Coming Out Coming out refers to the acknowledgement of one’s sexual orientation or gender identity to oneself or to another person. This is a lifelong journey. There are many support resources for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or questioning students at UGA. Counseling and Psychiatric Services in the University Health Center provides one-on-one and group support groups for LGBT students. Call (706) 542-2273 for more information. There are also many resources online. The Human Rights Campaign provides several booklets on coming out that you can download. They are:  Coming Out Guide for African Americans  Coming Out Guide  Salir en Closet   Coming Out as Transgender UGA National Coming Out Day 2006 Audio Slideshow by Tom O'Connor. Click here to see and hear the stories: NCOD 2006

Transgender Resources

Housing | Health & Wellness | Official Name Changes | Gender Neutral Restrooms | Trans Links

Housing

The Director of 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 Director of the LGBT Resource Center 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.

Health & Wellness

The University of Georgia Health Center advances the health of students, spouses and domestic partners by providing: primary health care, prevention focused services, and learning experiences which develop health knowledge and skills. As it is committed to meeting the needs of the University’s transgender community, there are services that students should be aware of at the Health Center. 

Clinicians 

The Health Center supports students in the coordination of their total health care needs. Clinicians are available to provide resources for on-campus and off-campus care including medical care, counseling and psychotherapy, hormonal therapy, health education, and other local specialists. You can make an appointment online with your Primary Care Provider (PCP) at Medical Services or by calling 706-542-1162 or 706-542-8666. 

wHormonal Therapy 

The Health Center can administer prescribed hormones in several ways. Clinicians can administer hormonal therapies ordered through the Health Center’s pharmacy or brought by students from their coordinating physician/pharmacy.  

wGynecological Exams 

Gynecological exams are an important part of your total health care. To ensure a safe and comfortable exam, the Health Center offers these exams both in the Women’s Clinic and in other Primary Care Clinics as needed. Individuals who identify as FTM who prefer not to be seen in the Women’s Clinic may set up an appointment for the exam in a different clinic after consultation with their own PCP.  

Counseling 

Counseling and Psychiatric Services in the University Health Center provides short-term counseling and psychiatric services for students.  Students and their eligible partners can set up an appointment through the following steps. First, you must call 706-542-2273 to for a telephone screening. A therapist will conduct the screening and find the best resources for you. If CAPS services are appropriate, scheduling ongoing counseling will be based on consideration of your needs, current demand for services, and counselor availability. CAPS works with agencies and therapists on campus or in the community and may provide you with a list of referral resources based on your needs.   

Crisis services are also available for emergencies. During regular hours, you may contact CAPS at 706-542-2273 and speak with the walk-in clinician or come to CAPS for a walk-in appointment.  For after-hours emergencies, the emergency on-call clinician may be reached by calling the UGA Police at 706-542-2200.

Services are confidential and are offered at a reduced cost for students who have paid the student health fee. There is no additional charge for the telephone screening, initial consultation, or walk-in appointment. There are costs associated with additional individual counseling, psychiatric services, and for other services such as group counseling and psychological testing.  A limited amount of grant money is available to access fees for counseling and psychiatric services through a fund established by the Parents & Families Association.  

Follow this link to learn more about services offered at Counseling and Psychiatric Services.  
 

wHealth Education 

The Health Promotion Department provides a wide range of resources from education on nutrition and sexual health to anonymous HIV counseling and testing. For one-on-one educational counseling with the Sexual Health Coordinator, contact Katy Janousek at 706-542-8690. To schedule a rapid (less than one hour) anonymous HIV test call 706-542-8690. Follow this link to learn more about services offered by The Health Promotion Department.

Official Name Changes

The Office of the Registrar works with students to make official name changes  
and sex designation changes for students.   

Contact the Registrar, Rebecca Macon at 706.542.6902  
to set up a time to discuss your individual needs

Gender Neutral Restrooms

The LGBT Resource Center is currently working on a map of all the gender neutral and single stall restrooms on campus. Once this process is complete, the map and additional information will be made available on this website. To find a gender neutral restroom on campus or in the Athens community, visit www.safe2pee.org.

If you are visiting the LGBT Resource Center, there are two gender neutral/single stall restrooms located on the second floor of Memorial Hall.

Why have a gender neutral bathroom?  
Bathrooms are places of heightened gender policing. Anyone who is not obviously feminine is suspect in the women's room; anyone who is not obviously masculine is suspect in the men's room. Few other public spaces are as gendered as restrooms. The replacement of gendered bathrooms with gender-neutral bathrooms would curb most bathroom violence against gender variant people because few bathroom users would ever question the “correctness” of another's gender. Gender neutral bathrooms would also end the inequity of women's rooms – both that there are typically longer lines, and that there are often fewer women's rooms in some universities and other places that have historically and architecturally been for men only. Furthermore, caregivers of children and disabled adults would encounter fewer issues of having to use the “wrong” bathroom to accompany either their children, parent, spouse, partner, etc., who needs assistance in the restroom.

