Highline’s Q Center Group began its commitment to an open space for the LGBTQIA+ on campus in 2019 and has been setting stepping stones since then. 

LGBTQIA+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning, and asexual.

“The Q Center Group is a community of Highline students, alumni, staff, and faculty who are advocating for an LGBTQIA+ Resource Center on campus,” the team said. “Highline’s Q Center Group was designed to provide a space of learning, growth, affirmation, and community for the LGBTQIA+ community.” 

The group said they started off with only two Highline instructors and grew into an entire team of supporters on their mission to become a foundation of support at Highline. 

“Amy Rider King and Chino Gonzales, both instructors in Highline’s High School Engagement and Academic Success programs, are the co-founders of the Q Center Group. Tylir McKenzie and Megan Fuhlman are also core members of the team,” the team said. “Tylir and Megan were instrumental in helping to facilitate the group’s year-long workshop series and to produce the Q Center Group’s first mid-summer picnic in Summer 2022. Additionally, the Q Center Group includes several Highline alum and works in close partnership with the LGBTQIA+ Task Force.”

Looking at the Q Center’s timeline we see both Rider King and Gonzales sparking the first steppingstone in the team’s direction to inclusivity within the LGBTQIA+ community through conversations they had on campus, the group said. 

“The seeds of the Q Center Group were planted in Spring of 2019 when Amy Rider King and Chino Gonzales co-taught a gender and sexuality theater class while simultaneously conducting campus interviews and conversations on the topic of LGBTQIA+ inclusion,” said the team.

“At the close of this project, the creative team produced an interdisciplinary arts event titled ‘Queer Visions’ that included a live performance and a library pop-up featuring Highline’s LGBTQIA+ collection.

“In fall 2020, Amy and Chino applied for a Teaching and Learning Enhancement Grant to dive deeper into this inquiry work and to focus on creating a video artifact to share with the campus community and leaders. The Q Center Group was formally started following the creation of our video documentary ‘Why Not Now?’ released in Summer 2021.”

The group said they have created spaces where LGBTQIA+ and others can openly discuss problems, ask questions, and discuss solutions through workshops, surveys, the group’s social media platform, and other events to show their dedication and support in resources for Highline students. 

“The Q Center Group has produced a video documentary featuring campus voices, offered a professional development workshop at Highline’s PD Day, facilitated monthly workshops from Sept. 2021-June 2022, distributed a Q Center campus survey, analyzed and shared survey results with Highline’s Executive Cabinet, presented a Mission Moment with the Highline Foundation, hosted a midsummer pride picnic, collaborated with CCIE on LGBTQIA+ Week, created an Instagram account, supported student team members in creating a Q Center Student Discord, and launched a series of improv workshops that center queer and trans identities,” the team said. 

Although the Q Center has done so much already, the team said they have found some challenges along the way including a lack of resources.

“Our challenges have included: reaching out effectively to queer and trans students, acquiring a space, offering year-round services and support, having limited resources, and a relatively small work team,” the group said. 

But looking towards the future for the Q Center Group, the team said there are plenty of goals in the works including a physical location on campus and bringing their workshops a step further. 

“In spring quarter, we plan to offer an evening improv performance event and would like to bring a workshop to the HUB. With the support of the Executive Cabinet, we are currently working on coordinating a shared space that will be staffed by a student worker,” the group said. 

The HUB is the city of Federal Way’s Higher Education Center that provides students with post-secondary, adult education, and other opportunities.

“The Q Center Group has not yet achieved a physical space on campus. We have presented a proposal to Highline’s Executive Cabinet and have received encouragement and support from both the Cabinet and the Office of the President. We are currently working with campus leadership to coordinate a shared space.”

Not only does the Q Center want students to come to them as a group of people they can talk to, but the group said they want to also create a community and flourish as they listen and understand that there are available resources out there for them. 

“Our goal is to create a welcoming space with resources, regular workshops, and the opportunity for queer and trans students and allies to socialize, learn, and grow,” the team said. 

To anyone interested in the group’s message, The Q Center and LGBTQIA+ Taskforce invites you this Thursday, March 9 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Building 28 in the Pavilion to an Out and Active event. 

Highline’s LGBTQIA+ Taskforce committee is an, “…action-oriented committee dedicated to LGBTQIA+ issues on campus, consisting of staff and faculty members at Highline College,” the Highline website said.

The email said the event’s purpose is to create a welcoming environment for participants to have fun and make friends through playing interactive games. 

“We will have Badminton, Pickleball, Volleyball, an art station, and many others to give you a break from work or school and [be] active with members of the Taskforce and Q Center,” the email said. “Everyone is welcome to participate and cheer regardless of athletic skill, experience, or ability. So come on down to the Pavilion, make some art, meet some new friends, and get Out & Active.” 

For any questions on Highline’s Q Center Group you may email Tylir McKenzie via email here: tmckenzie@highline.edu or you may check out the LGBTQIA+ Taskforce website here: LGBTQIA+ Taskforce website.