Ask me anything
Recent Responses
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You are definitely not alone in your feelings. Heteronormativity and heterosexual privilege are things that, for those in a privileged position, often just don't come to mind. It's probably safe to say most people who say heteronormative things usually don't mean any disrespect. It just takes some education, and then a commitment on their part to start thinking differently about the things they have taken for granted. With your close friends and family, try having a conversation where you let them know that sometimes their language bothers you and why. This kind of conversation works best when you stress that it is not him or her as a person that you don't like, but certain words and actions. If you make it clear that it means a lot to you, your friends and family should be moved to start examining their heterosexual privilege. This can be a real opportunity for you to strengthen your relationships!
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Are you referring to professional athletes who may be gay but are not out to the public? This is a difficult question that only those individuals would be able to answer. While many people think folks who are in the limelight should come out to increase visibility and awareness of the LGBT community, it is ultimately up to each individual when and how they want to come out to the public-- or to anyone, for that matter. The personal and political can sometimes intersect in challenging ways, and what we can hope for is that some day soon LGBT professional athletes will not have to feel that they need to stay in the closet to avoid stigma.
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Yes, a spectrum is a great way to describe sexuality. If you imagine having heterosexual/straight on one side, and homosexual/gay on the other, bisexual and/or pansexual would be somewhere in the middle. The great thing about the spectrum is that you can land anywhere on it (ie somewhere between bisexual and gay or straight, as you described), and where you land can also change over time! There are so many ways to describe and experience sexuality, and at the LGBT Resource Center we celebrate everyone, however they may identify.
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For information on safe sex for lesbians: http://www.gwulgbthealth.com/For_women.html
For dental dams: we have them! Stop by the Resource Center (now on the 3rd floor of the MSSC Townhouse, 2127 G Street), to get some. You can also easily buy them online from places like Amazon.
Happy Valentine's Day <3 -
We suggest checking out http://www.asexuality.org/home/ for resources including personal stories, links to community sites & blogs, and more information. You could also consider the LGBT Resource Center Mentor Program. Check it out here: http://gwired.gwu.edu/mssc/LGBT/Mentoringprogram/
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Yes! There is a Speed Dating event TONIGHT!! RSVP here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=262002743835018
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Of course! One of our Student Coordinators recommends Filter, a coffee shop at 1726 20th Street NW, as a great place to meet lesbians! Check them out at filtercoffeehouse.com.
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Unfortunately, we lost Apex this summer, the famous 18+ gay club in Dupont. However, Town Danceboutique hosts an 18+ dance night every Friday--stay tuned for a GW "Town Takeover" sometime soon!
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You can sign up for the Allied in Pride listserv to get updates about events and meetings. Attending a few meetings/events is a good way to introduce yourself and meet members without committing to being more involved than you're comfortable with.
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Yes! National Coming Out Week takes place in October and will have an amazing line-up of social and academic events. Sign up for the LGBT Resource Center listserv to get updates about the specifics.
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It is well-known that there's both a strong LGBT & liberal presence at GW. However, politically/religiously/etc conservative LGBT students are NOT ostracized & they DO exist! Like anywhere, you'll find some students who are open-minded and accepting of different outlooks and those who aren't. If you're interested in a specific group on campus, the Resource Center can help direct you there!
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Few students at GW have had serious problems after coming out to their roommates and claim that "the earlier, the better." A simple "I just wanted to let you know, I'm (bisexual, transgender, lesbian, gay, etc)" usually works. However, if you need detailed advice and support figuring this out, stop by the LGBT Resource Center--we can definitely help! Also, if you do have issues, you can contact GW housing to switch roommates.
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Like, the overall population, the number of transgender individuals at GW is difficult to determine and likely low. However, the amount of support for transgender students and other non-traditional gender identified students is very strong. GW has recently secured gender-neutral housing options and also has a gender-neutral townhouse (usually filled with really awesome students). Our Resource Center has a ton of information about transgender issues and groups, so if you've a specific question or interest, we can help point you in the right direction!
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Funny you should ask! Last week, the GW Hatchet wrote an article about queer women on campus. Read it here:
http://media.www.gwhatchet.com/media/storage/paper332/news/2011/04/07/SexIssue/Queer.Women.Stand.Out.Through.Activism-3991202.shtml
While it may be easier to spot the gay scene sometimes, the four women in this article prove that queer women are most certainly out there making their mark! -
Yes, they do! E-mail GWLGBTGRADS@gmail.com to get on the list.
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You can see the list of our books and DVDs on our website: http://gwired.gwu.edu/sac/LGBTRC/Resources/Library/
We are in the process of updating this list, however. Stop by the Resource Center, MC 425, to see what we have and check out a DVD! -
We checked with our friends at the Whitman-Walker Clinic (http://www.wwc.org/), and they said that no, there is no link between chest binders and an increased risk of breast cancer. The Whitman-Walker Clinic is a great community health center in DC for LGBT folks!
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Yes, Allied in Pride is still a force to be reckoned with on campus! They recently got a brand-new website, http://gwalliedinpride.com/, and you can access their Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/group.php?gid=2204434297
Allied has some great events planned for this semester, including an entire week of programming starting February 13 for Marriage Equality Week. -
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We have many options for students who are just now questioning their sexuality. For example, we have the recently developed mentoring program. The LGBT Mentoring program is designed to match students who are have concerns relating to their sexuality with GW faculty, staff, and administrators who are LGBT themselves and have an insider's perspective. You have regular, informal meetings with them to discuss your concerns, life on campus, and anything else you want to know. What is discussed with your mentor is private, so there is no worry of being outed. You can find the information for that here: http://gwired.gwu.edu/sac/LGBTRC/Mentoringprogram/
Students who are questioning may also be interested in attending our Coming Out 101 and Trans 101 workshops during National Coming Out Week. They will be from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Wednesday, October 13 in Phillips 306.
In addition to these programs, students are always welcome to simply drop by the resource center if they would like to talk, or are in search of more information.
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GW LGBT Resource Center’s Bio
Washington, DC
The LGBT Resource Center at the George Washington University is dedicated to providing resources to the community and answering the questions of curious people.
