You’re here, you’re queer, now what? Fear not, because Temple’s cornucopia of activities and resources are here to help you slay all day. For instance, not only is there a wealth of resources to support queer students’ inclusion and promote their physical and mental health, there’s also tons of opportunities to find your queer community in a student org like an a cappella group or a live talk show.  

The past few years have seen an alarming influx of anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation across the country, but Temple’s campuses remain safe havens for queer Owls, including students, faculty, staff and community members that identify as LGBTQIA+. 

Below you’ll find a list of resources, activities and opportunities to engage and grow with your queer Temple community. If you’re not seeing anything that speaks to you, you can always create your own organization to register with us. 

1. Find your people by joining an LGBTQIA+ organization. 

Looking to meet new peeps while also advocating for the LGBTQIA+ community on campus? Temple has plenty of student orgs to help you get involved and support enhanced inclusivity of gender and sexuality on campus. Here are a few to check out. 

• Queer Student Union is the oldest registered queer student organization on campus and is dedicated to creating a safe environment for all LGBTQIA+ students. 

• Students for Trans Awareness and Rights discusses issues involving trans identity and rights and provides a safe and welcoming environment for trans-identifying students. 

• Pitch, Please A Cappella spreads positivity through music by performing works by LGTBQIA+ affiliated artists.  

• Queer Temple is the first LGBTQIA+-focused series featured on TUTV, Temple’s in-house television station. 

2. Ever heard of the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, Advocacy and Leadership (IDEAL)? 

If IDEAL had a middle name, it would be inclusive. And the folks at this office work day in and day out to make inclusivity a reality on campus. If you need help getting your name changed on Temple’s records, want to participate in safe zone training or even if you just need a comfortable space to host an event (or just be), this is the place. 

3. Up your wellness game at the Wellness Resource Center. 

The Wellness Resource Center is Temple’s health promotion office within the Health and Well-being Division. They’re all about inclusive programming and services around sexual health, mental well-being, interpersonal violence prevention, and alcohol and drug prevention. And they often partner with IDEAL on LGBTQIA+ programming, such as #queerloveis, an event that’s part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. 

4. Learn queer history with a minor in LGBT studies, or just take a class. 

Within the gender, sexuality and women’s studies program (hey, take a class there, too!) live the LGBT studies courses. Get credit for LGBTQIA+ fieldwork, dive into the attitudes and practices around human sexuality in the world’s major religions, or study other specific cultural topics. 

5. Keep it profesh with the Career Center. 

The Career Center offers a variety of services and advice for students and alumni making waves in the working world, especially those who identify as LGBTQIA+. They offer everything from helping with the job search to identifying networking opportunities to navigating hairy issues related to being out in the workplace. 

- Lindsay Hargrave