There are more than 10 LGBTQ student and ally groups on campus, including one fraternity and one ?sorority.
“There are so many groups on campus because women’s and men’s issues are different,” Doug Bauder, director of GLBT Student Support Services office, said. “Issues of gender identity and sexual orientation are different. I think groups have different needs. While there are reasons to do things together, there’s also a need for people to be in more intimate settings to talk about their own unique issues.”
The following is a list of some of the groups on IU’s campus.
BiCom Bloomington
Who: Bisexual, pan, curious and queer members of the Bloomington community.
Group founder and leader Vanessa Cantrell explained that people who identify as queer are individuals who can’t describe their sexuality in just one word; it would require a conversation for them to explain their sexuality.
When/Where: The support group meets on the second Monday of every month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at La Casa.
Why: Cantrell explained that because individuals who define themselves as queer or bisexual don’t fit completely into either the straight or gay communities, this can lead to a sort of “bi-phobia” which can be a very isolating experience.
“We want to provide a safe place for people to talk about their feelings and questions, and we also want to educate people on what being bi is all about,” Cantrell said. “We partner a lot with other GLBT groups on campus and try to inform them that we make up a huge and very valuable part of the gay community in Bloomington.”
Men Like Us
Who: Men ages 18 to 25 who identify as gay, bisexual, queer or allies. There are a dozen members on the mailing list, but less are typically present at the gatherings.
What: Group members participate in open discussions and social outings like bowling and pool.
“Apart from being a great social group, members seem to have a good time, and it has been referred to by members as their ‘self-care,’” said Saurabh Bhatia, the group’s co-leader. “My favorite part is meeting new people, getting to know the students in the group, gaining new perspectives and sharing mine.”
Bhatia is personally straight but an ally.
Connections
Who: Queer, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, asexual and transgender women.
What: A peer-facilitated social support network where women can have conversations and express themselves in a supportive environment.
Gender Warriors
Who: Trans-identified and gender nonconforming students.
Why: Transgender individuals face a different set of issues than other members of the gay community.
This support group enables these individuals to discuss their personal experiences while having fun with people who share similar experiences.
Gay Straight Alliance
Who: This is likely the broadest LGBTQ group on campus, welcoming people from all parts of the spectrum.
Bauder guessed it is the largest of the groups due to the increasing participation of straight allies.
What: Along with being a support group, the members take part in philanthropic initiatives and outreach on gay rights issues.
Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority
Who: Anyone who is female or identifies as female.
Why: “We are advocates for not only acknowledging but accepting diversity,” Stephanie Adjei, the sorority’s president, said.
She explained the group’s goal was to first recognize that every woman has faced some sort of adversity and then support those women and encourage them to use their negative experiences as driving forces in creating a more accepting, multicultural society.
Other groups on campus include: Keshet, an organization for LGBTQ Jewish-identified students; Outlaw, a Maurer School of Law group working to fight sexuality-based discrimination; Out at Kelley, the Kelley School of Business LGBTQ group; Sigma Phi Beta, a male GBTQ fraternity and the Men of Illumenate, the group of gay/bi men that puts on the annual Miss Gay IU pageant.
“Because of social networking, people sort of do their own thing and organized groups are smaller and more specialized,” Bauder said. “It’s a celebration of the intersection of identities and the need to find safe ways to talk about that.”
