Blakely Dishman
Features Editor
Savannah Sima
Features Editor
Queer and Trans People of Color (QTPOC) hosted a BBQ on Saturday, Sept. 18 at the Bornhuetter Pavillion from 3:00-6:00pm. The President of QTPOC, Malachi Mungoshi ’24, was very happy with how the event went and is looking forward to the prospects for more events as an organization. He stated, “The barbeque was a celebration to say the least – the turnout was wonderful and the support utterly appreciated. I had a great time getting to know people and feel that we helped establish a name for QTPOC in some capacity — that we are one step closer to our goal as an organization.”
Attendees seemed to agree, Noah Leonard ’23 remarked, that “The music was incredible and turnout was good, but it was mostly first years and sophomores.” The cross-campus class year attendance and turnout is indicative of how important it is to cultivate this community through QTPOC. Mungoshi was excited to see the large turnout of first years and sophomores, stating that it was a sign of the group’s outreach efforts. By expanding their circle, the group will have the opportunity to gain new perspectives from students of differing lived experiences. They encourage all interested students to get involved with the group. Aspen Rush ’22 spoke to this, saying, “After almost two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, I feel like I’ve missed out on meeting queer underclassfolks. It’s so exciting to be meeting a new generation of queer Wooster students. It’s great to see younger students already taking initiative to create an inclusive space for everyone on campus.” Amirah Yessoufou ’24 added to this, commenting on how positive the environment was surrounding the event: “The QTPOC BBQ was one of the most inclusive starter events I’ve been to on campus. I loved how the crafts, games, food options, music and outdoor vibe made sure everyone was welcome regardless of who you are and how you like to socialize!”
This space is particularly vital for the campus community due to the barriers COVID has created surrounding gathering and connecting with other queer students of color. “After a year and a half of isolation, I really felt that I didn’t have any connections during online schooling. Having this BBQ was so important because it reconnected me to a community that I thought I had lost over quarantine. With everyone back on campus it is even more important to keep this connection so everyone feels like they have a safe place to go,” says Raena Gamble ’22.
QTPOC meets regularly on Mondays from 7:00-8:00 p.m. in the Queer Space in Compton Basement. Keep an eye out for Queer Prom and the Creating Change conference. You can also keep up with QTPOC on Instagram @wooqtpoc.