Destination Q, traditionally held during the Fall semester, is a multi-day leadership experience open to all undergraduate students at WashU. DQ centers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual (LGBTQIA+) topics through explorations of leadership and identity development.
September
19 – 20, 2026
Come together in community!
Research has found that coming together in community is formative for all college students, especially for LGBTQIA+ students. It is critical to student retention and overall success in college. Students build connections and meet others who hold similar and differing identities, and they learn more about the diversity of perspectives and different experiences within their community. Through community and small groups, advocate and leadership dialogue, story-sharing, and reflection, students learn about themselves, growing in self-awareness as leaders and community members and stewards.
Destination Q programs and discussion
| Learn about themselves through activities such as Hopes and Fears and Queer Community Building. | |
| Discuss power and privilege dynamics | |
| Dive deeper and unpack their social identities | |
| Discuss intersectionality | |
| Dialogue about their personal and community values | |
| Participate in roundtable discussion on topics such as coming out, family, friends, sex, relationships, sexual assault and violence in the LGBTQIA+ community, gender, and spirituality |
While this retreat is coordinated by the Spectrum Office, undergraduate students serve as peer leaders, facilitating many of the sessions and all of the roundtables. Peer leaders also lead debrief sessions in small groups, or families, and help students to bond and build community.