History of Brazos Valley QueSt
In 2003, the Brazos Valley was privileged to have its first-ever Spring GAYla. The event, hosting about 70 attendees, was an outside dinner held on a beautiful night at Bryan’s local Garden District. Later that year, in the early fall of 2003, under the guidance of
BV QueSt founders:
Angela May and Lori Luza,
it was decided that the GAYla would be an annual, major event. A secondary event, a winter social, would be held late in the fall semester.
After a successful 2003 Winter Social, the group added other minor social events for the GLBT community. It was also at this time that the group formed some leadership and adopted the name, QueSt, and the motto, “On a QueSt to Unite Our Queer/Straight Community.”
The 2004 Spring GAYla was held on April 3, 2004. Hosted by Halo Video Bar, the event featured photography sessions with Brian Blake, an elegant cocktail party, a short program including a drag performance by Miss Tara Dion, and dancing. Over sixty attendees rasied $1,150 for local GLBT support organizations.
As part of the initial celebration in 2003, proceeds from the GAYla were designated for two local queer-supportive organizations. The 2004 GAYla raised funds for Aggie ALLIES, the GLBT Professional Network and AIDS Services of the Brazos Valley.
After the hugely successful 2004 Spring GAYla, the group hosted its first-ever summer event, a country and western night at Halo Video Bar. The modest event rasied funds for the GLBT Oral History Project's Wish List. In the early Fall of 2004, the group hosted a Totally 80s Dance Party, drawing in a crowd of new faces and raising some startup funds for the 2005 Spring GAYla. On December 1, 2004, we celebrated World AIDS Day and co-hosted a fundraiser with the GLBT Professional Network, raising over $750 for AIDS Services of the Brazos Valley.
2005 was a wonderfully successful year. The Spring GAYla, One Starry Night, raised $1,750 for Aggie ALLIES and the GLBT Aggies. Later that fall, we hosted a Time Warp with a back-to-old-school feel.
2006 simply blew us away! Our GAY Paris event was a huge hit. We found a new surge of success. The event more than doubled attendance over 2005 and raised $6,000 for Aggie ALLIES and a small-grant program for local queer and queer-supportive programming. Following closely on the heels of a great event, the first annual fall Homecoming entertained 120 guests and raised $1,000 for the area's first queer/ally scholarship fund! (Applications will be available January 2007.)
Plans are currently underway for the 2007 Spring GAYla.
Past Events and Charitable Contributions
Fall Homecoming 2006 - benefiting the first local queer/ally scholarship fund. (Applications will be available January 2007.)
Spring GAYla 2006 - GAY Paris - benefiting Aggie ALLIES and generating funds for a small grant program for local queer and queer-supportive programming. Applications will be available Summer 2006. The event raised $3,000 for each of the charitable efforts!
Time Warp - September 2005 - benefiting BV QueSt
Spring GAYla 2005 - One Starry Night - benefiting Aggie ALLIES and GLBT Aggies
Totally 80s Dance Party - September 2004 - benefiting BV QueSt
Country & Western Night 2004 - Horseshoes & Hotties- July 17, 2004 - benefiting the Brazos GLBT Oral History Project
Spring GAYla 2004 - Steppin' Out In Style - April 3, 2004 - benefiting Aggie ALLIES, the GLBT Professional Network, and AIDS Services of the Brazos Valley
Valentine's Poetry Event 2004 - Hearts on Fire - February 14, 2004 - (social only)
Winter Social 2003 - Holiday on the Rocks - December 12, 2003 - benefiting BV QueSt
Spring GAYla 2003 - April 3, 2003 - benefiting Aggie ALLIES and the GLBT Professional Network.
Brazos Bragging: accolades and compliments received by Brazos Valley QueSt
