outreach to potential candidates from QSA members list(check your inboxes)

· QSA-Opendiscussions

o Attach adisclaimer on each email

o Make thedistinction between views of QSA, views of QSA member, and community members’views

Melissa, from EmersonCollege

§ ExtensionSchool student and involved in EAGLE (Emerson Alliance for Gays Lesbians andEveryone, 50 members)—Emerson used to be #1 LGBT-friendly school in the country

§ Working onbringing Martha Nussbaum (about sexual orientation and constitutional law, andgender studies in India)—around March or April next year

§ Seeking toexpand outreach and co-sponsorship in the area

QSA Minutes 23 October 2011

2011-10-23T22:44:00.000-07:00

Week in review

· De-stereotypeMe Day—

o Potential tobe annual event; but SD needs more capacity

· Faith andSexuality series—Brandy

o Mainly LGBTtutors, watched for the Bible Tells Me So

o Weekly, twomore coming up—Jihad for Love this coming Wednesday

Upcoming events

· Drag workshopin Kirkland JCR, 6:30-8:30pm Monday (tomorrow)

o Followed onThursday by Parade to kick off Adams’ Drag Night (8:45pm departure fromKirkland archway)

· DDR at the WC

o Moving DDR toWC, since space already reserved for 7pm-9:30pm this week (no Glee this week)

· October 29Diversitas

o Wristbandidea, UC/Foundation stressed that groups should buy food

o But not just a“food court event”; cap half our $150 budget on food

o Cupcakes ofdifferent colors for a rainbow? Mini cupcakes

o Tablingparticipation:

§ Keith before8:30pm

§ Sam, Emma,Roland, Brandy (maybe)

§ after 7:30Chris

§ Josh earlier

· Nov 3 and Nov10 LGBTQ dating workshops

o No responsefrom Women’s Center on reserving the room yet

o 2 couples (4individuals) confirmed

o Need a malerelationship—ask Currier tutors: Bryan and partner David

Long-term planning/issues

· Sex Week atHarvard: Sam and Abby mostly planning, meeting every other week (next one Oct.31^st)

o 7:30-9pm:Adrian, Sayantan, or Sarina?

· IvyQ planningmeeting, Sam attended

o Good to shareinformation, throw around ideas for IvyQ speaker (Judith Butler)

o 34 spotsguaranteed for Harvard, more available afterwards

o Callingunderclassmen volunteers? For institutional memory and possible future host opportunities?

· Website update/ buying a domain name (harvardqsa.org) – Emma

o We alreadyhave harvardqsa.com, but we need to redirect (unclear how long this old domainwill last; current rate at $10/year)

o Need to meetwith Lingbo to cancel/modify old payment

o Go for.org—budget $10/year for that

· Mailing listmoderation — personal attacks on 400+ mailing list

o Drafted anon-sided email about thread email rules

o Two posts onGLOW Tumblr about how QSA-Open isn’t a safe place

§ Especially ifthis is the only way some subscribers have contact with QSA

o Form responsesfor additions to QSA-Open ground rules:

o The future ofQSA-Announce, especially vis-à-vis the website

· Faces ofgender

o QSAco-sponsorships assumed to bring people power and attendance

o Last meeting’srequest: t-shirt production/ordering/distribution; plan a panel

o But let’sgauge how committed we are about this, in terms of people/participation? Anyoneinterested in doing specific tasks?

§ Need morespecifics about panel, is it the right format (since panel is more aboutexperts dialoguing, not just personal experience)—how about a moderateddiscussion?

§ Need foractive events (i.e. not being talked at)?

§ Emma andTrevor will attend tonight’s TTF meeting at 5:30pm / schedule individualmeeting with Jia Hui

QSA Minutes 16 October 2011

2011-10-16T22:43:00.000-07:00

Long-term planning

Website—suggestions?

