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• LGBT groups offer listening forums

In the swarm of more than 40,000 students who walk through campus daily, some may find themselves lost among the crowd in terms of his or her identity, including his or her sexual orientation. The LGBT Resource Center recognizes approximately 45 varying groups on campus that support different kinds of people belonging to the LGBT community. These groups exist to help create places for members of the LGBT community to speak about their sexual orientation.

The Coming Out Support Group’s main purpose is to have an informal setting for people who are beginning the process of coming out of the closet.

“[They] don’t have to self-identify ... [it’s for] people who are just dealing with sexual orientation issues,” said facilitator Conor Oswald, graduate student in human resources. Oswald has facilitated the group for almost two years and added that the group is a more informal setting to talk with peers. His favorite part of the group includes witnessing changes within people.

“[I] know there are people that have come to the group that didn’t think they would be able to [come out], especially to their family members ... just seeing the growth of people, seeing them really to accept themselves,” he said.

Though the Coming Out Support Group remains open to both genders, Among Women is a “support group for queer, questioning women on campus,” said co-facilitator Elizabeth Abrams, doctoral student in counseling psychology. According to Abrams, the group discusses issues relating to dating, sex and having multiple identities.

“We talk about issues relating to ... intersections of race and sexual orientation or religions and sexual orientation ... how we make room for both of those identities in our lives,” she said. Abrams also noted how imperative it is to socialize outside of the confidential group setting “to form and broaden social support networks.”

Another group in the LGBT community is Colors of Pride, which, according to President Jovanda Warren, senior in LAS, is primarily a group for queer people of color.

“[The group] offers a safe space ... being a minority in terms of your ethnic background and also in terms of your sexuality,” she said. The group is currently working on gaining membership; at weekly meetings, a discussion topic is picked.

“For me, [you] don’t really [feel like you] belong in the black community [and] don’t feel like you belong in the gay community because you’re black,” Warren said. “Colors of Pride gives you a safe place to be both at the same time. [It’s] not just for black people, not just for queer people of color, [but] for allies ... that’s [what] we really pride ourselves on supplying.”

Not only do students have outreaches in the LGBT community but so do faculty and staff members of the University. The UIUC LGBT Faculty Staff Ally Network offers two trainings, one related to lesbian and bisexual training and another for transgender ally training, Abrams said.

“Often people get the two confused,” she said. “The ‘T’ is ... attached to LGBT, but it’s not given enough attention.” Meetings once a month discuss community issues, including one this month on HIV and AIDS.

Though varying groups may be specific for certain sects within the LGBT community, these four groups and more are forums to discuss issues relating to the LGBT population on campus.