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GSC Art Gallery

Safe Zone Trainings: Creating a
More Inclusive Campus Climate for All

Support can come in many ways.

Whether you're a student that just needs to talk or a faculty member that has a question... the GSC is here to help. We emphasize confidentiality and all the GSC staff members have a wide range of knowledge and expertise to help brainstorm and problem solve. We will not disclose anything to anyone else unless there is threat to harm of self and others.

Anyone can make an individual appointment with any of the GSC staff members. You can contact them directly by e-mail or phone. If you don't have a preference, you can contact the main office at lgbtqa@uic.edu or
(312) 413-8619. We do have one staff member that is fluent in Spanish if that is a need.

Queer and Undocumented Students

In this recent Undocumented Student Movement, there have been a lot of student organizers who are undocumented and LGBTQA identified. They have publically shared their stories of "coming out" of the closet as being gay and undocumented. Here is the UIC resource web page for undocumented students.

Here at the Gender and Sexuality Center the staff is always trying to stay up to date on how we can be better allies to those undocumented students and their families. We continue our own professional development by attending seminars, workshops, or webinars on undocument students and some specific issues and challenges. Coordinator Moises Villada is bilingual in Spanish and has been our Univesity representative to increasing the resources and access for students who are undocumented.

Mental Health Counseling

We support holistic and LGBTQ affirming mental health that can then lead to healthy behaviors. We partner often and have a liaison with the UIC Counseling Center. However, we also understand students have limited number of visits with the Counseling Center as well as they might want to see a professional therapist off-campus. Here are a few possibilities:

• Remember, the UIC Counseling Center also offers small group support groups with no visit number limitations. There is also the free and confidential UIC Counseling Center Hotline at 312-996-5535,
  Sunday - Friday 6:00pm - 10:30pm.
• Howard Brown Health Center; To request counseling services at Howard Brown Health Center, please call 773-388-1600. A Patient Services Representative will schedule a short 10-15 minute phone interview that fits your schedule--often on the same day as your inquiry. During the call, a counselor will gather basic information about why you are seeking therapy, and what type of therapist and appointment time would best meet your needs. If we have a therapist that matches your needs, that therapist will contact you to arrange a first appointment. If not, the counselor will recontact you and offer referrals to places/counselors that might be a good match. Victims of domestic violence should call 773-388-8882 for immediate assistance. Discounted fees are available to clients with documented need. Howard Brown is a member of numerous mental health networks, accepting a variety of insurance plans. If we do not have counselors that accept your insurance plan, we will be glad to offer referrals to other therapists in your area that do.(Retrieved from www.howardbrown.org on October 12, 2012).
• Center on Halsted; Center on Halsted’s team of clinicians - staff, graduate students and both volunteer and contractual therapists – helps meet the mental health needs of Chicago's LGBTQ, queer and questioning community members and caring allies – just as we have done for more than 30 years. We offer a number of different mental health services and opportunities for community members including psychotherapy for individuals and couples, group counseling and referrals. If you are interested in our counseling services, please contact us at 773-472-6469, ext. 460 or email mentalhealth@centeronhalsted.org for more information. Se habla español (Retrieved from www.centeronhalsted.org on October 12, 2012).

Transgender, Genderqueer, and Gender Non-Conforming Support

Do you identify under the broad and diverse umbrella of transgender? This includes, but is not limited to, transgender female, transgender male, genderqueer, and gender non-conforming. The GSC can help in a few ways:

• Providing resources and support for a legal name change; connecting you with the Transformative Justice Law Project (TJLP)
• Being an advocate or liaison between you and a peer, instructor or an employer
• Informally discussing personal, professional, and/or academic issues that might stem from transphobia or cisgender privilege
• Connecting you with other transgender identified students
• Transitioning resources
• Providing information for signicifant others, friends, families, and allies (SOFFAs)
• Assisting with living on-campus in a residence hall

Are you enrolled in the UIC CampusCare and looking to get hormones through this service? Here are a few things to know:

