Learning & Getting Support
LGBTQ+ issues can feel complex and overwhelming sometimes, whether you're struggling with something in your own life or trying to understand and support someone else. Thankfully, there are lots of resources to help!
LGBTQ+ issues can feel complex and overwhelming sometimes, whether you're struggling with something in your own life or trying to understand and support someone else. Thankfully, there are lots of resources to help!
Looking for our Training or Educational Resources? Visit our training hub!
Changing Your Preferred/Primary Name at IU
Visit Student Central to learn about how IU uses your preferred name vs. your primary name, and how you can change them in IU's system.
Job search resources
The Career Development Center has collected resources about being LGBTQ+ in the workplace, including navigating difficult conversations, dress codes, and the hiring process.
antiracist.iu.edu
Learn about how IU is working to create equitable, diverse, and inclusive learning environments for all.
Student Advocates
If you’re facing an issue that is affecting your ability to succeed at Indiana University Bloomington, you can get help from one of IU's Student Advocates, retired IU faculty and staff members who volunteer their time and expertise to help students facing academic and personal challenges.
The People's Cooperative Market
The People's Cooperative Market strives to build equity, create relationships, cultivate liberation, and ensure access to local food, art, and education. The People's Market CSA is an excellent way to get delicious locally grown and produced food while supporting local farmers and vendors. For those in our community experiencing food insecurity, People's Market CSA offers free produce, eggs, bread, and meat. Anyone can request sponsored food on the website. Check out their website and their facebook page, and request sponsored food here.
Planned Parenthood – Bloomington Health Center
Provides a variety of health services ranging from reproductive health checks, abortion, general health checks, HIV testing, and more. Now offering gender-affirming hormone care. Accepts most insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare plans.
PFLAG Bloomington Chapter
PFLAG is a national organization that supports LGBTQ+ folks as well as their families, friends, and allies.
Bloomington PRIDE
Organizes programming for the arts, youth groups, education, and more all centered around the support and advocacy of Bloomington’s and South Central Indiana’s LGBTQ+ communities. See below for more info on all of Bloomington PRIDE’s amazing programming. (PS: If you want to volunteer for our center but we do not have positions, check out Bloomington PRIDE for more options!)
Rainbow Elders
The Rainbow Elders (formerly LGBT Aging & Caring Network) is a Bloomington PRIDE program targeted toward aging populations and the issues that affect them. The group provides support, plans social activities, and creates educational opportunities for the community at-large.
Kaleidoscope Youth Community (formerly Prism Youth Group)
An all-inclusive social group for anyone age 12 to 20
Trans & Allies Support Community
A support group for trans and nonbinary folks in Central Indiana
Bloomington PRIDE Film Festival
An annual winter film festival celebrating LGBTQ+ stories told through films and documentaries.
Bloomington PRIDE Pridefest
An annual summer street festival celebrating all things LGBTQ+ with live entertainment, vendors, kid-friendly activities, food trucks, and more (an all ages event).
Quarryland Men’s Chorus
A musical performance, advocacy, and community group for gay, bisexual, and trans men (and their allies).
Black Lives Matter - Bloomington
The Bloomington chapter of the #BlackLivesMatter activist group fighting against violence and systematic racism against the black community.
Spencer Pride
A volunteer-run community organization that provides LGBTQ+ focused programing for the Spencer, Indiana community (about a 30 minute drive from Bloomington) as well as the larger Southern Indiana community. Their programming includes an annual summer pride festival, a community center, and a youth group.
Visit Bloomington - LGBTQ Travel
A travel guide for LGBTQ+ folx visiting Bloomington, Indiana.
The Back Door
Bloomington’s premiere queer bar and club (21+ only).
First United Church
A United Church of Christ and American Baptist Churches member, First United Church is an LGBTQ-affirming place of worship in Bloomington, Indiana.
Lambda Legal - Indiana
A national legal organization with state chapters that advocates for LGBTQ+ civil rights and also provides free legal services for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Pride of Indy
A LGBTQ+ and Ally musical group based in Indianapolis, Indiana with multiple ensembles for all interests and experience levels, including a concert band, a pep/marching band, a jazz band, and a visual ensemble.
