Queers & Allies Outreach: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Concerns


Q & A is the LGBTQ Outreach and Consultation Committee for the Counseling Center.

Our Purpose

Queers and Allies (Q&A for short) aims to connect LGBTQIA+ students with mental
health resources on campus and beyond. We also hope to increase the competency
of the campus community in supporting Queer students by providing information
about mental health needs particular to this population and on how Illinois can
become an inclusive and just place for folks of all genders and sexualities. We hope
to achieve these goals by offering workshops, trainings, tablings, and more that
provide information, increase awareness, and ultimately celebrate gender and
sexual diversity.

What We Do

Q & A responds to requests from faculty, staff, student organizations, and various departments within our campus community to provide educational programming (e.g., workshops, group facilitation, etc.) around issues related to the well-being of LGBTQIA people, including but not limited to the following: homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, heterosexism, cisgenderism, supporting activism on campus, campus climate for LGBTQIA individuals, and accessing LGBTQIA resources. Programs facilitated by the Committee are open to members of the university community of any sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Programs offered by the Committee share a commitment to exploring and understanding the intersection of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression with various other indices of identity including race/ethnicity, nationality, gender socialization, social class, ability, and religious/spiritual tradition. Q&A hosts a drop in dialogue and consultation hour called “Q&A with Q&A” at the LGBT Resource Center on Wednesdays from 12-1 p.m. during the academic school year.

Q & A also works with the Ally Network Training Committee (ANTC) on campus. This committee facilitates  basic LGBT Ally Trainings, Transgender Ally Trainings, and Advanced Ally Trainings several times per year, moderating a listserv for allies on campus, co-sponsoring and co-planning ANTC events/meetings to provide more advanced training on LGBTQIA issues, nominating and honoring Notable Allies on campus, providing various resources and reading materials, publicizing local events for LGBTQIA people and allies, as well as providing opportunities whenever possible for allies to stand in solidarity with the campus LGBTQIA community and put into practice their skills and training.

Current Outreaches

• Urbana Pride Fest
• Trans Day of Remembrance
• LGBTQIA+ Peer Support Space that offers an
open space for Queer students to connect with one another and gain and/or
offer support (please email schlesi2@illinois.edu and lanker1@illinois.edu for
more details)
• “We Are Here” Block Party for Queer students and campus members of color
• Suicide Prevention for LGBTQIA+ Students
• Healthy Relationship workshops
• Tablings celebrating National Coming Out Day, Trans Day of Visibility,
National Day of Silence, and more
• Going Home for the Holidays workshops
• LGBTQIA+ Health Awareness Week and the LGBTQIA+ Health Resource
Fair
• Queer Life after Graduation Workshop/Panel

Resources

LGBT Ally Network
Coming Out Brochure


The Gender & Sexuality Resource Center (formerly known as the LGBT
Resource Center) 
McKinley Health Center 
Department of Gender and Women's Studies 
United Pride of Champaign County 
• The Ally Network Training Committee (contact lanker1@illinois.edu for more
information)