· Loading times;logo; general design tweaks

· Responsibilities

GenderDiversity Week: November 14-20; presented by TTF’s Levi

· F to M body,spoken-word performance by Athens Boys Choir, and hip-hop artist Catastrophe;followed by workshop on spoken-word performance (co-sponsored by Speak Out Loud,Women’s Center; SOCH)

o Needvolunteers (day-of work, not planning)

· Portraitproject: “The Faces of Gender” handwritten experiences of gender on top ofphotos, opening night at Ticknor and displayed at Gato Rojo; the start of acontinuing, online project

o Need set-uphelp

· Tentativepanel discussion on what is gender? Professors and students; need help forplanning (speakers, moderator; 2-3 people preferably to attend TTF meetings)

· Reading anddiscussion of Nick Krieger (Nina Here NorThere), Ed-School (Queer Ed) co-sponsored

· T-shirts: forpromotion (1 person)

· Grant-writing:2-3 people

· Teach-inworkshop: preparation and practice for Trans 101 instructors

Keith:budgeting and funding

· DAPA Grant:only weekend social events, non-alcoholic; closedor open events, due the Tuesday before the events

o Shoot forinteresting, creative themes

· UC: prettymuch anything, requires receipts; no honoraria

o $3-4 dollarsper person

o 3 weeks inadvance, or retroactive funding up to 3 weeks after

o Food andBoston travel for Harvard affiliates

o Almost instant

· HarvardFoundation: can apply only at the beginning of the term

o Retroactivefunding possible, strict caps, honoraria funded

o More money ifco-sponsored with Foundation-affiliated groups

o No receiptsneeded; need very well planned events

· ART (AnnRadcliffe Trust) no retroactive, next deadline 2^nd week of November(November 11? One week before Harvard-Yale)

o Promotingwomen’s and gender issues on campus

o Designed to besupplemented by other funding

o Two weeksturnover time

· Open Gate(from alumni) up to $1000 honorarium, student travel (with promise of bringingimpact back to campus)

o No receiptsrequired, rolling application (1 month in advance preferred)

o Large scaleevents

· IOP will alsofund politically-oriented speakers

· General rules:return receipts ASAP after the event (next board meeting after events); nofunding for alcohol

o Reimbursementswritten as lump sum at the end of the semester

o Discuss eventswith Emma, Sam, and Keith beforehand if you expect reimbursement

o Publicityfunding: don’t print out on your own paper, use Paper Cut

Brainstormfor upcoming events

· Study breakideas

o L Wordscreenings

o Just chill study breaks, no “explicitly gay”activities—DDR study breaks in the QRC

· Tumblr or blogformat for committee events (a la GLOW)

· PostSecret-type event, like last year’s

· Adams, artspace collaboration; delve into house history (QSA founded in Adams in 1980’s)

· InternationalWomen’s Rights Committee—looking for co-sponsorships?

· Keepthinking—maybe the next Feminist Coming Out Day?

De-StereotypeMe Day, by Sustained Dialogue

· Thursday, lowcommitment co-sponsorship, just tabling, a few free t-shirts

Diversitas(UC sponsorship)

· $150 fundingfor tabling, $150 for other costs

· Table for thePolitical committee

· Focus on LGBThistory and identity

Break: signing the thankyou card for the wrestling team

Ice Breaker

· Introductionsand reading entries from the GLOW tumblr

Week in Review

· Breaking Through screening

· The vigil:presences of President, Dean, and seminarians important; make this an annualevent; 104 attendees; need amplification next time; shorter next time; reachout to more Ally speakers

· Film Festival:attendance low, but good selection (Pariah,The Bubble)

· QSA Party

o Rager and partyspace too far apart; space too awkwardly big; need to ensure continuousattendance

o For thefuture: host mixers in the same building, seek smaller spaces; get alamps/lights

SoComm general update

· Rainbow Golfpostponed to Spring

· Machineouting: transportation to and from; discounted cover charge

QSA Minutes 9 October 2011

2011-10-09T22:42:00.000-07:00

Week in Review

· Everyone isGay

o Success! Greatattendance, especially from area schools; positive constructive message fromthe presenters

