The LGBTQ+ Center Newsletter
October 2025
More information on any of these topics can be found on our blog, and more info about research opportunities can be found on our website.
Announcements
We’re announcing a new program for next month! On October 16th from 6:00-8:00 pm, join us in Brooks Hall G25 for a panel discussion about the importance of community to this part of Appalachia, and what that means going forward.
Events To Look Forward To…
Details can be found on our Google Calendar, our Events Page, and our Instagram.
OUTLaw : Law & Advocacy
Date: Tuesday, September 30
Location: WVU College of Law AND Zoom
Time: 12:00 to 12:50 pm
Lunch & Learn:
OUTLaw is hosting two attorneys from the LGBTQ+ Committee of the West Virginia Bar Association who will be discussing Chiles v. Salazar, a case that the Supreme Court of the US is hearing this October about the legality of allowing therapists to recommend conversion therapy to their clients — specifically, is it a violation of the First Amendment to keep therapists from presenting the option?
WVU’S LGBTQ+ History Archive
Date: All month!
Evansdale Library
Time: All day!
For LGBTQ+ History Month, we want to let people explore little pieces of the past. We’ve assembled a collection of artifacts from LGBTQ+ student organizations through the ages, all the way from the 1970s through today. Take a tour through the past and see the last fifty years through the eyes of the students living through them.
Finding Your Voice Through Purpose
Dates: Friday, October 3
Mountainlair, Mountaineer Room
Time: 12:00 to 1:00 pm
Do you want to learn what you're naturally best at? Would it be cool to learn how to use those things to be a better advocate for the things you care about? The LGBTQ+ Center, Purpose Center, and REACH are getting together to teach you how in this three-part lunch & learn workshop.
We want to help you become the advocate that you want to be! This workshop series will help you identify your values, explore your strengths, and figure out how to balance your responsibilities as a student with pursuing your passions and meeting your own needs outside of the classroom. Bring your lunch, your curiosity, and your enthusiasm! All students are welcome to join!
SOGIE 101
Online: Monday, October 6
Time: 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
In-person: Monday, October 20
Mountainlair’s Laurel Room
Time: 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression (SOGIE) are key elements of one’s identity that impact their experience in higher education. Our new SOGIE 101 Training is an educational opportunity to enhance cultural competence, understand student experiences in higher ed, and learn about campus resources.
This 1-hour interactive training offers participants the opportunity to reflect about the beautiful complexities pertaining to SOGIE while engaging in activities focused on finding solutions.
We encourage all staff, faculty, and students to take advantage of this opportunity. Sessions are offered online, in-person, and per request to groups and classrooms at lgbtq@mail.wvu.edu. Certificate of completion provided upon request.
Dates:
Wednesday, October 15
Friday, October 17
Thursday, October 23
LGBTQ+ Center, 2nd Floor, Mountainlair
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Do you like free soup? What about discovering new fun facts through conversations with your peers? WE WANT TO FEED STUDENTS SOUP AND TALK ABOUT FUN STUFF! Come hang out with us!
The LGBTQ+ Community is sometimes fondly called “alphabet soup” because of all of the different letters in the acronym–but what do they mean? And how is anyone supposed to figure out what they all are, on an empty stomach no less? We’re here to help!
This month for Soup Day, we’re going to talk about pronouns and identity on 10/15, gender fluidity is and why visibility is so important on 10/17, and finish off with a discussion on asexuality for AsexualIty Awareness Week on 10/23!
LGBTQ+ History and Community Panel - Then and Now: Giving Context to LGBTQ History
Dates: Thursday, October 16
Location: Brooks Hall, Room G25
Time: 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
This part of Appalachia has a unique view of the importance of having a community–relying on each other is how most of us have gotten by for generations. In a lot of ways, the same is true for the LGBTQ+ community. These overlaps aren’t always obvious, and it’s not necessarily easy to take that historical context and see why that’s important today or what it means going forward. Sooooo, we’ve assembled a panel of experts and we’re going to ask them questions about it!
The LGBTQ+ Center invites you to a discussion between an Appalachian historian, a life-long community builder, and a youth organizer to discuss how these complicated and fascinating topics have been shaped over time, how our relationship with history has changed the landscapes we call home now, and what community could mean for the people of West Virginia in the years to come.