Isn't it unsafe to have men and women using the same bathroom? 
It is no more unsafe to have men and women in the same bathroom than it is for gender non-conforming people to be faced with the either/or dichotomy of gendered spaces. While people often believe that sex-segregated spaces create an atmosphere of safety, a female sign on the bathroom door does not guarantee safety from an attacker. In fact, a space that is gender neutral may be a less appealing area for a would-be attacker to frequent.

Aren't bathrooms insignificant? 
On the contrary, public bathrooms are symbolic of many struggles for equality and fairness. There was a time that only wealthy people could afford bathrooms in their homes and poor people were forced to use insufficient, non-hygienic public toilets. For far too long, public bathrooms here in the United States were segregated between “white” and “colored” facilities. Women working in the construction trades struggled in the 1970's to create women's bathrooms on job sites where before there had been only men's rooms. After decades of struggle, people with disabilities succeeded in passing the Americans with Disabilities Act in the 1980s, part of which included guidelines for the creation of accessible public bathrooms. Despite the evolution of public bathroom facilities, they still remain unsafe and unwelcoming spaces for some. Please join us in our effort to destroy this barrier and make our UGA campus an affirming and progressive place. 
 
The above information is adapted from Gender Neutral Bathroom Project, Standing Committee for LGBT Awareness of the American College Personnel Association.

Trans Links

Transgender Law and Policy Institute

The Gender Advocacy Website

Human Rights Campaign

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

Intersex Society of North American

 

UGA Policies

***Important News***

Effective July 1, 2006

The University of Georgia offers "soft benefits" to domestic partners of students, faculty and staff. To find information on the list of benefits and how to access them, go to the Human Resources website.

The University now includes sexual orientation in its nondiscrimination policy. To review the policy, go to the Office of Legal Affairs website.

 

Campus Resources

Lambda Alliance
Lambda Alliance was established in 1992 as the Athens Gay and Lesbian Association to meet the needs of the LGBT community. It is now an officially recognized student organization at UGA. Lambda Alliance's mission is to strengthen the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and ally (LGBTQA) community at the University of Georgia. Lambda meets every Monday at 5:30 p.m. in the LGBT Resource Center in 221 Memorial Hall. 

QUEER GRADUATE GROUP

The Queer Graduate Group (QGG) is a new group on campus that meets in the Athens community several times per month.  The group welcomes current UGA graduate students and their supporters (from any college and of any age) who would enjoy hanging out with others like them and discussing issues relevant to the queer community. 

If you have been looking for a fun way to meet other queer (sexuality and gender diverse) graduate students that doesn't require a large time commitment, please contact Tod Edgerton or call the LGBT Resource Center with questions at 706.542.4077.

Listserv 
Join QGG's listerv and receive the most up-to-date information on events, activities, research and more. To sign up for a listserv, go to the UGA listserv homepage. The listserv  
name for the Queer Graduate Group is "QGG."

Facebook 
QGG now has a Facebook group. Log on and search for Queer Graduate Group at the University of Georgia. Join and get updates and invitations to events.

UGA OUTLaws
The UGA OUTLaws organization is a forum for the discussion of legal issues affecting the gay and lesbian community.  The Network hosts periodic meetings, guest speakers, and social events.  Membership and activities are open to all University of Georgia (UGA) School of Law students, faculty, staff and other supporters. 

Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual Employees and Supporters (GLOBES)
GLOBES is the university’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and ally organization for faculty and staff. It provides support and education to UGA’s LGBT community through advocacy, education and special events.

Institute for Women’s Studies
The University of Georgia Institute for Women’s Studies provides a feminist interdisciplinary perspective on women and gender. Administratively a program in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, Women’s Studies cooperates with departments of all schools and colleges of the University in developing its curriculum and programming.

The Institutes programming includes the annual Andrea Carson Coley Lecture endowed by a donation by Andrew and Kathy Coley in memory of their daughter Andrea Carson Coley (1972-1993), who was a certificate candidate in Women's Studies. Each spring, our Andrea Carson Coley Lecture brings to campus scholars doing cutting-edge research in the area of lesbian and gay studies.

Department of Intercultural Affairs

Intercultural Affairs (IA) is characterized by its student centered support of academic excellence, advocacy, and intercultural education.  Working from a foundation where everyone is intercultural, the department supports the institutional mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students and members of the surrounding community.  IA will develop a culturally rich campus that prepares students to be global citizens through critical thinking, educational initiatives, student advisement, and leadership development. The Department of Intercultural Affairs includes the African American Cultural Center, International Student Life, LGBT Resource Center and Multicultural Services and Programs.

 

Local Resources

Friends and Family Guide to Athens
The Friends and Family Guide to Athens is a resource provided by UGA's LGBT faculty and staff organization, GLOBES. This guide provides valuable information on local groups, organizations, businesses, and professionals that support our community.

Athens/Clarke County Unified Government
The Athens/Clarke County Commission voted in 2006 to include sexual orientation and gender identity & expression in its nondicrimination policy. In addition, the Commission voted to offer domestic partner benefits for all county employees. They also offer a domestic partner registry for Athens/Clarke County residents and employees.