· Flash Mobrehearsal

o Not wellattended (5 total attendees); choreography too long too difficult, so here’s anew rehearsal later today

o YouTube video?

o Gauge interestthrough Google Doc

· GLOW OpenHouse

o GLOW lookingto build allies and coalitions, in times of transitional leadership

o Importance ofQSA attendance for visibility and support

o Lookingforward—more selective co-sponsorships for GLOW

· Next Fall

o Sam willfollow up with Sheehan

Short-term planning

· NationalComing Week

o Postering,Monday and Thursday; sandwich board reserved

§ No Mondaypostering—Holiday

§ Thursday:Sayantan, Sarina, Trevor, Roland

o Tabling:Barker Center has supplies, need a bit more staffing for 11am-12pm

o Film Festivalneeds volunteers

§ 4pm Thursday:Sayantan

§ Contact Erikato cancel 4pm Friday very low attendance expected because of 375^thcelebration

o Party inCurrier Tree house!

§ Mixer locationand publicity needed:

· Sayantan willbe at the mixer, Josh at the Tree House

§ Need as manyboard members as possible in the first hour, bring friends!

§ Facebook eventneeded, and blurb; also over other schools’ lists

§ Need shiftsand clickers

§ No alcohol atthe party

o Vigil,Wednesday 7-9pm

§ Many confirmations;Glee Club participation likely

§ Approachingcultural groups (although most boards don’t meet before then)?

§ Needpublicity, but not before details are finalized

o Flash MobCANCELLED

Long-term planning

· Gay parentsevent

o Lots of goodresponses

· OSAPR datingevent

o 3-4 attendeesconfirmed attendance for part 2

o Anytransgender presence? Perhaps not, panelist unlikely

· HarvardFoundation-UC Cultural Fair, Saturday October 29, 7-10pm

o UC will give$100-150 funding

o 3 hours oftabling, along side around 40 cultural groups

o What will weuse it for?

o Respond bythis Wednesday if we want to participate: need to specific details like food,contributions at the table, equipment, electricity

o Brainstorm: drag,pictures from past events, LGBT history, “a mini-stationary Pride Parade”

§ Whosecommittee? Events and Outreach—Chris as point person

· FutureNational Coming Out Week

o Invite many groupsto perform, table along; reach out to grad schools

o Move upcommittee

· TTF invitedCatastrophe and Athens Men Choir, 13-20 November

o TTF wants tobrand as Gender Diversity Week

· Tammy Baldwinevent: IOP support, maybe a Forum event, move to the spring (a fall date mightclash with Gender Diversity Week)

o Maybe a largeon-the-record event, as well as a smaller off-the-record with board members etc.

Icebreaker for Committee meetings

· Fears in ahat: what fears might some people have of attending National Coming Out events?

o Ally/LGBTQdistinction: fear of being mistaken as LGBTQ; carry-over of previous societalexpectations, even though Harvard is/could be a different place

o AlienatingLGBTQ-unfriendly peers

o In the closet,or unaccepting family members when they learn of attendance

o “No one elsewill be there”: pub these events as individual-specific, no matter who else isthere; queerness (perceived) as an excluding factor, especially to non-queerfolks

o Coming out allover again: not being explicitly out to old friends and acquaintances andhaving to come out again

o Cameras: a lotof exposure, possibility of being outed inadvertently

o “Too gay,”militant queerness, being marginalized by the majority but not fitting into theprevalent minority culture, being boxed into a certain gay culture

o Coming out asa community vs. coming out as an individual

o Diversity ofevents to come will welcome as many personal backgrounds and approaches aspossible

Committees’ announcements

· Emma:Community Reflections and Remembrance vigil, Wednesday night

o PresidentFaust and Dean Hammonds will both speak, along with other faculty andadministrators

o Focus on paststruggles and those to come

· Chris:National Coming Out Day tabling

o 11am-1pmTuesday; talk to Allies (big focus); materials and pins etc; paper cranes; noflash mob so come to this!

