Get Involved
The following is a compilation of University and Chicago-based LGBTQIA+ events shared with or hosted by Multicultural Student Student Affairs.
Find more university events on the University Events Calendar. If you are hosting an event you would like highlighted on this calendar, please email details to msa@northwestern.edu.
Rainbow Alliance
Rainbow Alliance is Northwestern’s undergraduate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, asexual, and ally group whose main goal is to provide a safe space for students of all genders and sexualities by supporting an active and social community. If you are interested in learning more about Rainbow Alliance, please visit their website or their Rainbow Alliance Wildcat Connection listing here.
NU STANS (Society of Transgender and Non-Binary Students)
NU STANS is a new unofficial student org on campus currently seeking students interested in leading and/or participating in this this creative and celebratory trans and non-binary healing and community space. If you are interested in serving in a leadership role email hello.stansnu@gmail.com, join their listserv to learn about future events, or follow them on instagram.
Queer Pride Graduate Student Association (QPGSA)
The Queer Pride Graduate Student Association is an award-winning social and advocacy group for graduate students enrolled in The Graduate School of Northwestern University. Founded in 2005, their membership now includes over 100 graduate students. QPGSA is committed to develop a sense of community among the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and allied members of Northwestern's graduate student community.
If you are interested in learning more about QPGSA, visit their QPGSA Website, QPGSA Facebook Page or their QPGSA Wildcat Connection listing.
Pride@Kellogg
Pride@Kellogg is one of Kellogg's most active and visible student organizations, and has established Kellogg as the top business school for LGBT MBA students worldwide. Pride@Kellogg has existed at Kellogg since 1992. Over its life, the organization has actively worked to improve the professional, academic and social lives of LGBT Kellogg students, their friends and allies.
If you are interested in learning more about Pride@Kellogg, visit their website.
oSTEM
oSTEM's undergraduate chapter aim to address the need for an LGBTQIA+ group with a STEM-specific focus within the Northwestern University undergraduate community. While our primary mission is to create a safe community for LGBTQIA+ individuals, we are also strongly committed to intersectionality as an organizing principle, and we therefore aim to actively center those who have been historically underrepresented in STEM and STEM-adjacent fields due to their gender, gender identity, sexual identity, racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other part of their identity, both established and questioning.
If you are interested in learning more about oSTEM visit their wildcat connection website or instagram.
goSTEM
oSTEM's graduate chapter aim to address the need for an LGBTQIA+ group with a STEM-specific focus within the university community. While our primary mission is to create community for LGBTQIA+ individuals, we are also strongly committed to intersectionality as an organizing principle, and we therefore aim to actively center those who have been historically underrepresented in higher education due to their gender, gender identity, and racial and ethnic backgrounds. We intend to establish connections with LGBTQIA+-identifying professionals in both industry and academia, to cultivate professional development opportunities for members. By increasing the visibility of LGBTQIA+ role models and providing students with access to culturally-competent mentorship, we can motivate LGBTQIA+ students to persist to degree completion in STEM fields and to become scientists.
If you are interested in learning more about goSTEM you can find contact information on their wildcat connection page.
Other Groups
While the groups below exclusively program for LGBTQIA+ students, these are groups who make consistent efforts to ensure their content and conversations center LGBTQIA+ experiences:
B. Burlesque
B. Burlesque is a dance interest group for students of color to learn and perform the burlesque dance style. B. Burlesque is a safe-space for those who may also identify as queer or non-binary. Our goal is to promote body and sex positivity among students of color and non-binary and queer folk. We do not require auditions or prior dance experience, only sincere interest!
Connect:
Facebook: B. Burlesque
IG: B.Burlesquenu
Email: b.burlesque@u.northwestern.edu
SHAPE
If you are looking for sexual health resources or would like to help lead sexual health education on campus consider engaging with SHAPE. SHAPE is a peer education group affiliated with CARE that is survivor-centered, sex-positive, and social justice oriented. We combat rape culture and work to create a culture of healthy sexuality through education, public events, and an open dialogue on sexual health, sex positivity, and sexual assault.
Find ways to connect and get involved with SHAPE through their website.
Non-Series Based Programming
Programming in the GSRC is always being planned iteratively through needs of the community and leadership of students and GSRC staff looking to create queer moments and memories! Stay up to date by signing up for the GSRC weekly newsletter!
On-going Opportunities
LGBTQIA+ Student Advisory Board
Born out of a desire to make Northwestern a more inclusive and supportive environment for LGBTQIA students, MSA established the LGBTQ Advisory Board in 2016. Through relationships and partnerships across campus, MSA identified a need for LGBTQIA undergraduate and graduate students to be in community and to build coalitions together.
The Advisory Board meets monthly to discuss any issues and or needs for LGBTQIA students. Some of the Advisory Board’s work includes a Queer Wellness Retreat, sending a delegation to the LGBTQ Task Force’s National Conference called Creating Change, serving as a space for feedback for various NU departments and building all gender bathroom advocacy strategy. To learn more about the LGBTQIA+ Student Advisory Board, please contact MSA at msa@northwestern.edu
Conference Attendance
The National LGBTQ Task Force sponsors and organizes the Creating Change Conference, the foremost political, leadership and skills-building conference for the LGBTQ social justice movement. Since 2019, MSA has assembled a small delegation of Northwestern undergraduate and graduate students to attend the Creating Change conference in January, with all expenses covered by MSA. To learn more about the upcoming year's Creating Change Conference Delegation, please visit our Excursions and Conferences page or contact MSA at msa@northwestern.edu.
LGBTQIA+ Movie Nights
This monthly series transforms the GSRC Lounge into our own queer cinema! Feel free to suggestion movies in our suggestion form! Snacks are always provided by MSA! Find our monthly event time and date in our newsletter or on the "Events" tab.
Queer Book Club
This is a quarterly collaborative effort between MSA and and Gender and Sexuality Studies program at Northwestern. Participants get the chance to casually meet and discuss a book with select GSS faculty for what is often a fun-filled conversation. Learn more about the Queer Book Club how to sign up and all MSA Book Clubs on the MSA Book Club and Discussion Page.
Queer and Trans Empowerment Month
The month of October is LGBTQ History month in the United States and at Northwestern we celebrate Queer and Trans Empowerment Month! Learn more about this month-long celebration here: Queer & Trans Empowerment Month: Multicultural Student Affairs - Northwestern University
Lavendar Graduation
The bookend experience at Northwestern is a chance to celebrate you and all your accomplishments! Lavender Graduation is a celebration put on by MSA to celebrate our LGBTQIA+ graduates. A space of love, joy and acknowledgment Lavender Graduation is a space to celebrate you in your fullness as member of our community! Learn more about MSA's End-of-Year Celebrations here: Congratulatories: Multicultural Student Affairs - Northwestern University