Austin is home.
Greater Austin has the nation's third largest openly LGBTQIA+ population, per capita. That's why QWELL learned to design solutions at the scale of the problem. Over the years, thousands of Austinites have influenced QWELL's direction, with our thanks.
Community Centers
QWELL's signature project in Austin has been the plan we helped the community create for multiple LGBTQIA+ Community Centers with Affordable Housing around Greater Austin.
During the construction of each building, QWELL plans to open an Austin Outpost pop-up LGBTQIA+ Center in the neighborhood to build relationships and start serving the community. See the winning pop-up design from our 2019 Design Charrette in collaboration with the American Institute of Architects.
Absent long-promised support from the City of Austin, a major donor, or a revolution in small monthly donations from the community, we are keeping the other dominoes in line while we work to raise money through the Virtual LGBTQIA+ Community Center App to buy land.
Even as we start working with queer nonprofits in other cities to build their own, QWELL still hopes to help Austin build the first Qutopia projects.
FreePrideFlag.com
5,000 volunteers in Greater Austin are already flying a rainbow flag from QWELL's FreePrideFlag.com, making the program one of our most popular!
The program launched in 2020 during the pandemic to help the community safely celebrate Pride in quarantine and became a powerful instrument for increasing Ally visibility.
When 3.5% of a population actively participates in a movement, that movement becomes inevitable.
That's what social science research shows. If we can get at least 3.5% of people in every town flying a rainbow flag, we can change American culture forever. On hiatus while we launch our app and other projects, FreePrideFlag.com will return as a national program through the Virtual LGBTQIA+ Community Center App.
Colors of Pride Gatherings
In collaboration with Austin Queer Asians and Austin Latinx Pride, QWELL produced these large, indoor, air-conditioned, accessible Pride Month celebrations for QTBIPOC residents of all backgrounds and origins.
The events featured mocktail bars (by SANS BAR), sponsored open bars, makers markets by Las Ofrendas, small group discussions led by QTBIPOC subject matter experts in makeshift salas, traditional Chinese tea service by West China Tea, DJs, songs and dance lessons, speed-friending, panel discussions, and a performance by America's Got Talent Finalist, Mama Duke.
The vibe was "Your Best Friend's House Party" and attendees reported feeling more seen, celebrated, and connected than at other Pride events.
Colors of Pride spun off as an independent organization in 2024. You can follow them at ColorsOfPride.org.
Queer Health Equity Program
A good chef cooks the best meal with the ingredients they have. For QWELL that meant, rather than open a new clinic to address broad LGBTQIA+ healthcare disparities:
QWELL would help existing clinics get certified until LGBTQIA+ people receive affirming care in any health system they choose.
QWELL drove Central Health to assemble the world's first coalition of large health systems to pursue certification together through the Human Rights Campaign's Healthcare Equality Index. As a result, more than 70 clinics and 300+ providers were certified.
QWELL plans to continue our Queer Health Equity Program when a position is funded.
