Join an LGBTQIA+ organization.

Looking to meet new peeps while also advocating for the LGBTQIA+ community on campus? Temple has plenty of student orgs to help you get involved and support enhanced inclusivity of gender and sexuality on campus. Here are a few to check out:

• Queer Student Union is the oldest registered queer student organization on campus and is dedicated to creating a safe environment for all LGBTQIA+ students.
• Queer People of Color provides resources to educate and empower queer people of color throughout the Temple and Philadelphia community and offers an inclusive environment to individuals of various backgrounds.
• Students for Trans Awareness and Rights discusses issues involving trans identity and rights as well as provides a safe and welcoming environment for trans-identifying students.
• Pitch, Please A Cappella spreads positivity and equality through music by performing works by LGTBQIA+ affiliated artists

Check out the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, Advocacy and Leadership (IDEAL).

If IDEAL had a middle name, it would be inclusive. And the folks at this office work day-in and day-out to make inclusivity a reality on campus. If you need help getting your name changed to your preferred name on Temple s records, if you want to participate in Safe Zone Training, or if you just need a comfortable space to host an event (or just be), this is the place.

Visit the Wellness Resource Center.

The Wellness Resource Center is Temple s health promotion office. They re all about inclusive programming and services around sexual health, mental well-being, interpersonal violence prevention, and alcohol and drug prevention. And they often partner with IDEAL on LGBTQIA+ programming, such as #QueerLoveIs, an event that s part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Minor in LGBT Studies, or just take a class.

Within the Gender, Sexuality and Women s Studies program (Hey, take a class there, too!) lives the LGBT Studies courses. Get credit for LGBTQIA+ fieldwork, dive into the attitudes and practices around human sexuality in the world s major religions, or study other specific cultural topics.

Hit up the Career Center for tips, resources and services.

The Career Center offers a variety of services and advice for students and alumni making waves in the profresh world, especially those who identify as LGBTQIA+. They offer everything from helping with the job search to identifying networking opportunities to navigating hairy issues related to being out in the workplace.

- Jared Lowe and Samantha Krotzer