The Trevor Project - (866) 488-7386
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people.
LGBTQ National Help Center - (888) 843-4564
They provide peer-support, community connections and resourceful information to those with questions about sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
Trans Lifeline - (877) 565-8860
Trans Lifeline is dedicated to the well-being of transgender people. It is a hotline staffed by transgender people for transgender people.
Financial and Social Resources for Homeless LGBTQ+ Youth
LGBTQ+ youths are 120% more likely to become homeless than their cisgender or heterosexual peers, often because they have been forced to leave home or run away due to abuse and family conflict. Fortunately, many organizations throughout the country can provide support if you have nowhere to live or are worried about becoming homeless. In this guide from MoneyGeek, you’ll find state and national helplines, shelters and other organizations that can help, along with tips for how to avoid homelessness. If you are among the LGBTQ+ homeless youth in America, these resources can help you find support and a safe home.
Sunshine Behavioral Health - Transgender Addiction Recovery Resources
Sunshine Behavioral Health has developed a guide on Substance Abuse and Mental Health specifically intended to address the unique issues facing the transgender community.
AddictionResource.net - 9 Best LGBT-Friendly Drug Rehab Centers In The U.S.
For individuals who have specific needs for addiction treatment, particularly when it comes to LGBT+ individuals, finding a rehab program which matches these needs can greatly affect recovery outcomes. The LGBT-friendly and gay-friendly rehab centers in this list were chosen based on variation in treatments offered, excellence of rehab programs, facility accreditation, and positive reviews from program participants.
External Resources & Scholarships for LGBTQIA+ Students
STEPS (Student Training & Education in Public Service) aims to promote diversity and equal opportunity education, with the belief that everyone should have the same chance to go to and thrive in college, regardless of their background or financial means. Their regularly-updated scholarships and resources page for LGBTQIA+ students showcases scholarship opportunities for members of the LGBTQIA+ community, along with a set of valuable resources, advocacy groups and professional networks to further help throughout their college and career journey.
MyPronouns.org
MyPronouns.org offers a comprehensive guide to what personal pronouns are, how to use them, and why they matter. It's an excellent resource for LGBTQ+ community members and allies alike!
QueerCafe.net
Queer Cafe offers information, news, commentary, articles, stories, and educational resources relevant to the needs and concerns of LGBTQ people. The Queer Cafe is an active site with current content that is up-to-date, accurate, and research-based.
Transgender Birth Certificates: Laws by State
As attitudes to gender fluidity change over time, so too do the rules for representing a change of gender on your vital records. Check out this guide for information on changing the gender on your birth certificate, according to your state.
Conversation Starters for STI Testing
Not sure how to open a conversation about STIs and testing with a partner? Check out this resource from the US Department of Health & Human Services.
LGBTQ+ Holidays
Our very own Brooklynn Hall compiled this beautiful graphic illustrating the many noteworthy dates and holidays the LGBTQ+ community has to celebrate!
OutRight Action International
OutRight Action International fights for LGBTIQ rights, working at the international, regional and national levels to research, document, defend, and advance human rights for LGBTIQ people around the world. Staffed in six countries across four continents, OutRight has a permanent presence at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, holding special consultative status there, which allows them to bring to light the concerns of LGBTIQ people globally.
ILGA World
ILGA World – the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association – is a worldwide federation of more than 1,600 organisations from over 150 countries and territories campaigning for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex human rights. Their goal is to help form a world where the human rights of all are respected and where everyone can live in equality and freedom; a world where global justice and equity are assured and established regardless of people’s sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions and sex characteristics (SOGIESC).
GATE - Trans, Gender Diverse and Intersex Advocacy in Action
GATE is an international advocacy organization working towards justice and equality for trans, gender diverse and intersex communities. They work collaboratively with strategic partners at the global level to provide knowledge, resources and access to UN mechanisms and bodies. GATE envisions a world free from human rights violations based on gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics, transforming the landscape of global advocacy, knowledge creation and resource distribution through critical inclusion of trans, gender diverse and intersex movements at all levels of political, legal and socio-economic processes.
