CQA Cares!

On our way back from the Trevor Project (missing one member - sorry!)

After many years of struggling to start a volunteer outreach program, CQA finally launched its first — of hopefully many — volunteer outings this weekend. Seven members went to the Trevor Project to help them create “Survival Kits,” which are educational materials for middle/high school administrators, teachers, and students meant to prevent LGBTQ teen suicide.

We made over 300 kits, which will reach over 6,000 LGBTQ youth in this country. How exciting! The Trevor Project also runs a 24 hotline for suicidal LGBTQ teens. If you’d like to help them regularly, please fill out this form.

CQA Making Valentines!

On a Columbia-focused note, we just handed out 200 valentines that we made in yesterday’s weekly meeting. Thanks to our volunteers who made all of those personalized cards and stuffed those valentines!

VIGIL FOR VICTIMS OF LGBT BULLYING AND HARASSMENT

Dear CQA,

Like you, I have been deeply saddened by the recent tragedies that have taken place in our community. Within the past two weeks, six young men between the ages of 13 and 19 have died from suicide as a result of homophobic bullying:

Asher Brown (age 13)
Seth Walsh (age 13)
Justin Aaberg (age 15)
Billy Lucas (age 15)
Tyler Clementi (age 18)
Raymond Chase (age 19)

Students at NYU are asking that we all come together as a collective community to remember these young men as well as all of those we have lost due to hatred and bigotry. Please join CQA and the other campus LGBT groups on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3 as we join our NYC community for the “You are Loved Vigil.” We’ll travel down to Washington Square Park together.

WHEN: Sunday, October 3 @ 8:00pm
WHERE: 116th Street and Broadway gates
URL: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/event.php?eid=158097784219087

I also think that it is important that we have a community discussion about LGBT bullying and harassment before we go to the vigil. For this reason, we will dedicate most of CQA’s weekly meeting on Sunday to this discussion.

CQA WEEKLY MEETING – DISCUSSION ON LGBT BULLYING AND HARASSMENT
WHERE: IRC Second Floor Conference Room, 552 W. 114th Street
WHEN: 2pm on Sunday, October 3, 2010

Join CQA at the 7th Annual Marriage March

Join CQA and THOUSANDS of New Yorkers marching for marriage equality on Sunday, September 26th in Manhattan! (We’re a community partner!)

“The rally, march, and community festival is organized by Marriage Equality New York (MENY) to raise awareness about the 1,324 rights denied to same-sex couples and their families because of a lack of marriage equality – rights only bestowed by civil marriage … that cannot be replicated by civil unions or domestic partnerships.”

Follow this link to register: www.meny.us/march (and register with the Columbia Queer Alliance!)

*IMPORTANT* (How to register after the jump!)

Out for Undergraduate Business Conference

When: October 1-2 2010

Where: J.P.Morgan Tower on Park Avenue, New York

Out for Undergraduate Business Conference is the biggest national conference for LGBT undergraduate students interested in career in business. This annual event is sponsored by some of the largest firms in consulting, banking, and accounting which gives great opportunities for students to network with LGBT professionals, to  meet new friends from around the country, and to learn many useful tips during various workshops. OUBC is perfect for all undergraduate students, regardless year in school or major.

The registration deadline is Monday, September 20th.

For more information and online registration visit: www.outforbusiness.com

You can also contact Metodi Lazarov: mbl2130@columbia.edu

Help Our Friend at NYU!

Please help Danny complete his senior thesis at NYU! If you are between the ages of 18 and 21 and identify as non-heterosexual, please complete the survey below on LGBT college students. It should take no more than fifteen minutes.
http://nyu.qualtrics.com/SE?SID=SV_d54AeS7hHWpZF9W