o Check out thedoodle on QSA-Open

· Brandy: Breaking Through screening, and LGBTFilm Festival 4pm and 8pm, Adams House Pool Theater

o Preview ofdocumentary of openly LGBT elected officials, director will be coming

· SoCo

o Party inCurrier Tree House, “the Letter G brought to you by Bert and Ernie”

o BU, MIT, Smithalready invited, Wellesley awaiting reply

o Look out forRainbow golf

· NationalComing Out Day Banner signing (Sunday tonight at dinner, Annenberg Hall) andYou-Are-Loved Project in Straus Common Room, 9:30-11pm Monday night

o To write 1,663notes of support to post in all the dorms

QSA Minutes 2 October 2011

2011-10-02T22:40:00.000-07:00

Shortly upcoming events

· Everyone IsGay, this Tuesday! Tasks below

o 1 person -Sign indicating location change: Emma

o Trevor - emailblasts and facebook message blast; edit poster

o 3 people -Postering Monday (Chris, Josh, Trevor)

o 2 people -Food – ($100 max) Sam + Roland

o 2 people -greet Kristin and Dannielle on Tuesday: Brandy + Emma

o 2 people - setup: Josh and Adrian pick up Speakers from QRC- ; Keith - Pick up speakers fromMTS before 5pm

o 2 people -take down: Trevor and Roland - roll speakers back into the QRC

· GLOW OpenHouse, Thursday 7-9pm, Ticknor Lounger; our co-sponsorship

o QSAattendees/representatives: Adrian andRoland

o Panelists:GLOW Board, AAA, QSA, Harvard Foundation, RAZA, FUERZA, and BSA.

· Gleerescheduled for 18^th October

· NationalComing Out Day/Week/Month (October’san effective month for outreach)

o Tabling:Science Center Lawn reserved 10am-2pm day of

o Breaking Through documentary screening

§ Have moderatorand questions and answers for panel

§ Got check fromOpen Gate!

§ The Coming Outand Out Running toolkit/videos from the Victory Fund; Brandy will send those toCindy to see if she wants to incorporate these.

§ Co-sponsorships?Dems and IOP?

· Trevor will contact Republican club aboutco-sponsorship; Brandy will contact Harleen

§ Food? AskErika if Adams has any money for food

o LGBT FilmFestival: Need more cohesive strategy

§ Trevor: compile a list of events—Facebook event forfilm festival (already a Facebook event for BreakingThrough); contact Erika for complete list

o Vigil: Trevor metwith Emily and Emelyn, brainstormed ideas

§ Show It’s GetBetter video (Jamie’s) on Science Center Lawn

§ Theme/message:coming out won’t solve all, but hope

§ Pass outcandles for silent reflection

§ Contactspeakers like Dorothy at Lowell, Emily Lynn

§ Allow forpersonal written reflection/collect color notecards (to make rainbow)

§ Postering tocoincide with 375^th Anniversary audience

o Waqas: leadingtabling in Annenberg, banner to sign

§ Combining withSuicide Prevention component, same day post-it note writing: 1,663:You-Are-Loved Message Project (see Goggle Calendar)

· October 15,QSA party in the Quad! Currier Treehouse reserved (60 max capacity)

o Hosted by QSA,need to get a 21+ person to host rager beforehand?

§ Alcoholfunding? At the event, ask for contributions.

o Speakers arereserved. Contact area schools about this.

o Need a theme!

o Publicity? Noneed to poster. Facebook event and email blurb.

o Tasks metedout next week.

o Need boardsolidarity; everyone try to show up with friends at first, build up momentumover the night.

