Black Quare revives community space for Black LGBTQIA+ students

Black Quare held its first meeting on Oct. 17 after roughly eight years of inactivity to restart a student group that provides a dedicated 'third space' for Black LGBTQIA+ students at UCSB.

Black Quare, a student organization for Black students who identify as LGBTQIA+, held its first meeting on Oct. 17 after roughly eight years of inactivity. The meeting took place in the Resource Center for Sexual & Gender Diversity Lounge at the Student Resource Building and was attended by about 10 students. Student leaders Kharys Ebert, Leah Jackson and Açucar Pinto presented the club’s purpose and invited attendees to share experiences. The group has existed at UCSB for around 20 years and was last active in 2016 or 2017. Key details: - The Oct. 17 meeting focused on planning the club’s future and building a clear purpose for the group. - The session was led by student leaders Kharys Ebert, Leah Jackson and Açucar Pinto and included a presentation on the term “quare,” drawing on the work of scholar E. Patrick Johnson. - Organizers described the club as a specific "third space" for Black queer people to build community, find kinship and discuss identity on campus. - Leaders said the club could support access to gender-affirming care and housing resources and advocated for more specific residence hall questionnaires to better foster community. - Ashlee Priestley (Office of Black Student Development), Marco Muñoz (RCSGD) and Tara Jones (Educational Opportunity Program) assisted in revitalizing the club, and student organizers drafted a club constitution and planned activities like zine workshops and sip-and-paint events. Summary: The club’s revival creates a renewed, dedicated space for Black LGBTQIA+ students to connect and share experiences, and organizers are planning events and advocacy around resources and housing. Leaders reported drafting a constitution and outlining operations to sustain the group. Undetermined at this time.