LGBTQIA+ Heritage Month
Proud Past, Radiant Future:
Celebrating the SAC Centennial through the Queer Lens
LGBTQIA+ figures of San Antonio (left to right): Gina Maria Ortiz Jones, first openly LGBTQIA+ mayor of San Antonio; Elena Guajardo, San Antonio’s first lesbian councilwoman; Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, first openly gay man elected to the San Antonio City Council; Dr. Francisco Solis; first openly LGBTQIA+ president of San Antonio College; Leo Castillo, San Antonio's first transgender man to serve as an interim city council member; Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez, first openly gay judge elected in Bexar County.
San Antonio College proudly observes LGBTQIA+ Heritage Month from mid-October through early December. This year’s theme, Proud Past, Radiant Future: Celebrating the SAC Centennial through the Queer Lens, honors the rich legacy and ongoing contributions of LGBTQIA+ communities at SAC.
As we commemorate 100 years of history, we center the voices and experiences of queer students, staff, faculty, and alumni – those who have always been part of SAC’s journey, whether visible or not.
Through art, storytelling, discussion, and celebration, a variety of events will take place to build community, educate, and uplift. Together, we reflect on a legacy of resilience and envision a bold, inclusive future illuminated by a vibrant spectrum of queer perspectives.
Coming Out Day
Date: Thursday, Oct. 9 (observed)
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: SAC Mall
You are invited to SAC’s observance of Coming Out Day on Thursday, Oct. 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the SAC Mall! This year, we’re proud to partner with the San Antonio Public Library to debut the SAPL 2026 Big Pride Zine.
The celebration will feature a vibrant Resource Fair showcasing LGBTQIA+ affirming organizations, businesses, and community partners, plus opportunities to connect, learn, and celebrate visibility and pride.
Come be part of this joyful day of community, support, and celebration!
Spirit Day: Wear Purple
Dates: Thursday, Oct. 16
Time: All day
Location: SAC Campus
#SpiritDay is the world’s most visible anti-bullying movement, inspiring LGBTQIA+ youth, especially transgender and nonbinary youth, to live their lives in their truth and authenticity.
Promoted by GLAAD, observers wear the color purple as a visible sign of support for LGBTQIA+ youth and against bullying during National Bullying Prevention Month, as well as to honor LGBTQIA+ victims of suicide. The name "Spirit Day" comes from an association with the purple stripe of the rainbow pride flag, which represents "spirit" according to flag creator Gilbert Baker.
While GLAAD research shows that LGBTQIA+ acceptance is at an all-time high, so too is anti-LGBTQIA+ discrimination and bullying. As online hate continues to foment real-world harm, coupled with the anti-LGBTQIA+ climate of our day, America’s youth is particularly at-risk and has never needed our support more than right now. #SpiritDay gives LGBTQIA+ youth, their parents, and allies an opportunity to see what’s possible when we lead with acceptance.
Take the #SpiritDay pledge now to commit to going purple on Thursday, Oct. 16 and showing LGBTQIA+ youth you’ve got their backs!
Film Screening: Nimona
Date: Thursday, Oct. 23
Time: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Location: Loftin Student Center Fiesta Room
Join us for a free screening of Nimona, the genre-defying animated film based on the bestselling queer graphic novel by ND Stevenson. Set in a futuristic-medieval kingdom, Nimona follows a rebellious shapeshifter and her unexpected ally, a knight accused of a crime he didn’t commit, as they battle a corrupt system and redefine what makes a hero.
Nimona is unapologetically queer in both character and spirit, exploring themes of transformation, identity, and chosen family. With a queer protagonist at its heart and powerful messages about being true to yourself in a world that fears difference, Nimona is a celebration of gender nonconformity, found connection, and defiance in the face of injustice.
Karaoke Night
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 28
Time: 3 to 6 p.m.
Location: Loftin Student Center Fiesta Room
It’s Queer! It’s Karaoke! It’s Queeraoke!
Grab a mic and sing your heart out at a celebration of queer joy, music, and community! Hosted by the Gender & Sexualities Alliance, this all-gender, all-voice, all-vibes karaoke night is open to everyone. Come sing, cheer, snack, and shine!
Hosted by SAC's Gender & Sexuality Alliance, this all-gender, all-voice, all-vibes karaoke night is open to everyone. Come sing, cheer, snack, and shine!
Second Chance Homecoming Dance
Date: Friday, Nov. 7
Time: 6 to 9 p.m.
Location: Loftin Student Center Fiesta Room
Step into the time machine—who will you become?
Join the Gender and Sexuality Alliance as we celebrate our second-annual Second Chance Homecoming Dance! In honor of the college’s 100-year legacy, The Grand Illusion Ball: A Centennial Masquerade Through Time invites guests to traverse the centuries through costume and disguise. Step through the “time machine” into an elegant masquerade where past, present, and future collide. Will you arrive as a 1920s flapper in a clockwork mask? A futuristic mech princess in mirrored feathers? A masked bard from a lost realm? The illusion is yours to create.
Dress to impress across dimensions: historical elegance, steampunk flair, retro-futurism, or otherworldly style. Incorporate a mask, veil, or dramatic disguise element into your look. Characters from history, fantasy, pop culture, or imagined futures.
Tickets are $5 and can be purchased in advance at the GSA booth from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during SAC’s Antojitos Festival (Sept. 25) & Skele-bration (Oct. 30) events, during our scheduled meetings (Tuesdays from 3 to 4 p.m. in LSC 260A), or at one of the offices of the GSA Advisors. Tickets can also be purchased at the door on the day of the event.
Queer History of SAC Walking Tour
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 12
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Location: SAC Mall – GSA Booth (during the Candy Cane Lane Holiday Festival)
Hosted by LGBTQIA+ UTSA historian and archivist Melissa Gohlke, this engaging walking tour explores the now historically recognized LGBTQIA+ landmarks of the San Antonio College area. Learn about the hidden and vibrant queer history rooted in the neighborhood surrounding SAC. Back by popular demand, this tour is a favorite for its insightful storytelling and community connection. Snacks provided. Come walk, learn, and celebrate our local history!
Trans Day of Remembrance
Date: Thursday, Nov. 20
Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: SAC Mall
Join the SAC community in observing the 2025 Transgender Day of Remembrance on Wednesday, Nov. 20, starting at 11 a.m. in the SAC Mall. First observed in 1999, this day honors the memory of transgender individuals whose lives were lost to anti-trans violence. As part of SAC’s centennial celebration, we reflect on the enduring presence and strength of trans people, past and present, who have shaped our campus community. This vigil not only memorializes lives lost over the past year, but also affirms our commitment to a future where all trans lives are valued, visible, and safe.
World AIDS Day
Date: Monday, Dec.1
Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: SAC Mall
Join the SAC community in honoring World AIDS Day on Monday, Dec.1, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the SAC Mall. First observed in 1988, World AIDS Day is a time to remember those we have lost, support those living with HIV, and recommit ourselves to ending the stigma and the epidemic.