Lake Forest College is committed to advocating and celebrating students on the basis of their diverse gender identities and expressions and educating the campus community on sociocultural issues surrounding LGBTQ+ students. This page provides resources and information for students who identify as members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community.
Our Lavender Lunch Signature Event celebrates LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and staff and showcases both campus and local resources.
Campus Groups and Departments
THE RAINBOW NETWORK – EMPOWERMENT GROUP
The Rainbow Network (TRN) is a brave space designed to empower, guide and support our LGBTQ+ community on campus. Members of TRN will share stories, engage in discussion and gain a better sense of self while enhancing their professional, social and leadership success. This empowerment Group is limited only to students who identify as LGBTQ+.
PRIDE - STUDENT ORGANIZATION
PRIDE’s mission is to provide support for and foster community among gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) students, to educate the Lake Forest College community at large in regard to GLBTQ+ issues, and to empower allies. This student organization is open to all who are interested.
Pride is dedicated to enhancing the atmosphere of diversity on the campus of Lake Forest College by reaffirming the dignity and worth of all members of the Lake Forest College community regardless of real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identification. For more information about PRIDE, click here.
TRANS SOCIAL HOUR
Is a space for trans people and by trans people. Weekly meetings will provide community, support, and snacks. Reach out to OIR for more details on location and time.
GENDER, SEXUALITY AND WOMEN’S STUDIES
Studying at the intersection of disciplines like psychology, sociology, politics, and history, students in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies acquire and apply the tools of scholarship in gender and sexuality across their coursework. For more information about this area of study, click here.
Contact Information
Marianinna Villavicencio Miranda, PhD
she/her/hers
Associate Director of Intercultural Relations
mvillavicencio@mx.lakeforest.edu
847-735-5105
Sandra Ortiz Siu
she/her/hers
DSO, International Student Coordinator
sortiz@lakeforest.edu
847-735-5202
Local Resources
ALMA (Association of Latino Men for Action)
Website: http://www.almachicago.org
Empowering Latino gay, bisexual, and questioning men by providing support, advocacy, and leadership opportunities, through innovative cultural programming.
Asians and Friends Chicago
Website: http://afchicago.org/blog/
Founded in 1985, the purpose of Asians & Friends Chicago (AFC) is to bring together gay people who are interested in developing a greater understanding of the culture of Asians and Asian-Americans and in developing friendships through social, cultural and educational activities.
Cafe Pride
Website: www.cafepride.com
Cafe Pride is a ministry of Lake View Presbyterian Church. Cafe Pride is Chicago’s coffeehouse for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender youths, and their friends, 17 to 21 years old. Cafe Pride is a ministry of gay and straight people with the conviction that growing up requires a lot of mental and emotional work.
Center on Halsted
Website: http://www.centeronhalsted.org
Center on Halsted is a focal point for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community of Chicago, serving the community’s diverse social, recreational, cultural, and social service needs.
Chicagoland LGBTQ Services Directory
Website: http://chicagolgbtservices.org
This website provides a comprehensive search engine for numerous services available to the LGBTQAI+ community.
DrugRehab.com
Website: https://www.drugrehab.com
DrugRehab.com is a web-based information provider that focuses on substance abuse and its various causes and co-occurring disorders within the LGBTQ+ community. Their mission is to provide awareness-level information to people who may be struggling, and to connect them with the proper resources for recovery. This website provides more information about some causes, challenges and resources available.
Howard Brown Center
Website: www.howardbrown.org
Website (Broadway Youth Center): http://howardbrown.org/byc/
The mission of Howard Brown is to promote the well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons through the provision of health care and wellness programs, including clinical, educational, social service and research activities. Howard Brown designed these programs to serve gay, lesbian, and bisexual persons in a confidential, supportive, and nurturing environment. Howard Brown Health Center is committed to working cooperatively with other community-based organizations serving and contributing to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.
PFLAG
Website: https://pflag.org/chapter/pflag-chicago-metro
PFLAG is Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. It has seven chapters in Northern Illinois, and holds monthly support meetings.
VALEO at Lakeshore Hospital
Website: http://www.chicagolakeshorehospital.com/programs/chicago-valeo
Valeo at Chicago Lakeshore Hospital provides comprehensive psychiatric and addiction-related treatment for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (GLBTQ) individuals.
Campus Support
- Student involvement: Trans Social Hour, Pride, The Rainbow Network
- Health & Wellness: Provides mental well-being, support with gender-affirming care
- Student Emergency Fund: can provide assistance with pricier gender affirming items such as binders.
- Student Pantry: has period supplies and will have other gender-affirming items such as:
- Hygiene supplies (tampons, etc.)
