Out in STEM: Texas State’s LGBTQIA+ stem club

By Diego Gonzales 

Blog Content Contributor 

oSTEM (out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is a national and non-profit association that has over 100 student chapters in universities all across the country. Since 2005, the organization has been committed to fostering a safe and supportive community for LGBTQIA+ students and staff who are interested in the STEM field. It is currently the largest chapter-based organization focused on LGBTQIA+ in STEM.

The Texas State University oSTEM chapter was founded in the Spring of 2021 and since then has provided support for members through both personal and professional means. The club has created a safe and valuable space for STEM-motivated LGBTQIA+ students on campus.

Meetings in the club are focused on both socializing with similarly interested LGBTQIA+ students and learning about what it takes to be a leader in STEM fields. One of the resources provided by the club are opportunities to meet and network with LGBTQIA+ individuals who have found success in STEM fields.

Last November, the university’s oSTEM club invited Dr. Michael Casey, an engineering professor at Texas State University, to have a Q&A with the student members and discuss his experience of being LGBTQIA+ in STEM.

The space that Texas State’s oSTEM club has created and maintained is undoubtedly essential for students of marginalized identities in their pursuit of learning and leadership. Through celebrating diversity and the desire for knowledge, the club is leading the way for a smarter and more inclusive future.

Though they are seemingly on hiatus during the summer semester, the club typically meets biweekly on Tuesdays, from 6 to 7 p.m. in Ingram Hall. More information about the club’s meetings and activities can be found on their Twitter and Instagram that share the handle @TxstOstem