Queer Year One (QY1) is a group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer (LGBTQ) freshman to make new friends and acclimate to the local and campus community at UNC Charlotte.

Wednesday, Sept. 3 was the group’s first meeting. Nine people showed up for the first meeting, a fair turnout for a brand new group. Members expect to see their numbers climb in weeks to come. QY1 will be doing events on and off campus, getting involved with Charlotte’s LGBTQ community.

QY1 intends to create a community for its members. Anthony, a freshman who attended the first meeting said he hopes this group gives him the chance to meet a lot of people who will not be judgmental, who will not put up barriers and who will be “one big happy family.”

Josh Burford, who founded the group, is a queer history professor at UNC Charlotte. Burford said he got the idea to create a group aimed towards freshman when he saw many freshmen on campus who felt less included in bigger, more established groups.

QY1 is open to all LGBTQ freshman and allies. For additional information, visit the Multicultural Resource Center in Student Union Room 210.