Following a hiatus of several years, the Queen's University Association of Queer Employees (QUAQE) is set to re-launch, beginning with a potluck event on April 8.

“When the organization first launched in 2010, the emphasis was on providing an opportunity for people to get to know each other and get together,” says Jean Pfleiderer, Sexual and Gender Diversity Coordinator with the Human Rights Office and one of several Queen’s employees organizing the QUAQE event.

Previously, the group served to provide an opportunity for LGBTQ+ and allied faculty, staff and post-doctoral fellows at Queen’s to socialize, to discuss relevant issues, to raise the visibility of LGBTQ issues, and to address barriers for queer employees.

For a number of years, QUAQE held regular social events and get-togethers, but then interest seemed to wane, Dr. Pfleiderer explains.  Recently, some previous members decided to see if there might be interest in reviving it. The group decided on a Spring Social potluck to celebrate the season and the end of term. The potluck will take place from 7-10 pm at 121 Queen St. in downtown Kingston. Partners, spouses, and other family members are welcome.

“If there’s interest in bringing the group back, that would be great,” Dr. Pfleiderer says. “And even if not, we can enjoy this get-together at the end of the academic year.”

For more information, or to RSVP, please email ferguss@queensu.ca. Attendees will need to confirm attendance to receive building entry procedures.