Long-term planning

· Tammy Baldwinevent

o ProbablyNovember; co-sponsorship with Dems? IOP says maybe to co-sponsor

· Children with LGBTparents Panel

o Emma workedwith Christine to write blurb for QSA-Open list

o 3 studentsalready agreed to participate

o Needs to bepub-ed intensely; EVERY house

· OSAPRbrainstorm for dating workshops

o Voop runs thefirst one, “[5-step plan on getting a date]”

o Onlinedating/hook-up scene for other workshop(s); maintaining relationships follow-up(need a speaker)

o Need to pick atentative date—shoot for fall semester, November 3?

· Rainbow golf –November 19, 2011

· Maintainingrelationships panel—Josh will let tutors know to shoot for late fall

· Faith andSexual Orientation Event

o Brandy met; stillto decide what’s the target audience (religious, questioning…?), what form,what faiths?

o Looking forpeople who are simultaneously religious + queer, or those who have experiencedboth; make a “it Gets Better” video and post on Queer Resource website

o Btw, givenrededication of rainbow flag, maybe we can tap into resources in theneighborhood?

Consolidating events

o Includetentative events with the label “Tentative”

o Everyone: feelfree to put events up even if they’re not set

Keith’s show-and-tell: Dancing with Cats

Week in review

o Glee studybreak – cookies! Rescheduled because of National Coming Out Day to October 18

o Compass toCompassion – Ugandan activists spoke at the Kennedy School, speaker wasAnglican bishop

o Too shortnotice to publicize

o Machineouting: great turnout, almost 1:1 male to female ratio; more and more women(especially queer) at Machine; contact general manager for group discount

o Make thisregular/monthly? Or just the next one for spring?

o Add IHOPafterwards

QSA Minutes 25 September 2011

2011-09-25T22:38:00.000-07:00

Week in review

· DADT events

o Ribbon-cutting: Emma attended, low-key compared to“hoopla” surrounding it, protesters outside with pamphlets

o Speak-out: President Faust spoke at the beginning,30-50 people attendance, co-chairs in drag, interesting Crimson op-ed “OrwellLives” about administration support of protest against its own policies. Atleast the administrators we worked with paid for Autumns. Importantadministrators attended.

o Jeff Sheng: here all semester, so feel free to getin touch (jeffsheng@jeffsheng.com)—also doing a project on LGBT suicide andsuicide attempts.

o Movie screening: “didn’t really happen”

· HGLC alumevent

o Among guests: the founder of first LGB campusgroup, 1^st BGLAwarenessDay organized. Different perspectives thantoday’s.

Shortly upcoming events

· Everyone IsGay

o Poster: this Thursday next Monday: Trevor, Roland, Sarina;Josh (next Monday), Sayantan (Thursday), Sam (Thursday)

o Event takedown: Trevor and Roland

· NationalComing Out Day

o No word form Francisco yet

o Contact Elisa from Crimson about possible coverage,meeting later to get background about event and background history

o Josh will send out email

o Need to book Science Center lawn, get speakers

o Tutors have pins, rainbow cakes, and pamphlets

o Address suicide through speaker event (especiallyrecent deaths). Brainstorm speakers etc during committee.

§ PoCo: advocatefor anti-bullying laws

o Reframe National Coming Out as more encompassing,of all sides of coming out.

· Film Festival

o Open Gate responded favorably to Brandy’s fundingrequest

· Sex Week atHarvard: who’s interested in representing the QSA?

o Sarina will attend Sept 26 planning meeting(7-8:30pm)

· Party onOctober 15: search for space? Adams not ideal. Meeting later this week.

Long-term planning

· Tammy Baldwinevent

o Probably November; co-sponsorship with Dems?

· Dating event/healthyrelationships

o Who to ask? Voop would start with how to pick uppeople. Ask tutors (married/engaged)?

§ Emily S Lin, Dawn + Child

§ Erika Rickard ,Sarah Downer ,

§ Stephen Vider, David

o 1 hour event, nothing scheduled yet, after thefirst session (Voop’s)

· Intersex event(Miriam M. presented), Oct. 20 or 21

o Advocates for Informed Choice (legal strategy toconsider ethical and legal dilemmas of the treatment and care of infants with intersex conditions and atypicalgenitalia)

o Working with OSL, invite Anne Tamar-Mattis, J.D. topresent

o Would QSA be interested in co-sponsorship?

