The campus environment at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign mirrors the larger society in that it reflects and contains homophobic, biphobic, transphobic, and heterosexist attitudes and beliefs which are oppressive and devaluing of LGBTQIA+, queer, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people. The GSRC seeks to help in the efforts to address homophobia and transphobia on campus and to work to make the environment safe, affirming, and inclusive for all students, faculty, staff, and& LGBTQIA+, queer, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming students, faculty, and staff in particular.

Support Services

The GSRC provides a confidential forum for LGBTQIA+, queer, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming students, faculty, and staff to discuss the campus climate. The GSRC works with campus units to increase awareness and affirmation of LGBTQIA+, queer, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people and reduce discrimination and harassment based on gender identity and expression and sexual orientation. The GSRC refers LGBTQIA+, queer, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people to appropriate campus and community support services. In addition, it collaborates with faculty, staff, and students to develop programs to celebrate the LGBTQIA+, queer, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming presence on the campus by organizing and sponsoring events associated with these topics and issues. 

The Educational Role

The GSRC collaborates with existing groups on campus to develop programs, workshops, and activities to raise campus awareness about LGBTQIA+, queer, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming concerns and to honor the contributions of LGBTQIA+, queer, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people to the campus. The Resource Center maintains a collection of LGBTQIA+, queer, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming resource materials (books, videos, magazines, pamphlets, etc.) for use by the university community. It also collects data about the incidences of hate crimes, harassment, heterosexism, cisgenderism, and discrimination based on gender identity and expression and sexual orientation.

The Referral Role

The center helps LGBTQIA+, queer, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming students, staff, and faculty identify existing resources and services on campus and in the community that assist in addressing issues, problems, and concerns. It helps students find Allies in their various departments of the campus.