LGBTQ+@Barnard

Welcome to LGBTQ+@Barnard! This is where you will find resources for navigating Barnard as a LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender/Transsexual, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual/Allies, Nonbinary/Genderqueer +) student. If you have questions, concerns, or need additional support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of the corresponding departments below or contact dei@barnard.edu.

• Prospective students, please contact Christina Lopez, Dean of Enrollment Management, at clopez@barnard.edu. More information can also be found at Barnard's transgender admissions policy.
• Current students, please contact Dylan Kapit, LGBTQ+ Outreach Coordinator, at dkapit@barnard.edu
• Faculty, please contact Alex Pittman, Associate Director, Center for Engaged Pedagogy, at apittman@barnard.edu 

Chosen Name Information

The Registrar's Office manages student records where a preferred name can be registered. Please note that Barnard is in the process of updating the language from “preferred name” to “chosen name.”

Updating Your Name

To start the process, please fill out this form for the Registrar's Office. Once your chosen name has been updated with the registrar, most other campus offices will receive this information.

Please note that, per this process, your chosen name will be used for these purposes:

• University ID card
• Class Rosters and Grading Rosters (myBarnard and SSOL)
• Courseworks
• Courseworks discussion groups
• Barnard and Columbia Public Directories (unless the student has asked that information be blocked)
• Communications (for example, if Barnard sends mail to the student at the student’s home address, it will be addressed to your chosen name)
• Diploma

Please note that Barnard and Columbia professors will only see  chosen names on their rosters.

If you have not changed your name legally, your legal name will still be used for:

• Office of International and Intercultural Student Programs
• Office of Financial Aid
• Bursar’s Office
• Federal or State Requests for Information (including tax forms)
• National Student Clearinghouse
• Transcript
• Academic certifications (of enrollment, good standing, degree completion)
• Athletics rosters
• Furman Counseling Center
• Primary Care Health Service

Housing accommodation request process: 

If you have a specific housing accommodation need, please contact housing@barnard.edu as soon as possible to discuss your request and possible options.

All-Gender restrooms on campus:

Barnard students may use any bathroom that aligns with their gender identity.

Residence Halls:
All corridor-style housing (the Quad and Elliot Hall) has an all-gender restroom on each floor. Floor plans are available on the Res Life website.

Academic Buildings:
There is at least one all-gender bathroom in every academic building on campus. 

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Columbia University
Columbia gender-neutral restroom map 

The Primary Care Health Service provides affirming, safe, trauma-informed, and inclusive healthcare for all patients. As part of this mission, we provide comprehensive patient-centered medical care to transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals. 

We partner with each patient to create individualized treatment plans specific to their goals and priorities. For those seeking hormonal treatment for gender affirmation, we offer initiation, ongoing management, and supportive services (e.g., assisting with self-injection of hormones). We collaborate closely with our colleagues at Furman Counseling Center and trans-serving community groups to foster community building and provide ongoing support. For those interested in surgical care, we collaborate with trusted community partners to ensure linkage to further specialized care. All treatment plans are in accordance with the WPATH Standards of Care for TGD persons. 

PCHS also has built a network of resources for trans and gender-diverse students within NYC and at Barnard to facilitate community building. Barnard College's student health insurance, through Aetna Student Health, provides hormonal and surgical healthcare coverage according to their outlined benefits. For those with another form of insurance, we work closely with you to review the best options available so that cost is not a limiting factor to treatment. 

Trans Health Services Include:

• Primary and Preventive Care

• Chest/Breast Health

• Hormone Treatment

• Pelvic Wellness Exams; PAP Tests

• Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Screenings & Treatment

• HIV/AIDS Testing

• Guidance on safe binding and tucking

• Referrals to gender-confirming surgeons and vocal therapists

Furman Counseling Center provides many services, including free short-term confidential counseling, referrals to transgender-identified or transgender-affirming providers on your insurance panel for long-term treatment, and therapy letters when needed for gender-affirming medical treatments or surgeries. When reaching out, you may request to speak with a clinician within the queer and/or trans community if desired.

Other NYC-Based Mental Health Resources

Callen-Lorde

Callen-Lorde is the global leader in LGBTQ+ healthcare. Since the days of Stonewall, Callen-Lorde has been transforming lives in LGBTQ+ communities through excellent comprehensive care, provided free of judgment and regardless of ability to pay. In addition, Callen-Lorde continuously pioneers research, advocacy, and education to drive positive change around the world, because we believe healthcare is a human right.

