A Timeline of Our History
The development of the WCC began before its doors opened, in feminist and queer campus movements of the early 1970s through the 2000s. Students needed and advocated for space for women and LGBTQIA+ communities. In August of 2004, with support from the Dean of Students Teresa Brett, Student Government President Brian Haley, and Vice President Sly Majid, the Interim Gender and Sexuality Center opened in a small office on the first floor of the Student Services Building. Since then, the GSC has moved three times and now serves students in a vibrant space at the center of campus in the WCP Student Activity Center. In January of 2023, because of Senate Bill 17, the Gender and Sexuality Center became the Women’s Community Center, but the center’s commitment to making sure that all Longhorns feel like they belong at UT Austin is still in place.
Historical Timeline
2003-2004
- The GSC advisory committee forms and proposes the establishment of a center for women and LGBTQ students on campus, with the support of Dean of Students Teresa Graham Brett.
2004
- Spring: “Proposal to establish a center exploring gender and sexuality approved by the university”
- Fall: GSC established in the SSB, combines the student-founded Women’s Resource Center and GLBTA Agency; “The Interim Gender and Sexuality Center opens its doors for the first time in a small conference room in the Student Services Building”
- Name changed from Interim Gender and Sexuality Center to Gender and Sexuality Center
- Beginnings of GSC Library
2005
- January 28 — GSC Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at its new location in SSB
- GSC hires first Administrative Assistant
- Advisory Group begun
- Faculty/Staff Mentorship program begins
- Conversation about gender-neutral bathrooms begins research begins
- Transgender Initiative 2005-2009
- 2005 press release “UT one of best campuses for LGBT students”
2006
- Student Government unanimously passes a resolution in support of the continued existence and funding of the Gender and Sexuality Center.
- GSC moved to a new space in the SSB
- Women’s Resource Center becomes the Women’s Resource Agency and a part of the GSC
- Beginning conversations on “Same-Sex Housing Policy”
2007
- GSC joins the Division of Campus and Community Engagement
- GSC hires first Educational Coordinator
2008
- Peers for Pride was founded
- UT Gender Equity Task Force report
- GSC staff teach Third Wave Feminism Course
- First Lavender Graduation
- Queer Texas Conference with speakers Randi Shade & Mara Keisling
2009
- Student Parent Initiative/Mother’s Programming – Introductory meeting 10/9/2009
- Climate Index Report & Campus Climate Response Team
- First Texas Equity Conference for establishing Domestic Partner Benefits
- Barbara Jordan Statue Project
2010
- Second Texas Equity Conference
- Panza Monologues
- Women’s Programming Alliance Welcome Event
- National Young Women’s Day of Action – 5th annual
2011
- GSC moved to the Student Activity Center
- Ana Sisnett Library Dedication Open House
- “Fearless” Exhibit, opening reception 10/13
- Eli Clare Event 11/17
- GSC celebrates National Feminist Week
- Silvia Henriquez Talk
2012
- GSC hires first Program Coordinator
- Gloria Steinem Keynote 9/5
- Kye Allums: The Transition Tour – 10/18
- National Young Women’s Day of Action Luncheon with Cristina Tzintzún
- Pride Alumni Network is founded with Texas Exes
2013
- Establishment of the GSC Student Organization Affiliate Program
- GSC staff are founding members of the BeVocal Bystander Intervention Program
- Knowledge and Noms Program hosts over 20 informal drop-in events
- GSC brings speakers Raja Bhatter, Stephen Russel and Lindy West
- Women’s Resources Fair & Women’s Leadership Summit
2014
- GSC recognized by White House for National LGBT Center Awareness Day
- National Young Women’s Day of Action featuring Mia McKenzie Founding Editor of Black Girl Dangerous
- Queer Students Alliance hosts the Queer Texas Conference
- GSC and Voices Against Violence staff present at the National Women’s Studies Association Conference in Puerto Rico on Bystander Intervention
2015
- GSC hosts first Sparkle Party, a Celebration of Ten Years of the GSC
- National Young Women’s Day of Action Luncheon with Tatyana Falalizadeh, of “Stop Telling Women to Smile”
- GSC Education Program introduces the “Allies in Action” Network
- GSC Speaker Series: Pidgeon Pagonis, intersex activist & educator
- Monica Roberts, creator of TransGriot, advocate, and journalist keynotes Lavender Graduation
2016
- GSC hosts Living with Pride, Out at Work Panel with LGBTQ Alums in Carothers Residence Hall
- A piece of the AIDS Memorial Quilt displayed in the GSC
