Resources

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The LGBTQ Resource Center strives to connect students, faculty, and staff with the campus and community resources they need. Below are a few of the local groups and services that may be of interest to you:

Campus Resources

The LGBTQ Resource Center strives to connect students, faculty, and staff with the campus resources they need. The center supports academic work by and about LGBTQIA+ people through maintaining strong connections with our academic community. Below are a few of the campus groups and services that may be of interest to you. 

  • Name Changes at SIU: This link provides instructions on both legal and preferred name confirmations for students.
  • OUTlaw helps with the process of name confirmations (aka name changes) and gender marker changes in the state of Illinois, typically in the Southern region. You don’t have to be trans to benefit from our clinic. Email us at outlawtranslegal@gmail.com to get started!

  • The School of Communication Studies is a strong ally of the LGBTQ Resource Center. Doctoral students can specialize in Gender, Sexuality and Communication.
  • Internship/Practicum experience: Whether a student wishes to work at the LGBTQ Resource Center on a project related to campus diversity or find placement in a community organization in the southern Illinois region, the LGBTQ Resource Center offers support, consultation and referrals regarding internships, practica, and service-learning experiences. Interns and Practicum students have been involved in the center almost every semester in recent years! Contact our staff at angela.towne@siu.edu for more information.
  • SIU Wellness Center is available to assist students in making healthy lifestyle choices through confidential consultation, skill building in sexuality education, stress management, nutrition, and alcohol and other drug education.
  • Saluki Rainbow Network (SRN) is one of the oldest continuing LGBTQIA+ student organizations in the country. Founded in 1971 the group meets bi-weekly in the Student Center to provide activities, resources and support to undergraduate students and all who attend. Their office is located on the 3rd floor of the Student Center by the Undergraduate Student Government office.
  • SIU Counseling Center (for students) located in the Student Health Center, second floor – telephone number 618-453-5371. A staff of professional psychologists and counselors are available to students by appointment to address personal issues and concerns.
  • Saluki Cares is an early alert system coordinating student care, intervention, and referral.  Fill out the form at their website or call (618) 453-5714 to notify Saluki Cares of a concern about yourself or somebody else.
  • The Campus Pride LLC is a Living Learning Community designed to provide a welcoming and inclusive space for students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and/or queer.

Community Connections

The LGBTQ Resource Center also strives to connect students, faculty, and staff with community resources they need. Below are a few of the local groups and services that may be of interest to you: 

  • A new food pantry in Carbondale is open Monday, 2pm - 5pm and Wednesday, 1pm - 5pm. It’s located at 816 South Illinois Ave., right next to Quigley, across the street from UniversiTEEs. For more information, send an email to umwesley@siu.edu or call 618-457-8165.
  • Rainbow Cafe LGBTQ Center is a safe space and social/support group for high school age gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth and their friends in Southern Illinois. Check out their website for programming and community meetings.
  • Isn’t it Queer? is a weekly radio show on WDBX 91.1 FM that focuses on GLBT issues and events in Carbondale and around the world. It airs on Wednesday mornings at 9am.
  • The Clinical Center provides a range of psychological, educational, rehabilitation and health care services to the southern Illinois community and offers a sliding fee scale.

Several additional campus and community resources are available. Please contact the LGBTQ Resource Center for referrals at 618-453-5627.

Terminology and Definitions

LGBTQ terminology and definitions are fluid and ever changing, and we are eager to help people learn more and understand the power of language to discipline, empower, and educate their communities. There are many great resources available. Here are a few:

Consider this Etiquette Guide for terminology and definitions--a great resource from MBLGTACC's 2014 conference in Kansas City. 

PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) offers many resources, including a terminology and definitions page.

The National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association offers this Stylebook full of terminology and definitions.

Why is using one's correct pronouns important? Handout used with Rainbow Cafe's permission.