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True Selves: A Gender Spectrum Group
LGBTQ
Students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning seek mental health services for a variety of reasons.
- Students who are questioning may wish to gain clarity about their sexual orientation or gender identity by talking to a counselor about their feelings, concerns, values, or beliefs.
- Students who were out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender to their friends or classmates in high school may face new coming out concerns as they make decisions about disclosing their identity to a new set of classmates, roommates, and professors in college.
- Other students may be newly coming out or may be considering coming out to their families for the first time. Counselors can help students develop healthy attitudes toward themselves as LGBTQ individuals, to prepare for coming out to others, and to provide support during the process of coming out.
- Transgender students may seek counseling to cope with issues around gender transition, to explore or clarify their gender identity, or to cope with gender-related bias.
- LGBTQ students may seek counseling to cope more effectively with discrimination in the social environment and the negative internal feelings that can result (i.e., internalized homophobia, biphobia, or transphobia).
- LGBTQ students also seek counseling for concerns that are unrelated to their sexual orientation or gender identity. LGBTQ students may seek counseling to address family of origin issues, romantic relationship concerns, depression, anxiety, trauma, substance abuse, eating disorders, and other mental health concerns.
At CCS are committed to improving the experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) students through support, education, and advocacy.
L stands for Lesbian--women whose primary emotional and physical attractions and attachments are to other women.
G stands for Gay Men--men whose primary emotional and physical attractions and attachments are to other men.
B stands for Bisexual--men or women whose primary emotional and physical attractions and attachments are to both women and men.
T stands for Transgender--a broad term that encompasses cross-dressers, intersex people, transsexuals, and people who live substantial portions of their lives as other than their birth gender. A transgender person manifests a sense of self, the physical characteristics and/or personal expression commonly associated with a sex other than the one he or she was assigned at birth. A transitioning transgender person is one who is modifying her or his physical characteristics and manner of expression to--in effect--satisfy the standards for membership in another gender. (Human Rights Campaign)
Q stands for Questioning--someone who is questioning their sexual or gender orientation.
Thinking about coming out?
If you are gay, lesbian or bisexual, or think you might be, it may be helpful to keep in mind the following suggestions:
- "Coming out" is a life-long process. You have the right to choose when, where and to whom you come out.
- Test the waters. Talk about gay issues first to see the reactions of significant others in your life.
- Don't expect immediate acceptance. Many people will be surprised by your revelation. They may need time to adjust and to re-examine old stereotypes and myths.
- If you are rejected by someone after coming out, don't lose sight of your own self worth. Remember, you are just as valuable and worthy as you were before you told that person.
- Clarify your own feelings about your sexuality before sharing them with others. Remember that coming out may be a difficult process and may require the assistance of a counselor or support group.
CCS runs support groups for gay, bisexual and questioning men. These groups are for men who are oriented towards other men, regardless of identities or labels. Gay, bisexual, queer, or questioning men are welcome. It is designed as a safe place to discuss identity, community, coming out, self-esteem, relationships, homophobia/biphobia and other issues of relevance. Some quarters there is also a group running for lesbian, bisexual and questioning women. Call us at 614.292.5766 or visit our groups page to find out more!
On-Campus Resources
comBIne
An organization for people who are attracted to more than one gender and their allies.
Gay and Lesbian Asian Fellowship (GLAF)
Gay and Lesbian Asian Fellowship (GLAF) is a social group aiming to provide a safe and supportive social environment for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning) Asian Americans and Asian nationals at the Ohio State University and in the Columbus community. We exist because we realize the indispensable need to have a comfortable and supportive social circle to affirm, explore, and live our identity as Asian and queer.
Grad Queers
GradQueers is an organization for graduate and professional students who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, transgender, intersex, questioning, or as an ally. The group's main purposes are to provide a social space for networking and community building among graduate and professional students at Ohio State and to provide education and outreach to the campus community.
Representative: James Marchant, James Carter, Jason Garvey
Email: marchant.10@osu.edu; garvey.24@osu.edu
HRC@OSU
As America's largest gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) organization, the Human Rights Campaign provides a national voice on GLBT issues, in addition to working toward other non-GLBT minority causes. HRC@OSUhelps educate our local community about the HRC message by engaging in extensive events and programming with help from the GLBT and Ally community. We envision a national and local community where gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the OSU community. HRC is a bipartisan organization that works to advance equality based on sexual orientation and gender expression and identity.
Multicultural Center
See what's happening at the Multicultural Center.
oSTEM
oSTEM: Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, aims to provide support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight ally students by educating peers, organizing social events and connecting with professionals in the industry.
SHADES OSU
SHADES: Buckeye Chapter at Ohio State is dedicated to fostering connections between the racially/ethnically multicultural, LGBT student community and our allies. Intended to provide a safe environment and support system where members can speak freely, grow individually and collectively build a more powerful community.
