The University of Georgia has a thriving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and ally community. Click on the links below to find out more!
Get Involved!
The University of Georgia has many LGBT focused student organizations that you can get involved with as soon as you arrive on campus. They include:
Lambda Alliance, UGA's LGBTQA Student Organization
Queer Graduate Group, UGA's LGBTQ Graduate Student Organization
Gay and Lesbian Legal Network, UGA Law School's, LGBTQ Student Organization
Stonewall Students, UGA's Progressive LGBTQ Political Student Organization
LGBTQ Alumni Group, UGA's LGBTQ Alumni Organization
**NEW FOR 2008**
Lesbian and Gay Veterinary Association
T
he UGA Lesbian and Gay Veterinary Association was officially recognized at UGA in the spring of 2008. Currently the group is getting organized and planning for the future. For more information on the group, contact Beth Yash.
Many of these groups have listservs you can sign up for prior to arrive on campus if you would like the most up-to-date information on their events and activities. To sign up for a listserv, go to the UGA listserv homepage. Listserv names are as follows:
Lambda Alliance-LA
Queer Graduate Group-QGG
LGBTQ Alumni Group-LGBTQALUMNI
Campus Policies
The University of Georgia's Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harrassment policy bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orienation. In addition, the University offers limited domestic partner benefits for students, faculty and staff. More information on these benefits can be found at the Human Resources webpage.
In addition to the Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harrassment policy on campus, the LGBT Resource Center has its own Policy on Inclusion.
In addition to the campus policies, the unified government of Athens-Clarke County has several important LGBTQ policies to know. ACC bans discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment in the County. In addition, the County offers domestic partner benefits to employees and a domestic partner registry for employees and citizens of the county.
Get Connected
Are you wondering what is like to be OUT at UGA? Check out this audio slideshow put together by the Red and Black student newspaper for National Coming Out Day 2006.
There are many ways meet and socialize with other LGBT students on campus. The hub of LGBT activities is the LGBT Resource Center. Students use the space to socialize, study, attend programs and events, volunteer, pick up resources, and to meet friends to go to lunch. It is no wonder that there were over 5600 visits to the Center in 2006!
Another way to connect with other students is through the Rainbow Chat Discussion Groups. These groups are facilitated discussion groups that create a dialog on issues ranging from spirituality to relationships. If you are here over the summer, there are two groups available. Check out the Rainbow Chat webpage for more information. There will be five groups this fall, including:
Coming Out group
Gender Focused group
Men's group
Students of Color group
Women's group
Along with connecting to other students, there are also opportunities to meet LGBT faculty and staff. The LGBT Center offers a program called Faculty in Residence that brings together faculty and students to discuss issues ranging from research to being out on campus. In addition, students can get involved with community organizations and groups such as the Lesbian Social Group, OUTreach Athens, or Our Hope Metropolitan Community Church.
Summer Orientation
Are you attending new student orientation or a transfer orientation this summer? If yes, you will be able to meet members of the LGBT community at the resource fair during orientation. This fair is held on the second day of orientation for new students, and in the morning of transfer orientation. Look for the Lambda Alliance table at the resource fair.
If you are a graduate student, the LGBT Resource Center and the Queer Graduate group are working to get information at the graduate student orientation.
Safe Space
UGA Safe Space is a campus-wide initiative offering a visible message of inclusion, acceptance, and support to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the University community. The program was established in 2002 and there are hundreds of faculty, staff and students who have participated. Look for this symbol on campus:
Click here to see the list of Safe Spaces on campus or go to the Safe Space homepage for more information.
Fall Events
There are many wonderful events that occur during the first few weeks of the semester. Check out Campus Life's Big Dawg Welcome page before you arrive on campus. Along with the campuswide welcome events, the LGBT community provides several opportunities to meet members of the community. Don't be surprised if you see campus administrators, faculty, staff, and even the Mayor of Athens, Heidi Davison, at these events.
Check Back this summer for more information!
Trans Housing
If you are trans-identified and are living on campus this fall, you have options to ensure that you have the great experience. The Assistant Dean of Students for the LGBT Resource Center works directly with the Department of University Housing to review all requests for accommodations. Students desiring to make a request for accommodations or who are open to
having a transgender roommate should contact the Assistant Dean of Students
at lgbt@uga.edu or 706-542-4077.
Students should follow the guidelines established for registering for housing and/or participating in returning resident room sign-up as advertised by University Housing. For more detailed information about the assignments process for new,
incoming students, click here. Current students should click here for information about the room sign-up process.
Directions to the Center
The LGBT Resource Center is located in suite 124 Memorial Hall. Memorial Hall can be a very confusing building to find offices, so here are some simple directions to find your way to the Center:
From Tate Student Center:
Cross the street, walking toward the stadium. Enter Memorial Hall at the top of the steps. When you enter the building, go a few steps up into the first floor. Walk forward past the Office of Judicial Programs on your left. After you pass through a set of open double doors, take a right. The Center is at the end of this hall.
From Journalism Building:
Enter Memorial Hall on the lower level, next to the bronze bulldog. Enter through the sliding door on the far right. Walk ahead through two doors. The Center is at the end of this hall.
Wheelchair access is on the North side of the building, so follow the directions below titled "From Journalism Building."
Campus and Community Resources
Here are several great resources on and off campus that can help you connect to the community:
CAMPUS
Department of Intercultural Affairs
Department of Campus Life
University Health Center & CAPS
COMMUNITY
Friends and Family Guide to Athens
Just Equal
OUTreach Athens
Our Hope Metropolitan Community Church
Southern Voice
