With Pride month officially over, widespread rainbow merchandise has been replaced by hot July sun. However, the celebration of the LGBTQ+ community isn’t confined to a single month at the University. The oldest and largest Queer organization on Grounds, the Queer Student Union hosts year-round activities to bring the LGBTQ+ students together, collaborate with other student organizations and engage in student activism.
This summer, QSU members say that the organization’s efforts to support the University’s Queer community extend far beyond the 30 days of June. CJ Ackerman-Garvin, incoming QSU president and third-year College student, said they are passionate about making space for queerness at the University through these activities.
“[QSU has] a long legacy [of] Queer excellence,” Ackerman-Garvin said. “And I want to continue that.”
QSU was founded as the Gay Student Union in 1972 by a small group of students to provide community, support and organized resources for the Queer people of the University, with membership open to anyone regardless of identity or sexual orientation. Over the decades, the organization has faced rampant discrimination, including firecrackers thrown in the middle of dance events and professional and academic attacks against individual members. Despite this, they have persisted to become the Queer Student Union that exists on Grounds today.
The hallmark of QSU is their regular programming, which ensures there is space for Queer community-building at the University. They hold movie nights, picnics and conversation spaces for students. They also help run the monthly affinity spaces at the LGBTQ Center in Newcomb Hall, including Sapphic Circle, Aro/Ace Space and Trans/Gender Non-Conforming Group, for people of all different identities to find a safe space.
Collaborating with other student organizations around Grounds, especially those focused on identity and activism, is another one of QSU’s central objectives. Within the past year, QSU has collaborated with the Black Student Alliance and the Asian Student Union. Notably, last fall, these three organizations jointly hosted a two-part event focused on educating students on the 2024 presidential election, including the political issues at stake and how they can take part and know their rights.
Hannah Mottram, former QSU vice president of public relations and fourth-year College student, said that these collaborations and connections across the University are crucial to QSU because they provide a sense of unity and community among other marginalized groups.
“I think it shows there's more to being Queer than just being Queer itself,” Mottram said. “Working with other historically marginalized and minority groups is really helpful to show solidarity.”
Another pillar of QSU is student activism. During the past spring semester, QSU led a demonstration in February after the Board of Visitors held an emergency meeting to discuss policy that would have the University Hospital stop providing gender-affirming care for new patients under 19.
QSU saw a large turnout, with a couple hundred people — students and Charlottesville community members alike — showing their support. Ackerman-Garvin said that they were even able to have trans youth from Charlottesville speak about their experiences, showing the true physical and mental value of the care.
“The turnout was amazing,” Ackerman-Garvin said. “There are so many things that are included under gender affirming care, and to take that away is rather cruel, especially to people … whose lives are significantly improved by having it.”
As evidenced by the protest, the reach of QSU is not limited to Grounds, but stretches further into the local Charlottesville community. According to Ackerman-Garvin, QSU also maintains relationships with the newly-founded Rivanna Area Queer Center, The Beautiful Idea bookstore and the Charlottesville Gender Expansive Network. These local connections provide access to the long term knowledge, support and community existing in Charlottesville outside of the University, as well as a larger variety of community spaces to use for events and activities.
“I think U.Va. can often feel very siloed off from the Charlottesville community,” Ackerman-Garvin said. “It's important to create those ties to carry on because these community members [will] be in town for a lot longer than a lot of us will.”
Currently, QSU is preparing for Charlottesville Pride, one of the biggest opportunities for students to engage with the local Queer community. Cville Pride takes place in September instead of June — which ensures that the student body is present to contribute and celebrate — and therefore, QSU is using this time to establish plans and organize leadership for next year.
While the QSU GroupMe is still active over the summer, Ackerman-Garvin is busy readying the organization for what the fall semester may bring. They believe that QSU will be in a strong position to take on the responsibility of supporting students in whatever political, academic and social environment that awaits them.
With recent attacks on domestic LGBTQ+ rights — such as the Supreme Court upholding a ban on gender-affirming healthcare for minors in Skrmetti v. U.S. and a recent executive order officially identifying only two genders — there is some uncertainty about the Queer community’s safety going forward.
For Ackerman-Garvin, QSU is an important safety net for the Queer students at the University — a kind of space they said has been harder and harder to find for many people.
“I think QSU has [assured that space] for me,” Ackerman-Garvin said. “And I want to continue that for other people.”
For Mottram, this cordial, welcoming environment is the reason why she has been a part of QSU and its leadership team for most of her University experience. The free membership, monthly affinity groups and events in solidarity with other identity organizations are all ways that the Union creates that space for students.
“Being able to see all these people … accept themselves and show the joy and happiness that comes from being Queer … always puts a smile on my face,” Mottram said. “That's why I do this.”
QSU plans on continuing to be that pillar of support for Queer community at the University, no matter what obstacles stand in their way. Ackerman-Garvin said in the upcoming year and beyond, they will continue to stand up for, support and work with marginalized students of all identities under the principles the organization was founded for back in the 1970s.
“We're definitely going to stay very vigilant, very aware of the political landscape, and do everything we can to support our community,” Ackerman-Garvin said. “[We will] make sure that students at U.Va. feel safe and … that QSU [will] be around for another 50 years.”
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