Get Involved With Student Orgs!
LGBTQ+ Club : Connection & Friendship
Date: Wednesday, October 1 (and then every other Wednesday, check out their calendar)
131 Pleasant St, Morgantown
Time: 6:00 to 10:00 pm
Meetings:
The next meeting is on 10/1!
Opportunities:
The LGBTQ+ Club is still looking for people to help it grow! If you have a skill, they can use it. Interested in marketing? Finance management? Collaborations? Networking? Event planning? Is there something you’re especially good at? Fill out their opportunity survey and tell them how you can contribute to building the community you want to see.
Triota: Women’s & Gender Studies Honors Society
Wednesday, October 8
(Then Every Other Wednesday)
Mountainlair
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Triota is a student organization that promotes excellence in feminist scholarship, advocacy, and community-grounded work. Our members are passionate about creating, just, equitable futures for all and would love to have you join our team! We meet every other Wednesday at 5pm -- email Sophie for more information.
oSTEM : LGBTQ+ Inclusive Professional Development for STEM Majors
We did it! This org is officially off the ground thanks to the work of some incredible students. You can fill out this survey if you’re interested in joining, too!
This org helps LGBTQ+ students and allies achieve their academic goals, build community, and network with people from all over the US. oSTEM provides fantastic opportunities to everyone interested in STEM-related careers.
This year, oSTEM’s 15th Annual Conference is from October 16-18 and they’re going to Baltimore! Attendees can share their professional and personal experiences with each other to learn, experience, and grow in their fields. The Career & Graduate School Expo at the conference allows attendees to connect and network with professionals, academics, and colleagues from STEM industries and universities.
For more info, contact brian.powell@mail.wvu.edu.
- There will be an oSTEM meeting on October 8 (10/8) from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Evansdale Library! For more information, click on this link for the GroupMe.
West FURginia : Furry Community
Date: Wednesday, October 29
Mountainlair, 6:00 p.m.
October’s main event will be a collab with the LGBTQ+ Club! It will be a take-home craft event where participants will learn how to make their own wearable ears (on a headband). It does not require any sewing skills or prior knowledge on this kind of craft.
Join the Discord Server for updates on their next events!
Rainbow Coats: Medical Advocacy
Fall and Spring movie nights are already planned!
Watch & discuss Every Body November 6th at 6:00 p.m. in HSC North’s Fukushima Auditorium.
Watch & discuss And The Band Played On February 4th at 6:00 p.m., also in HSC North’s Fukushima Auditorium.
If there’s ever anyone who wants the supplies and information everyone needs to have sex safely, this org provides it for free.
Want to talk to a medical student about what it’s really like? Curious about how they got to where they are? Email lgbtq@mail.wvu.edu and we can help you connect with this organization for a 1-on-1 conversation.
LGBTQ+ Speaker’s Bureau : (Launching This Semester!)
The LGBTQ+ Speaker’s Bureau is coming back! Some students have taken this idea and run with it, and we’re happy to support them!
The LGBTQ+ Speaker's Bureau is a student org that offers the opportunity to have an honest, open conversation with your peers about their lived experiences. Right now, the opportunity to reach out and talk to someone outside of your bubble is invaluable, and it's fun too. Do you want to be one of the people chatting? Do you want to be someone that could help organize the events? There are so many ways to help! Just take the survey linked above and we'll help you learn to use your talents to facilitate these conversations.
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Community Corner
This section is open to the public! Events outside of WVU are posted here.
Transgender & Non-Binary Peer Support Group
Date: Wednesday, October 1
Mountainlair, Cathedral (2nd Floor)
Time: 4:45 to 6:00 p.m.
The first meeting topic will cover coming out stories!
Fun With Collegiate Recovery
Serenity Place (724 College Ave – The Maple House!)
Downtown Library (Wise Library), 2nd floor
Thursdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Join Collegiate Recovery for weekly substance-free social events centered around health, wellness, adventure , community, service, and fun at Serenity Place. On Tuesday 10/2, they’ll be hosting a Just Dance Night! All students are welcome!
Mountaineers for Literacy and Liberation
Date: Thursday, October 2
Downtown Library
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Join Mountaineers for Literacy and Liberation, the student extension of the Appalachian Prison Book Project, for our next regular meeting! We'll be chatting about ways we can share education materials and build community with people incarcerated in Appalachia. For more information, please fill out this form or click on the link above!
