Welcome to LGBTQ Alumni Network!
The purpose of our group is to help encourage connections among our alumni and to offer opportunities and support to current LGBTQ students. To learn more about how to get involved with this alumni association, please join our mailing list by CLICKING HERE
I would like to make a donation to the LGBTQ Alumni Association – CLICK HERE
Apply to be on the board here!
Get social:
Board Members
- Co-President: Davis Mendoza Darusman (’19)
- Co-President: Roxanne Werner ('09)
- Past-President: Jamie Gonzales (M.ed ’16)
- Treasurer: Gio Howard ('23)
- Secretary: P. Tim Martindell (MEd ’04, EdD ’12)
- Co-Directors of Scholarship & Emergency Crisis Aid: Gracen Jinks (MSW '22) & Blair Alexander (BA '18)
- Red Dinner Committee Co-Chairs: Kylie McNaught (BA '12, MSW '18) & Jason Dedrick ('10, '16)
- Director Of Signature Events: Alicia Layfield
- Director of Marketing: Dane Ashton ('22)
- Director Of Communications: Chris Goldman
- Director Of Social Media: Scott Escalona (’20)
- At-Large: Lizzie Bliss (BS '12, MSW '16) & Kevin Nguyen ('18, '21)
- UHAA Foundation Liaison: Shawn Kuehn ('10, MBA '16)
- Director of Fundraising: Frank De Oro
- UH Rainbow Coalition Co-Liaisons: Christian Cano & Samina Balangay
Events and Programs
LGBTQ Emergency Crisis Aid
The LGBTQ+ Emergency Crisis Aid Fund is a compassionate resource dedicated to supporting current LGBTQIA+ students facing unexpected financial hardships. This fund was specifically designed to assist those experiencing challenges that may jeopardize their academic success as a result of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression. Whether due to housing instability, food insecurity, or other resource-based emergencies, the fund provides critical relief to ensure that these students can continue their education and thrive.
With the average award ranging from $100 to $500, the LGBTQ+ Emergency Crisis Aid Fund offers a lifeline for students at the University of Houston in need, helping them overcome temporary but significant obstacles and keeping them on track to complete their degrees at UH.
APPLICATIONS OPEN NOW: Apply HERE
If you are in need of additional support, please see additional campus & Houston resources below
- Dean of Students Emergency Loans for Unforeseen Emergencies
- Short-term interest-free loans
- Repayment is due 45 days after issuance
- Center for Student Empowerment
- Holistic student success program designed to prevent minor obstacles from becoming major setbacks
- Cougar Cupboard
- On-campus food pantry available to all enrolled students for free
- Cougar Pathway is a hub for on-campus jobs
- Log into AccessUH > click Cougar Pathway Icon > Click “Jobs”
- If you are living on campus, you’ll be able to use your residential hall address
- Center for Student Advocacy and Community & Women and Gender Resource Center
- Staff can help with identifying resources based on unique needs and barriers.
- Compiled List of Houston LGBTQ+ Affirming Services & Resources
If you’d like to contribute, please donate here: University of Houston: Give to UH Now – University of Houston (Select LGBTQ Alumni Network in the drop-down, and input “Emergency Crisis Fund” in the Special Notes Section.)
Red Dinner
The Red Dinner is the signature annual fundraising gala hosted by the University of Houston LGBTQ Alumni Network, bringing together alumni, friends and community partners for an unforgettable evening celebrating leadership, pride and philanthropy.
Proceeds from the event support emergency crisis aid and academic scholarships for LGBTQ+ students at the University of Houston, helping ensure students have the resources they need to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.
The 2026 Red Dinner will take place on Saturday, August 22, at the University of Houston Athletics/Alumni Center. The evening begins with a VIP Reception at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and the main program at 7 p.m. Guests will enjoy an evening of inspiring stories, award presentations, live entertainment, a silent auction and opportunities to invest in the future of LGBTQ+ students.
This year’s program features an outstanding lineup of speakers and special guests, including:
- Harper Watters, Principal Dancer, Houston Ballet
- State Representative Jolanda “Jo” Jones (B.A. ’89, J.D. ’95)
- Ernie Manouse, Executive Producer and Host of Hello Houston
- Kevin “Special K” England (B.A. ’03), Radio Personality and DJ
The evening will be hosted by Pooja Lodhia, ABC13 Eyewitness News, and Carlos Hernandez, Great Day Houston on KHOU 11.
Individual tickets, tables and sponsorship opportunities are available now. https://fundraise.givesmart.com/form/x5d64w?vid=1rgf8d
For sponsorship inquiries, please contact uhrainbowcoogs@gmail.com.
LGBTQ Alumni Scholarship
Our Scholarship Application is open! We are giving away merit-based and need-based scholarships to assist any Undergraduate or Graduate student with academic expenses. Application will close on April 15th.
To qualify, you must meet the following requirements:
1. Have a 3.0 GPA or higher per semester
2. Undergraduates must be enrolled for a minimum of 12 credit hours and Graduates must be enrolled for a minimum of 9 credit hours
3. Must be in good academic standing
4. Answer the following prompt in 250 words or less
– Explain how this scholarship will help you overcome any financial barrier you or your family might be facing, or how this scholarship will benefit your education, research, and/or internship goals.
To apply, use the link below. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at uhrainbowcoogs@gmail.com. Good luck to all the applicants!
Application Link: https://my.reviewr.com/s2/site/UHAAF_Scholarships2024
Pride Month
We have always celebrated Cougar Pride!
In 1976, the University of Houston’s Gay Activist Alliance organized a Pride event to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion in New York City. Although it is sometimes dismissed as “just a march”, fliers and other promotional pieces clearly identified it as a parade. There were no marching bands, floats or banners, and most of the participants had been recruited during the previous year by pioneering Houston activist Ray Hill whom attended the University of Houston.
Since then, Houston’s Pride Parade has grown to become the fourth-largest in the country (and the 15th largest in the world) with an estimated attendance of 700,000 in 2017.
Drag Bingo
