Help QTBIPOC Student Organization Impacted by SB17

QTBIPOCA before SB17

Through innovative and creative programming, QTBIPOCA has successfully established an inclusive space for Queer BIPOC students on the University of Texas at Austin campus since its founding in 2009. Student-led and student-focused, QTBIPOCA addresses the mental, emotional, academic, and social needs of marginalized students.

As one of the few intersectional Queer student-led organization in the country, QTBIPOCA has set the standard with our community-building events. QTBIPOCA opened the year with BLOQ Party, a welcome event for QTBIPOC students with over 300 attendees. Following the success of this program, QTBIPOCA continued with the Queer Trans Leadership Institute, a multiweek program to educate the community on relevant issues like navigating the workspace, advocacy on campus, and SB17. In the traditional year, QTBIPOCA would be able to continue our programs through the Spring, however, with the enforcement of SB17 by the Texas Legislature, our scheduled events have been postponed.

SB 17 and Financial Independence

Senate Bill 17 also known as the Anti-DEI bill is the bill that recently outlawed Texas public colleges and universities from operating Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) offices or DEI initiatives. When this bill was proposed, QTBIPOCA members along with students across the state testified and organized in opposition. Attacks on DEI are attacks on vulnerable students who already struggle to feel safe on campus.

As an identity-based and sponsored student organization, QTBIPOCA was dependent upon $8k of annual university funding and administrative support. Following the bill's passage, QTBIPOCA was informed that it would no longer be allowed to continue operating as a sponsored student organization. It’s for this reason that QTBIPOCA has decided to continue as a registered student organization without the administrative and financial support it once received. To continue in the same manner, QTBIPOCA has begun its donation and sponsor search to reach $8k in donations and establish long-term relationships with committed partners.

At this time QTBIPOCA is open to donations from all entities interested in our mission to address the mental, emotional, academic, and social needs of marginalized students. QTBIPOCA is currently in the process of applying for 501c3 nonprofit status and as such donations aren’t tax-deductible.