Bi Social Network
The BSN project works with underserved diverse communities on mental health, poverty, homelessness, marginalized groups, and the elderly in the bi+ community.
Title | Type | Audience | Creator | Summary | CC access? | Disclaimers |
Things Not to Say to Gay People | Comedy/ Experiences | Allies | BBC Three | Video from the BBC of gay/queer people discussing the questions/ comments about their identities that they hate hearing | yes | None |
Binding for Beginners | Tutorial Video | Trans & Non-binary | Cal Campos | Explainer video about what binders are, plus detailed information on three different types of binding methods | yes | PSA: This video discusses three types of binding methods, including KT tape. Please note that KT tape sometimes isn't effective for folx with large chests. Also, for some binding can replicate the physical sensations of a panic attack due to the pressure it exerts on the chest/lungs. Please use your own best judgement when chosing whether to bind and how to bind. |
How hormones (HRT) change a trans woman's body | Educational | Trans women/girls | Riley J Dennis | Explainer video about HRT for AMAB trans people from a trans woman | yes | PSA: This video includes a discussion on fertility and notes that HRT for trans women can cause infertility. Please know that our medical knowledge regarding the effect of HRT and fertility for trans women is limited. Also, the link between infertility and HRT is not the same for trans men. Visit this site for more information. |
How Did You Come Out? | Experiences | Gay/Lesbian | As/Is (In the Closet) | Buzzfeed producers discuss their coming out stories | yes | None |
Passing | Trans | One Word | Cut | Educational | Allies | Cut | Trans and NB people discuss their opinions of the term "passing" | yes | None |
What Dating Apps Are Like For Trans And Gender Nonconforming People | Comedy/ Experiences | Allies and Trans/NB | intomore | Trans women and NB folx talking about their dating app experiences | yes | None |
Everyday Makeup Tutorial | Transgender MTF | Tutorial Video | Trans women/girls | Seaine Love | Trans woman doing an everyday beginner makeup look | yes | None |
How Black Guys React To Seeing “No Blacks” On Dating Apps | Experiences | LGBTQ+ community, allies | As/Is | Black gay men talking about their experiences on dating apps and sexual racism | yes | none |
Exploring The Roots Of Chicago’s Queer South Asian Community | NBC Asian America | Educational/ Experiences | LGBTQ+ community, allies, Queer Asian people | NBC News | section of multi-part series on the queer southeast Asian community in Chicago, community organizing, and archives | yes | None |
5 Asexual People Explain What "Asexual" Means To Them | Experiences/ Educational | LGBTQ+ community, allies, ace spectrum | Tinder | 5 asexual people talk about their identies, coming out, and sexuality and romanticism on the ace spectrum, plus advice for ace people | yes | None |
The 4 Types of Polyamory | Educational | Anyone, polyamory | J Koyanagi | explainer on four different types of polyamory | yes | None |
Queer Disabled Podcaster Talks About Sex and Intimacy | Educational/ Experiences | Anyone, disabled and queer | them | interview with a queer disabled self-described "crip" content creator about sex, disability, and humor | yes | None |
period advice for trans guys | Advice | Trans guys, NB | Ashton Daniel | video from trans guy about how to deal with periods | yes | None |
Bisexual TikToks to feel valid outside of #pridemonth | Humor/Validation | Bisexual people | FavoriteFandom Edits | compliation of tiktoks with bisexual experiences/humor | no (but mostly text-based) | None |
Asexual Denial and Bisexual Erasure | Advice/ Experience | Bisexual and asexual people | Evan Edinger | conversation between a gay man, a demisexual man, and a bisexual/pansexual woman about identity building, asexual denial/ internalized asexual phobia, and bisexual erasure within the lgbtq community | yes | None |
HI I'M INTERSEX #firstvlog | Experience | intersex people | Pidgeon | vlog from Pidgeon Pagonis regarding their intersex diagnosis, surgerical treatment, and related experiences; part one of a 4 part vlog | yes | None |