Where to Start if You’re LGBTQIA+
As a queer student, I was happy to find that UC Berkeley has a long, distinguished history with the LBGTQIA+ community. In honor of Pride Month, we’re showcasing some of the ways UC Berkeley works to advance the lives of LGBTQIA+ students, alumni, staff, and potential students.
One of the most popular resources on-campus is called the Gender Equity Resource Center, commonly referred to as GenEq. GenEq is a branch of the Division of Equity and Inclusion. Their mission is to eradicate gender and sexuality-based prejudice on campus. From the wealth of resources on campus they highlight, we selected five organizations to showcase.
Spotlight: 5 Resources You Should Know About
1. Queer Alliance Resource Center (QARC)
The Queer Alliance Resource Center, also known as QARC, is Berkeley’s one-stop shop for finding LGBTQIA+ student orgs on campus. They provide transparency, advocacy, and resources for all members of the UC Berkeley community, including students, staff, and faculty.
I admire QARC because they strive to create spaces on campus specifically for queer and trans (QT+) folks, as well as unique spaces for those who identify with specific queer and trans sub-communities. On a large college campus, it’s comforting to know there are places carved out for you and your community. You can find QARC’s compiled guide to QT+ organizations and student groups that may cater toward your identity in their QT+ Resources, Orgs, and Events Guide.
Another thing that stood out to me when I learned about QARC was their commitment to advocacy. QARC collaborates with administration on campus to respond and take action against hate and intolerance, and continues to expand institutional support for Cal’s LGBTQ+ community. Whether you’re a currently enrolled or potential incoming student, don’t hesitate to check them out and see how you can get involved.
2. Trans Student Wellness Initiative
The Trans Student Wellness Initiative (TWSI) focuses on providing wellness, community building, and leadership opportunities for students at UC Berkeley who identify with the umbrella term of “trans.” Its ultimate goal is to support the retention of trans and nonbinary students. TWSI was founded through ASUC Senator Juniperangelica Cordova’s office (2017–2018) and is now a program under the Multicultural Community Center.
One incredible feature of the Trans Student Wellness Initiative is their Transition Care Intake Form, which can be found in QARC’s Linktree. This form allows a trans student to request up to $100 of gender-affirming clothing or materials. I received my first real chest binder from this program, and I am grateful for it every day. Note that the Transition Care Intake Form isn’t open year-round, so if you miss it this season, check back during the next!
3. Center for the Study of Sexual Culture
The Center for the Study of Sexual Culture (CSSC) describes their aim as supporting and researching “critical conversations concerning sexuality, sexual culture, and their mutually determining relationship to institutions, social practices and norms, and modes of representation.” CSSC is an amazing resource for current or incoming graduate students who are interested in maintaining or expanding their relationship with queer theory and sexuality studies, and in building a community around these interests.
Another exciting thing about CSSC is that they regularly host a number of events, including lectures, film screenings, performances, and conferences. For graduate students whose dissertations focus on sexuality, race, or gender, the CSSC also holds a 2-day workshop every other year that functions as a retreat for bringing together graduate students and faculty.
If you’re interested in getting involved with the CSSC, try checking out their events calendar, or getting in touch!
4. LavenderCal
Another amazing resource that Cal has to offer is called LavenderCal. LavenderCal focuses on inclusivity for all Cal employees and staff members. Their website has something called an “Out List.” The way the list works is that LGBTQIA+ staff members can choose to put their name on it, and that way, anyone looking at the list then knows that they identify as LGBTQIA+. This, to me, is very important. I feel a sense of camaraderie and solidarity with my LGBTQIA+ professors. By creating an Out List, LavenderCal not only fosters community, but visibility.
While coming out is a personal choice and not a requirement for any queer person, the Out List allows for the recognition and celebration of some of the indispensable voices of our diverse community.
5. LGBTQIA+ Wellness on Campus
University Health Services’ counseling is another indispensable resource to us here at Berkeley. Their site provides a cohesive list of queer and trans-affirming providers. From personal experience, I know how important it is to find a therapist or doctor that understands my unique experience as a queer person. The folks at UHS said it best themselves: “While all UHS counselors have training and experience working with LGBTQIA+ students, sometimes it’s important to know your counselor is queer-identified.”
In addition to their generous counseling offerings for LGBTQIA+ folks, UHS also includes a Transgender Care Team, Group Counseling for queer and trans people of color (POC), and a few other special groups that are just for LGBTQIA+ folks.
Lastly, be sure to check out UHS’s LGBTQIA+ services page, where they detail all of their health and mental health services for LGBTQIA+ students. This page offers information on how to access trans-specific health care through UHS, insurance information, an explanation of their “Health Promotion” unit, and more.
Scratching the Surface
Cal strives to make our campus the most safe, inclusive, and celebratory place it can be. As previously mentioned, there are an abundance of LGBTQIA+ resources available to us here at UC Berkeley. Across the breadth of staff, faculty, employees, graduate students, current undergrads, and incoming students, there is something for everyone that falls under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella. We hope that you enjoyed reading this blog and got a taste of what our university can offer. Happy Pride!
Revised and updated in June 2025 by Nina Takahashi, Class of 2026, majoring in film & media and minoring in Japanese and creative writing. This blog was first published in 2022 by Mikena Richards, Class of 2023, who majored in English.
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