- Food!
- More items coming soon, come talk to us if you have suggestions or need something more immediately.
- Career Closet: located at Roberts Hall 100, South Campus; hours: Fridays 1 to 3 p.m.
- Has casual clothing items as well as business-oriented clothing
- Open to all students
Resources for Transgender Students
General Resources:
- Equality Illinois: https://www.equalityillinois.us/
- Prairie State Legal Services - assists with legal name change process and employment discrimination as well as other legal services (Lake Co.): https://pslegal.org
- Transformative Justice Law Project of Illinois – assists with legal name change process (Chicago & Cook Co.): http://chartreuse-roadrunner-rpsl.squarespace.com/
Trans-Specific Resources:
- The Trevor Project (http://www.thetrevorproject.org/)'s 24/7/365 Lifeline at 866-4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386) or TrevorChat (http://www.thetrevorproject.org/chat), their online instant messaging option, or TrevorText (https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help-now), a text-based support option. If you are looking for peer support, you can visit TrevorSpace (https://www.trevorspace.org/) from anywhere in the world.
- The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) (http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/)
- Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860 (http://www.translifeline.org/)
- Do you live outside the United States? If so, check out The Trevor Project's list of international resources here: http://www.thetrevorproject.org/pages/international-support.
Voice Training:
- Northwestern University: https://nucasll.northwestern.edu/speech-language-pathology/voice-programs/transgender-voice-and-communication/
- University Of Chicago: https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/conditions-services/transgender-care-services/voice-services
YouTube:
- Trans Voice Lessons: https://www.youtube.com/@TransVoiceLessons
- Seattle Voice Lab: https://www.youtube.com/@seattlevoicelab
- Nicole Gress (Undead Voice Lab): https://www.youtube.com/@undeadvoicelab
Virtual:
- Trans Vocal Training: https://transvocaltraining.com/transgender-voice-coach/
- Sophie Edwards: https://solspeechandlanguage.com/team-members/sophie-edwards/
Voice changing/training apps and software:
- https://www.transgendermap.com/social/voice/feminization/apps/
- The Gender Dysphoria Bible: https://genderdysphoria.fyi/en
- Strands For Trans: https://strandsfortrans.org/
- Point Of Pride: https://www.pointofpride.org/
National Trans Organizations
- National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE)(advocacy): http://transequality.org/
- Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF)(legal services): http://www.transgenderlegal.org/
- Transgender Law Center (TLC)(legal services and advocacy): http://transgenderlawcenter.org/
- Trans People of Color Coalition (TPOCC)(advocacy): http://www.transpoc.org/
- Trans Women of Color Collective (TWOCC)(advocacy): http://www.twocc.us/
- Black Trans Advocacy (advocacy): http://www.blacktrans.org/
- Trans Latina Coalition (advocacy): http://translatinacoalition.org/
- TransFamilies (support for families, trans youth, and educators): https://transfamilies.org/
- Trans Youth Equality Federation (support for families and trans youth): http://www.transyouthequality.org/
- TransTech Social Enterprises (economic empowerment): http://www.transtechsocial.org/
- SPART*A (advocacy for trans military service members): http://www.spartapride.org/
- Transgender American Veterans Association (advocacy for trans veterans): http://transveteran.org/
- TransAthlete.com (info about trans athletes): http://transathlete.com/
- Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC)(advocacy): http://www.masstpc.org/
- TransLife Center at Chicago House (support services): http://www.chicagohouse.org/?post_causes=translife-center
- Trans Doe Task Force (legal services): https://transdoetaskforce.org/
Transgender Programs at LGBTQ+ Organizations
- GLAAD's Transgender Media Program (media advocacy): http://glaad.org/transgender
- Freedom for All Americans (policy and legislative advocacy): http://www.freedomforallamericans.org/about/our-programs/transgender-freedom-project/
- PFLAG Our Trans Loved Ones (support for families of people who are trans): https://www.pflag.org/ourtranslovedones
- PFLAG Transgender Resources (resources for trans people and their families): https://www.pflag.org/search?keys=transgender&type=resource
- PFLAG's Transgender Ally campaign (advocacy): http://www.straightforequality.org/trans
Online Resources for Trans Allyship
- A Guide To Being A Good Ally: https://transequality.org/issues/resources/supporting-the-transgender-people-in-your-life-a-guide-to-being-a-good-ally
- Tips For Allies Of Transgender People: https://www.glaad.org/transgender/allies
- The Gender Dysphoria Bible: https://genderdysphoria.fyi/en
- Other Resources:
- The Transgender Issue: An Argument for Justice by Shon Faye: https://amzn.to/3zJBDfK