QPOC Open to All, Home to Very Few

Abstract

This paper is about the Queer People of Color (QPOC) club at Purchase College and its ability to not just stay a float but expand. Despite the many determining factors that go against QPOC, including low attendance at meetings and events, lack of support from "sister" clubs and the school institution, and lack of financial support, QPOC has continued to thrive. Through my experiences of being president of QPOC and interviewing past and present Eboard members and attendees; this paper examines the ways in which the club's Presidents and E-board members, who are also students, have found ways to make QPOC a home. We will explore how QPOC serves as an oasis, taking in stranded travelers dealing with the harsh conditions at Purchase. The data for this paper was collected through participant observation, interviews, and analysis of PSGA documents. Being the president of QPOC and a student here, much of the research is first hand experience; relayed to convey the ways QPOC creates space on campus while struggling with many determining factors. The importance of this paper is that it is a testament to the lack of support QPOC communities get from their allies. Struggling to get community engagement, ally clubs such as OAPIA and LGBTQU lack the ability to support QPOC. This project is to display in what ways institutions need to show equitability towards QPOC individuals and organizations; as their social and political standing put them in a marginalized position. In this paper the conclusion we are led to is that the success of QPOC is due to its continuous resilience and the work of its stubborn Eboard members keeping it alive. Despite the challenges QPOC faces, the Presidents and E-board members have worked hard to create a supportive and inclusive environment for all queer students of color. We also conclude that due to the lack of financial and institutional support, QPOC leaders are able to provide for its members in creative ways.