- First annual GSC alter for the Day of the Dead (Dia De Los Muertos) this alter honored the work and lives of Black, Islamic, and Indigenous Feminists
- GSC celebrates staff member, Dr. Kristen Hogan on her book, The Feminist Bookstore Movement: Lesbian Antiracism and Feminist Accountability in the Multicultural Engagement Center with a reception and a panel
2017
- Queer Promo hosted with University Housing and Dining in Duren Courtyard
- Peers for Pride performs at Austin Community College in the Queer Writings Showcase
- PEFSA, GSC, and MEC partner on a vigil and alter for the victims of the Orlando shooting at Pulse
- GSC partners with MasculinUT & E+E to host Trevante Rhodes for a screening of Moonlight
- GSC and Center for Community Engagement host Alternative Break Trip to San Francisco
2018
- UTNB student org founded to celebrate non-binary longhorns, partners with TransAction org and hosts an event with Aki Imai, MA, Psychology Fellow, Counseling & Mental Health Center
- Hook ‘Em joins the Texas Exes Pride Alumni Group at Austin Pride after GSC partners with Athletics
- GSC hosts the Stonewall Symposium on LGBTQ Youth
- National Young Women’s Day of Action talk with YA writer, Tracy Deonn, Fandom & Identity
2019
- GSC Food Bank was established
- 10th Anniversary of Peers for Pride, Celebration at Final Performance in the WCP Black Box Theater
- Latinos Who Lunch Speaker Series and Podcast Recording
- National Young Women’s Day of Action Luncheon: Kristen Meinzer, Your Voice is a Gift
2020
- GSC Hosts Second Sparkle Party for 15th Anniversary in February of 2020
- Kicked off the GSC Crisis Fund
- The Black Queer and Trans Collective (BQTC) is established through a Provost ACT grant
- GSC “pivots” during the pandemic, hosts the Emerging Connections Pen Pal Project with other LGBTQIA+ Centers, creates remote resource pickups, hosts a virtual Lavender Graduation and sent over 150 care packages to graduates
- Virtual National Young Women’s Day of Action with Dr. Daniele Fuentes Morgan“Pop Culture, TV & Black Women’s Friendships”
2021
- Longhorn Pride, an LGBTQIA+ Visit Day for prospective students has the first virtual event
- Queer Voices moves to Zoom, hosts talks on relationships, mental health, and grieving missed milestones
- GSC launches GEMS Peer Mentorship Program in partnership with the UT SHIFT office
- Staff host a virtual “clothing closet” to make up for the Gender Inclusive Clothing Swap not happening during the pandemic
- QTBIPOCA, allgo, and the GSC partner to host Ana Sisnett Week, with events about the library & a bruncheon. The Ana Sisnett Library Committee is also founded to oversee the collection
- GSC builds out their internship program, partners with Texas Lead (then LEI) to hire first paid summer interns.
- First annual tabling for World AIDS Day, partnering with campus and community orgs, and hosting testing
2022
- The PCL and GSC partner on creating a “Peer Research Consultant” position for an undergrad
- The GSC started an official volunteer program, with volunteers helping at Lav Grad, the swap and an M Pox vaccine clinic that the GSC hosted with PEFSA and University Health Services
- Lotus Project for Asian queer and trans students partners with BQTC for a “Black and Asian Solidarity” event
- National Young Women’s Day of Action with Aaliya Zaveri who talked about gender justice, queer liberation, community care and resilience
- Lavender Graduation returns in person, hosted at the Texas Exes Etter-Harbin Alumni Center with keynote, Rocky Lane and former GSC staff, Shane Whalley as the MC
2023
- Libre Latiné (LiLa) an org designed by & for LGBTQIA+ Latiné folks at UT Austin is founded with a Community Grant from Texas Pride Impact Funds, hosts events about the wide variety of lived experiences in Latiné cultures, community care, mindfulness, and a hot chip social. Lili partners with BQTC on Afro-Latiné and Queer documentary viewing and discussion
- GSC attends UT Women’s Basketball’s first Pride Night
- Lavender Graduation hosted at LBJ auditorium for the first time for the largest Lavender Graduation with Keynote Speaker and longtime photographer, Jeremy Teal
- The weekly Masculinity Monday event comes from monthly events hosted by student staff
- Women’s History Month movie screenings
- Staff meet UK Delegates for “Fifty Years of Transatlantic Pride” US tour
- National Young Women’s Day of Action becomes “Feminist Day of Action” with first keynote given by Alpha Shrestha of Asian Family Support Services of Austin, formerly of Voices Against Violence.
- Allies in Action list surpasses 1000 members
- Because of SB17 GSC closes, and the Women’s Community Center opens in WCP 2.112