§ Also, anyoneinterested in helping write the grants? Keith will talk with Miriam

§ Publicity andset-up most important

o Perhaps cooperate with Sex Week at Harvard

· Chalk HealthProject/other Mental Health Programming

o Sam: contact administration about chalk

· Children ofGay Parents

o Delegated to Office of Student Life, Emelynspearheading

o Need QSA support for publicity, brainstorming listof people who are children of gay parents… actually, just have Christine sendemail to QSA-Open

· TrannyRoadshow (1^st week of November)

o Good event for Trans awareness

o Who plans it? TTF? Sam will contact.

SoCo updates

StudyBreaks

· Women’s Centerreserved

· 2^ndand 4^th Thursdays of the month, 7:30-9pm

· Glee viewingsand study breaks

Machineouting

· Possiblepre-game for members/board/upper-classmen who can drink legally

QSA Minutes 18 September 2011

2011-09-18T22:36:00.000-07:00

TASKS

· Everyone: posterfor Everyone Is Gay in your Houses (Oct. 4, start next week)

· Josh: reserve ScienceCenter Lawn; ask Francisco for potential rehearsal times

· Keith: liaisewith TTF about submitting applications for funding; continue processingreimbursements and Google Doc

Icebreaker: My leastfavorite chore is ___________

Week in review

· Protestagainst Exodus International

o ~80 people from Join the Impact etc.; 6 Harvardattendees

o Low attendance for the conference; protest hadsupportive church groups

o Our first out-of-state protest!

o For future protests: handle money andtransportation constraints; look out for future ex-gay conferences

Shortly upcoming events

· DADT Repeal

o Ribbon-cutting at Hilles, 4pm, dress is casual

o Speak-out against return, Memorial Church steps,7:30pm

o Protest planning: committee meetings

· Everyone IsGay, October

o Trevor and Sarina volunteered to be more involved:talk during committee

· NationalComing Out Day

o Expressions collaboration—host event 11am-12pm, 3-4pm,or 4-7pm

§ A rule againstspeakers in the Yard, so move mob to front of Science Center: need to reserveScience Center Lawn

§ Move closer toclass transit time (~11:55am-12:05pm)

§ PrivateYouTube video link, to learn choreography

· Queer FilmFestival

o Brandy working on screening of Breaking Through, openly-LGBT appointed officials: film notfinished, but allowed to used special screening: tentatively scheduled for 8pmOctober 11

§ Working onOpen Gate grant; director coming for discussion

o Rest of selection: a movie on openly gay athletes;need YOUR submissions

§ Any genre.Suggestions? The Bubble, etc.

o Adams Pool Theater reserved for the whole week: October11-15

· GLOWCommunity-Wide Discussion: co-sponsor it?

o Ticknor Lounge from 7-9pm

o Contact GLOW about guidelines for co-sponsorshipand role of QSA members in event

Long-term planning

· Sex Week atHarvard (presented by Abby Sun and Sam Meier)

o March 25-31, 2012; only 2 other Ivies have a sexweek (Yale and Brown)

o Who? Members of PCC interested in holding events; QSAas a co-sponsor; other student groups (social, faith, cultural); Greater Bostonevent with area schools

o Topics: sexual health education, more “progressive”subjects; 2 events a day

o Reach out to sex-positive companies andorganizations for sponsorships

o Forming SHEATH – Sexual health and advocacy throughoutHarvard College body to continue programming through coming years; representativesfrom interested student groups

§ Participatingorganizations might get tabling opportunities (outreach and publicity)

§ Networkingevent with community organizations

o http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~sexweek/

o Open to event suggestions: bondage, non-abstinence-onlysex ed (an actual sex ed class), queer body-positive porn, sex in communitiesof color, kink negotiation event.