Callen-Lorde Community Health Center provides sensitive, quality healthcare and related services targeted to New York’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities — in all their diversity — regardless of ability to pay. To further this mission, Callen-Lorde promotes health education and wellness, and advocates for LGBTQ+ health issues.
Contact information: 356 West 18th St., New York, NY 10011, (212) 271-7200

Apicha Community Health Center

Apicha Community Health Center’s mission is to improve the health of the community and to increase access to comprehensive primary care, preventative health services, mental health, and supportive services. Apicha is committed to excellence and to providing culturally competent services that enhance the quality of life. Apicha advocates for and provides a welcoming environment for underserved and vulnerable people, especially Asians and Pacific Islanders, the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.
Contact information: 400 Broadway, New York, NY 10013, (866) 274-2429

The Gender and Sexuality Therapy Center

Finding a therapist who is a good fit can be a difficult experience under any circumstances, but for members of LGBTQ+ and alt sexualities communities, the search can easily become overwhelming. How can you make sure that you find someone affirming of and knowledgeable about your identity, communities, and experience living in the world? The Gender & Sexuality Therapy Center provides the safe, nonjudgmental, and empowering therapeutic space that you deserve. The Gender & Sexuality Therapy Center is a New York City-based group of psychotherapists providing a range of services, including psychotherapy, supervision, workshops, and consultation focusing on gender, sexuality, sex, and relationships for individuals, couples, multipartner relationships, and families.
Contact information: 850 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10019, (646) 797-4340

Crisis Resources

Trans Lifeline  (877) 565-8860

Trans Lifeline is run by and for trans people. Trans Lifeline is a grassroots hotline and microgrants 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis — for the trans community, by the trans community.

The Trevor Project 1-866-488-7386

The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25. TrevorLifeline is a crisis intervention and suicide prevention phone service available 24/7/365.

The Center for Engaged Pedagogy has provided guidance for faculty on ways to create gender-inclusive classrooms.  Members of the faculty who would like a one-on-one consultation on this topic are also encouraged to make an appointment with Alex Pittman, associate director of the Center. 

NameCoach is a tool in Canvas that allows students and faculty to record their name pronunciations and pronouns. This tool is now default-enabled in the left-hand navigation bar in all Barnard courses, and appears as “Name and Pronoun.” See the guide for details on how to use this tool, and feel free to email courseworks@barnard.edu with questions.

Suggested Best Practices for Supporting Trans Students Developed by the Consortium’s Trans Policy Working Group guide.

There are legal protections in place for Barnard community members experiencing discrimination based on their gender identity or gender expression. The College’s Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment prohibits discrimination and harassment (including behavior on the spectrum of sexual violence and Title IX-specific sexual harassment) on the basis on protected characteristics, including sex or gender-based discrimination. Barnard College is committed to providing an employment, learning and campus living environment free from discrimination or harassment. Anyone who may have witnessed or experienced sex or gender-based discrimination or harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking is encouraged to reach out to the Nondiscrimination and Title IX Office to discuss rights, options, and available support. Reaching out for support does not require that an individual pursue a formal resolution or even that they make a formal complaint. Individuals seeking support can share as much or as little about their experience as they choose. 

If an individual wishes to pursue a formal report or complaint, Barnard College (“the College”) will respond promptly, equitably, and impartially. In addition, the College will take steps to prevent the recurrence of the alleged misconduct and to correct its effects. Impacted individuals may connect with the Nondiscrimination and Title IX Office to request academic, residential, or employment-based accommodations. The College also employs a Title IX Coordinator who is responsible for providing support, discussing rights and available options. The College’s Title IX Coordinator is Elizabeth Scott-Francis (escottfrancis@barnard.edu).To learn more or seek support, please contact nondiscrimination@barnard.edu or 212-854-0037

Upcoming Programming

•  T4Tea: Thursday, March 23rd from 6-8pm in Milstein LL001. 
• Trans Day of Visibility Tabling: Tuesday, March 28th from 2-4pm in the Diana Lobby. 
• LGBTQ+ Students & Faculty/Staff Mixer: Wednesday, March 29th from 5-7pm in the Altschul Atrium. Dinner provided. RSVP here. 
• But I’m a Cheerleader Screening & Talkback with Jamie Babbit: Thursday, April 6th at 7pm in Held Auditorium - Free ticket link here. Registration is required. 
• Pride @ Barnard Wellness Day: Friday, April 14th from 10-6pm in the James Room. Lunch provided.
• LGBTQ+ Student & Alumni Networking Mixer: Wednesday, April 18th from 6-8pm in the Student Dining Room on the 2nd floor of the Diana. Dinner provided. RSVP here.
• Drag Story Hour. Thursday, April 20th 12-2pm 
• Queer Prom: Saturday, April 22nd from 7-9pm in the Diana Event Oval. Food provided.
• LGBTQ+ Graduating Seniors Celebration: Wednesday, May 3rd from 4-5:30pm in the Altschul Atrium. Food provided.

If there is LGBTQ+ community-specific programming that you’d like to see, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Dylan Kapit, LGBTQ+ Outreach Coordinator, at dkapit@barnard.edu

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and more (LGBTQ+) Employee Resource Group 

An Employee Resource Group (ERG) at Barnard is a voluntary, employee-led group with the purpose of fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the Barnard community and surrounding community, supporting professional development for ERG participants, and serving as a resource to its participants and Barnard College. Participation in ERG meetings and events are open to all currently employed Barnard staff and faculty. Please email dei@barnard.edu if you have any questions/suggestions or if you would like to be added to a monthly ERG calendar invite.