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Last Wednesday, Syracuse University’s Gender Affirming Care Team held a discussion at Schine Student Center about queer life SU.

At the discussion, panelists reviewed resources available to transgender and nonbinary students. Here’s a list of ways SU and SUNY ESF students in the LGBTQ community can receive support on and off campus.

On campus resources

The LGBTQ Resource Center at SU is open for SUNY ESF students to use.

Staff at the LGBTQ Resource Center help students and faculty change their pronouns within online systems at SU, said Jorge Castillo, the director of the center. Students can also use the center to schedule individual therapy sessions with someone who has expertise working with trans people.

The center conducts weekly meetings for LGBTQ people, Castillo said. The meetings serve as a formal space for people to share topics relating to queer discrimination, identity and relationships and discuss how to navigate campus as a member of the LGBTQ community.

Members of the campus commuity can join three affinity groups as well, including one for trans students, queer and trans students of color and LGBTQ faculty and staff.

The Barnes Center at the Arch also offers estrogen, testosterone and other forms of medication and pharmaceutical therapy. Trans students can receive a letter of referral from Barnes, instead of a primary care provider, for hormone therapy or other medical procedures, said Jessica DeMauro, a physician’s assistant at Barnes.

The center is hosting a series of upcoming events, including the Queer Speed Friending, trivia night and a Mario Kart tournament.

Off campus resources

SUNY ESF Office of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity hosts student socials for LGBTQ students. The university also offers “Brave Spaces,” where underrepresented students can gather in a safe place on campus.

Chris Kosakowski, the campus prevention and advocacy team coordinator at Vera House, said the nonprofit offers advocacy and legal services that are “trans-friendly.” The center provides a temporary shelter service for any college student as well.

The Volunteer Lawyer Project of CNY also provides legal resources for members of the LGBTQ community who are experiencing discrimination, specifically emphasizing the trans community.

VLP-CNY provides free name and gender documentation changes, said Mallory Livingston, an adjunct professor of law at Cornell who also sat on the panel.

Published on September 14, 2022 at 11:09 pm

Contact Julia: [email protected] | @julianiehoff17