What is the GSD Alliance?
The Gender and Sexual Diversity (GSD) Alliance is a multifaceted student-led organization which aims to deconstruct stereotypes and misconceptions about sexual orientation, gender identity, and the LGBTQ+ community.
What are the subsections of the organization?
The GSD Alliance is comprised of two branches: the Queer & Ally (Q&A) House, a residential community, and Spectrum, which serves as its activist branch.
What are House Directors?
House Director is the highest office position in our organization. Within GSD, there are two House directors. These Directors are primarily responsible for managing the residential sector of organization, The Queer & Ally (Q&A) House. However, they also work closely with other leaders, overseeing budgetary, project execution, and efforts towards the fulfillment of the annual campaign. One of our two House Directors may also serve as a Co-President of Spectrum.
What are faculty advisors?
Faculty advisors serve as institutional sponsors for Sewanee’s Student Life division. They perform vital institutional work in relation to campus policy and organizational work assisting directors with club management, fundraising, expenditures and sponsorship.
Why do we need an organization dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community on campus?
GSD is needed as on campus resource as it provides direct support for LGBTQ+ students and/or those who may be questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity. Furthermore, the organization works to better the allyship and create a campus environment that is truly welcoming to all people of various backgrounds. As we say in Sewanee, Ecce Quam Bonum, so at GSD we celebrate diversity and aspire to validate Ecce Quam Bonum for all.
Do you have to be a House resident of Q&A to be a member of GSD or its subdivisions?
No. There are certain perks to being a house resident, like spearheading programming, voting on club mandates, and living in the house. However, anyone who is registered on Engage and attends events hosted by the House or its auxiliary branches during the current academic school year is considered a member of GSD.
I identify as a straight cisgender individual. Can I still be involved with the work of GSD and/or one or more of its subdivisions?
YES. Community support, especially from non-LGBTQ+ identifiers is crucial to the work we do.
What do Q&A House Residents do?
Q&A House Residents are students who have been selected to live in the Q & A House on campus and act as ambassadors to the student body by facilitating conversations about LGBTQ+ issues through self-directed educational and social programming.
Why is the Q&A House co-ed?
The Q&A House is co-ed because LGBTQ+ issues concern a variety of various orientations and gender. Furthermore, the Q&A House believes that diversity is its greatest asset, and ultimately that a community is stronger when it is united, not in spite of the differences of its members, but because of them.
Do you have to identify as LGBTQ+ to live in the Q&A House and serve as a resident?
No. The House committee does not discriminate in its selections of future residents on any factors of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, culture, religion, or class. Furthermore, community support is essential to the ultimate success of the work we do. As long as you are an ally to the LGBTQ+ community and willing and ready to put forth the effort, anyone is welcome to apply to live in the house.
What is resident programming?
Each semester, our residents are responsible for planning, designing, and executing their own event. While centered around the LGBTQ+ community, these events are unique in that they showcase the personal interests of the resident which facilitates them. In this way, the Q&A House is not only able to keep residential programming new and exciting, but we are also able to give agency and artistic freedom to our residents in terms of the work they do during their residency in the House. We believe this amplified diversity expands our reach and subsequently our impact: forging public support and creating meaningful and lasting change on campus and in the broader community.
What is Spectrum? How does it differ from GSD’s residential sector, The Queer & Ally (Q&A) House?
Spectrum is GSD’s direct impact branch. Spectrum is dedicated to facilitating programs and projects that actively engage with the both local and national LGBTQ+ community as well as non-LGBTQ+ identifiers in order make concrete efforts to further social equality as it pertains to the LGBTQ+ community. Spectrum´s projects range from social justice on the national level to localized institutional change on campus and in the surrounding community.
The residential component of GSD, The Q&A House, is focused on executing the club’s educational and social programming. Both educational and social programming are executed by the Q&A House residents comprised of LGBTQ+ identifiers and allies. The educational portion of our programming includes, but is not limited to, safe space training, speaker and lecturer series, and educational-awareness series. Social programming, like educational programming, is overall geared towards the fulfillment of the annual campaign. Our residents develop, plan, and execute social events throughout the academic year to forge public support and create meaningful experiences with students on campus and in the broader community.