QUEER IN FLUX
Queer in Flux seeks to engage critical discussion and community celebration in the tradition of radical queer liberation. It will highlight the de-radicalization of queer politics by mainstream activist efforts rooted in gender conformity, marginalization of sexual minorities, and the neoliberal economic agenda in order to strengthen and empower our queer community on campus and in our city. Check them out on facebook or email: Queer.In.Flux@gmail.com
Columbus-Area Resources
BRAVO- Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization
BRAVO is your link to survivor advocacy and assistance - regarding hate crimes, discrimination, domestic violence, and sexual assault. BRAVO is a founding member of the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP). Each year, we document incidences of hate crimes and domestic violence along with similar agencies across the United States.
Phone: (614) 294-STOP
Kaleidoscope Youth Center
Kaleidoscope Youth Center is the only safe haven in Central Ohio specifically for LGBTQ youth. Kaleidoscope Youth Center serves LGBTQ youth and their allies (aged 12-20) regardless of status: gender identity and expression, HIV infection, parental custody, educational enrollment, handicap, race and ethnicity, or income.
Phone: (614) 294-KIDS (5437)
Out in Columbus
A GLBT social networking site.
Stonewall Columbus
Stonewall Columbus serves the Central Ohio LGBT community by providing a community center and offering programming and services that enhance the well-being and visibility of our diverse community through discovery, affirmation and celebration.
Address 1: 1160 North High Street
Phone: (614) 299-7764
PFLAG- Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.
Phone: (614) 227-9355
Email: pflagcolumbus@hotmail.com
The Gender Dysphoria Program of Central Ohio
The Gender Dysphoria Program of Central Ohio was established in 1979, following ad hoc efforts to meet the needs of gender variant people in central Ohio and surrounding regions dating to 1975. The GDPCO serves the needs of individuals who wish to transition gender roles with or without hormones, and with or without sexual reassignment surgery (SRS).
Phone: (614) 451-0111
Email: crane@genderprogram.com
Ohio Resources
Equality Ohio
Local and Statewide Activism and Advocacy, Student Leadership Conference, CAUSE Program
50 W. Broad St, LeVeque Tower Ste.1970, Columbus, Ohio 43215
Erin Upchurch, Community & Volunteer Organizer, erin@equalityohio.org
phone: (614) 224-0400
Cincinnati GLBT Center
4119 Hamilton Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45223
www.cincyglbt.com, (513) 591-0200
LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland
6600 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44102
phone: (216) 651-5428
TransFamily (LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland)
phone: (330) 240-1600
Parents Family & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG) - Source for Scholarships
National Resources
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
The mission of the ACLU is to preserve the rights of all Americans.
Amnesty International's OUTfront GLBT Project
Amnesty International believes that LGBT people are entitled to the full range of human rights protections afforded to anyone else.
BiNet USA
BiNet USA is a network of groups, projects and individuals, encouraging dialogue and participation as a way of creating and maintaining a cohesive bisexual community and empowering individuals to feel proud of their bisexuality.
Bisexual Resources Center
An international organization providing education about and support for bisexual and progressive issues.
Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere (COLAGE)
To engage, connect, and empower people to make the world a better place for children of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender parents and families.
Equality Forum
Equality Forum is a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Philadelphia.
Family Pride
Family Pride is the national non-profit organization committed to securing family equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer parents, guardians and allies.
FemmeNoir
A Web Portal for Lesbians Of Color.
GLBTQ
An encyclopedia of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, & queer culture.
Human Rights Campaign
HRC seeks to improve the lives of GLBT Americans by advocating for equal rights and benefits.
International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association
IGLTA is the world's leading travel trade association.
Intersex Society of North America
The Intersex Society of North America (ISNA) is devoted to systemic change to end shame, secrecy, and unwanted genital surgeries.
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.
LesbiaNation
LesbiaNation is the one-stop cyber center for entertainment, information and interaction geared toward lesbians of all nations.
Matthew Shepard Foundation
Our mission is to support diversity programs in education and to help youth organizations establish environments where young people can feel safe and be themselves.
National Center for Lesbian Rights
National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education.
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
The mission of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is to build the grassroots power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community.
National Organization of Women (NOW)
The National Organization for Women (NOW) is the largest organization of feminist activists in the United States.
One National Gay & Lesbian Archives
The ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives houses the world's largest research library on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender heritage and concerns.
Out Proud
The National Coalition for Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual youth.
United Lesbians of African Heritage
Dedicated to the visibility, unity and empowerment of lesbians of African heritage.
The Trevor Project
Offers a 24-hour toll-free confidential crisis and suicide prevention helpline for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. Call 1-866-4-U-TREVOR (1-866-488-7386).