The Queer & Allies club is not new to Highline, but its name and president are. 

Last quarter, it was known as the GSA, or the Genders and Sexualities Alliance, but it’s since changed in both name and leadership. Now known as Q & A, or Queer & Allies, the new club president is Highline student Duncan Dao.

Dao has been at Highline for about three years now, studying biology. “I hope to go into biology so I can go into working with the scientific field and things like ecology, environmental sciences, botany, oncology, entomology, subjects like that,” said Dao.

He landed this leadership role by being a part of the GSA club last quarter, and keeping in touch with members of the Q Center – Highline’s resource center for LGBTQIA+ students – stepping up to fill in as club president after the previous president and vice president had to resign. 

Dao says he feels this is an important club to keep alive. “It helps build community and find other students, and especially supportive people around us who can be able to sympathize with us and especially if they’ve been in similar situations or have similar identities and outlooks in life,” Dao explained.

So far, club meetings have been laid back – it’s a time for discussion and to socialize without any pressure, surrounded by people who can relate to and support each other.

He has hopes that going forward, the club will be able to do more activities, such as visiting museums or participating in Pride events in Washington and getting in touch with the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Q & A club meets on Thursdays from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in Building 8, room 302. Come check it out if you identify as LGBTQIA+ or as an ally and are interested in finding others that are a part of or a supporter of the community.