• YES!!!!! - hormones and syringes are covered in CampusCare.
• You need to make an appointment with a physician at one of the Family Medical Care Clinics. Then, they will take you through the steps needed to start hormones.
• If you don't find a good "fit" with one of the Family Medical physicians, you still can get an appointment, but ask the doctor for a referral. UIC has specifically contracted with doctors with transgender cultural competancy. YOU MUST get a referral first. Do not see someone outside of the network and expect CampusCare to cover the expense after the fact.
• Dr. Regina Kim is one of the Family Medical physicians and someone who used to work at Howard Brown Health Center. We LOVE Dr. Kim!!! When scheduling an appointment, you can specifically ask for her.
• Link to making an appointment; you can also see a list of physicians on this page: http://www.uic.edu/hsc/campuscare/benefits.html#

New Hires - Faculty and Staff Support

Did you just get hired at UIC and identify as LGBTQ or ally? We'd love to meet and help. While policies are always changing, here are some things to think about as a new hire.

• Since Illinois now has Civil Unions, if you want your partner (same-sex or opposite sex) to have benefits, you'll need to have a Civili Union. Or, if you have a same-sex partner and were married in another state legally, then Illinois does have a reciprocal agreement and will recognize that marriage.
• With other benefits, check with your HR rep to see which insurance plans are the most beneficial to you and your partner.
• Looking to meet other LGBTQA employees? One of the best ways to do this is through coming to GSC programming and/or attending the Chancellor's Committee on the Status of LGBTQ People and Allies' meetings. They are monthly throughout the academic year.

Religious and Spiritual Support

Do you identify as LGBTQ or ally and also have a religious or spiritual affiliation? The GSC partners with UIC's Agape House ministry to organize Sexy Spirit program, where people can talk about what it means to be LGBTQ and religious. This is a safe space andwhile the Agape House is Presbyterian, Rev. Rich Pak can talk broadly as well about the Christian faith. We also have allies at the UIC Levine Hillel Center and often do programming around LGBTQ and Judaism. In the spring of 2012, LGBTQA Jewish students and staff from across Chicago came together to discuss how to better support each other.

If you encounter someone on the UIC campus who religiously attacks you based on your gender identity, gender expression, and/or your sexual orientation, please let the GSC know at lgbtqa@uic.edu or by phone at 312-413-8619.

Gender and Sexuality Center Spaces (181 and 183 BSB)

We also support our LGBTQA communities by having a physical space for people to study, discuss, hold meetings, eat their lunches, use the computers, and watch TV. It is open Monday-Thursday, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and Friday, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

We have a small computer lab and a refrigerator for student, faculty, and staff use.

Program Coordinator Moises Villada supervises this space. He can be reached at moises@uic.edu or at
(312) 413-3036.

Student Organizations

The GSC supports a variety of student organizations by helping them to develop their leadership skills, connecting them with other resources, and providing them logistical help when needed. We highly encourage student organizations to be a registered student organization under the Campus Programs process. We would support other formations of student organizations in order to better help the diverse LGBTQA communities.

Currently there are the following student organizations:

• Gender Umbrella Society; student org supporting and advocating for inclusive spaces and policies for transgender, genderqueer, and gender non-conforming students; allies welcome
• UIC PRIDE; all are welcome; general LGBTQA student org; organizes annual drag show Eat It All and other events throughout the year
• Queers and Allies; medical, nursing, and health-oriented student org; mostly graduate and professional students, but undergrads are welcome; organizes the annual LGBTQ Health Week in March and other professional development programs
• Bisexual Student Org; an emerging group for those who identify as bisexual, queer, fluid, pan/omnisexual and allies; this group is looking for members and leadership; will organize Bi Pride Day in the fall

Polyamory Discussion Group - will meet January 30, February 27, and March 30, from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Please feel free to bring your lunch. Contact Ian Gould at iangould@uic.edu with any questions. we'll be reading passages from "The Ethical Slut" and "Opening Up" in a safe environment.