Mac hosts fourth annual pride parade

By: SJ Jany

As you’re enjoying the festivities of MacPride this week, you might be wondering about the folks at Mac’s QSCC (Queer Students’ Community Centre) who’ve made it all happen. Look no further!

The official Mac queer and trans* community has its roots in the March 1973 founding of the McMaster Gay Liberation Movement (GLM), which held meetings on alternating Tuesdays as well as various social events (partially covered by an annual $4.00 membership fee) throughout the year. From these humble beginnings, the movement grew in size to encompass a community with a wide range of gender and sexual identities. It has also grown from bi-weekly meetings to a physical space, phoneline, Facebook page, Twitter feed, and more.

The QSCC today is a service of the McMaster Students Union for gender and sexual minority students. We have an office space on the second floor of the Students’ Centre with a hang-out area and a library of queer and trans*-related literature, movies, etc. Not to brag or anything, but it’s the largest (and, incidentally, only) such library in Hamilton!

In addition to providing a safe space for students, the QSCC works to advocate for gender and sexual minority students in the Mac community, organizes fun events and activities (like Gayzer tag, movie nights, intramural sports teams, and of course MacPride), and hosts weekly “Newcomers” meetings for students. There is always a volunteer (or volunteers) present at the front desk, so feel free to stop by, say hi, and peruse our extensive supply of informative leaflets.