Our Hope Metropolitan Community Church
Our Hope Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) is a commissioned church of Metropolitan Community Church. Like all MCC churches around the world, Our Hope plays a vital role in addressing the spiritual needs of all people, but especially the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and "straight-but-not-narrow" community.

AIDS Athens
AIDS Athens was founded by a group of Athens residents who attended a forum on AIDS at the University of Georgia in February 1987. The group initiated AIDS Athens later that year, and received nonprofit 501c (3) status two years later. In October 1995, members of AIDS Athens approved changes in the structure of the organization and renamed it the AIDS Coalition of Northeast Georgia, as the organization grew to serve clients living in 10 Northeast Georgia counties. In August 2004, the AIDS Coalition was renamed AIDS Athens to emphasize the reaffirmation of its mission to serve all local people infected or affected by HIV/AIDS.

Boybutante AIDS Foundation
The Boybutante AIDS Foundation Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, registered in the state of Georgia and based in Athens dedicated to raising money for AIDS support services. Since its birth in 1989, the Boybutante Ball--along with its sponsors and the people who attend its events--have raised more than $300,000 for AIDS services organizations. With tremendous community support, the Boybutante Ball is now preceded by a week of special events at various venues in downtown Athens, and followed by a delicious Brunch. The Boybutante AIDS Foundation also raises money throughout the year by hosting Boybutante Bingo - Christmas in July, a Back to School Party, our annual Boo-Butante Halloween Party, and other special events. We also proudly sponsor fundraising events of other organizations involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Athens Pride
Athens Pride is a newly formed committee of LGBT organizations from the Athens area. It organizes the annual Athens Pride events each spring including recreational activities and award celebrations.

Southern Voice
Southern Voice is an LGBT newspaper based out of Atlanta. It provides local and national news coverage, editorials, guides to theatre, dining, nightlife and local arts and entertainment. You can pick up a copy of Southern Voice in the LGBT Resource Center in 124 Memorial Hall or at the newspaper bin outside Memorial Hall by the bronze bulldog.

Atlanta Executive Network
The Atlanta Executive Network is one of the largest LGBT professional networking organizations in the country. AEN's mission is to encourage and educate its members and the Atlanta business community, by promoting business contacts and friendships; to advocate equality for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgenders; and to champion diversity.

Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1995 to lead the way in development, advocacy and growth for the GLBT community and its allies. It accomplishes this through networking, education and personal development for both businesses and working professionals.

Georgia Equality
Founded in 1995, Georgia Equality has earned a reputation throughout the state and nation as one of the most effective statewide political advocacy organizations for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community. It accomplishes this by educating the public, elected officials and policymakers; building coalitions and mobilizing allies; increasing the political participation of the LGBT and allied communities; organizing and empowering the LGBT community in urban, suburban and rural communities across Georgia.

National Resources

Campus Pride Net
Campus PrideNet is a national online community and resource network committed to student leaders and campus organizations who work to create a safer campus environment free of homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, heterosexism and genderism at colleges and universities. 

Lambda10 Project
The Lambda10 Project - National Clearinghouse for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Fraternity & Sorority Issues works to heighten the visibility of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender members of the college fraternity by serving as a clearinghouse for educational resources and educational materials related to sexual orientation and gender identity/expression as it pertains to the fraternity/sorority experience.

The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is a nonprofit endeavor established to promote acceptance of gay and questioning teenagers, and to aid in suicide prevention among that group. The Trevor Helpline is the only national toll-free, 24-hour, 365 day-a-year confidential suicide hotline for gay and questioning teens.

Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
The Human Rights Campaign, the largest national gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender advocacy organization, envisions an America where GLBT people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. HRC has close to 600,000 members - all committed to making this vision of equality a reality.

Transgender Law and Policy Institute
The Transgender Law and Policy Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to engaging in effective advocacy for transgender people in our society. The TLPI brings experts and advocates together to work on law and policy initiatives designed to advance transgender equality. On this site you can find a host of resources including hate crimes laws, current legislation, and college/school policies.

National Center for Transgender Equality
The National Center for Transgender Equality is a national social justice organization devoted to ending discrimination and violence against transgender people through education and advocacy on national issues of importance to transgender people. By empowering transgender people and allies to educate and influence policymakers and others, NCTE facilitates a strong and clear voice for transgender equality in our nation's capital and around the country.

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Founded in 1973, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Foundation was the first national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights and advocacy organization and remains the movement's leading voice for freedom, justice, and equality. It works to build the grassroots political strength of the LGBT community by training state and local activists and leaders, working to strengthen the infrastructure of state and local allies, and organizing broad-based campaigns to build public support for complete equality for LGBT people.

Lambda Legal
Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.

Advocate.com: A Vital Resource for Gay Opinion Leaders
Visit Advocate.com for daily headlines, breaking news, online exclusives, entertainment coverage, celebrity interviews, and extensive LGBT resources and events.