Unplugged Workshop Series
Dates:
Tuesday, October 7
Tuesday, October 21
Time: 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.
The Carruth Center will help you take a break from doom scrolling! We’ll have activities to de-stress, build new relationships and learn practical ways to unplug from social media. October’s fun revolves around mediation on 10/7 and 10/21 for a photo scavenger hunt. Contact Logan Burris with any questions.
Dance Your Way To Wellness
Sometimes you just need to move your body a little bit to feel better, but it’s not always easy to find non-judgmental people to do it with you, and trying to move your schedule around so you can go to an extra class across campus can definitely be inconvenient.
Fear not! The Dance Your Way To Workshops are back, better than ever, and on demand! You pick the time and place, and the world’s chillest instructor can come to you. If you want to learn a new dance move, or show off your current skill set, or you just want to goof off and let loose, just pick what works best for your schedule and send an email to Tinh Dang!
WVU Purpose Center
Wellbeing Pod for Strength-Based Strategies
Dates:
Tuesday, October 7
Tuesday, October 14
Mountainlair, Greenbrier Room
Time: 4:00 to 5:15 p.m.
During this 4-part, in-person series for students, you'll work with small groups and faculty/staff from the WVU Carruth Center and Purpose Center to learn your top 5 CliftonStrengths and how to leverage them for better wellbeing.
In our interactive sessions you will learn to understand your own strengths and how effectively using them can impact overall wellbeing, apply your strengths to preventative self-care, explore and prevent overwhelm, and combat Imposter Syndrome using your unique talents. This pod is limited to the first 20 students who register. By registering, you are committing to attend all three sessions. This initiative is a collaboration between the WVU Purpose Center and the WVU Carruth Center.
To register, click on the link above!
Strength-Based Leadership Pods For Students
Dates:
Wednesday, October 8
Wednesday, October 15
Wednesday, October 22
Wednesday, October 29
Mountainlair, Mountaineer Room
Time: 4:00 to 5:15 p.m.
During this 4-part, in-person series, you'll work with small groups and staff from the WVU Purpose Center and Adventure WV to learn your top 5 CliftonStrengths® and how to leverage them to become a stronger, more effective leader. In our interactive sessions you will learn about: Your own personal leadership styles and the effectiveness of each style, needs of your followers, and how to provide strengths-based feedback. This pod is open to any student and any major, however it is limited to the first 20 students who register. By registering, you are committing to attend all four sessions. This initiative is a collaboration between the WVU Purpose Center and Adventure WV.
LCSEE Community, Values, and Engagement Committee
Date: Wednesday, October 8
Lobby, Advanced Engineering Research Building (AER) Atrium
Evansdale Campus
Time: 12:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Come join KJ Reaser for a karaoke night to sing off stress before Fall Break! Refreshments provided.
2025 WVU Annual Peace Tree Ceremony & Lecture - Indigenous Peoples Day
Date: Monday, October 13
Peace Tree Ceremony: 11:30 a.m.
Outdoors, E. Moore Hall, WVU Peace Tree
Rain Location: Gluck Theater, Mountainair
Peace Tree Lecture: 6:30 p.m.
“The World Is What We Create It to Be: Rebuilding with Indigenous Narratives.”
Gluck, Theater, Mountainlair
We hope you'll join us for the 2025 annual Peace Tree Ceremony & Lecture with this year's Guest of Honor, CHEBON KERNELL (Muscogee Creek, Seminole).
Mr. Kernell’s lecture will provide traditional perspectives on how we collectively shape the world, acknowledging that we each play a role, aside from government, media, and other influences, to keep hope and create a better future for coming generations.
Everyone is invited! Programs are free and open to the public.
For more information, visit nas.wvu.edu or reach out to 304-293-4626.
2025 TransPride YOUniting Health & Wellness Conference
Date: Thursday, October 16 thru Sunday, October 18
National virtual conference live steamed via Zoom!
This 10th annual Health & Wellness Conference is a collaborative partnership between TransPride PGH, TransYOUniting, and other community and institutional partners organized and facilitated in Pittsburgh, PA.
The conference offers 3 days of professional continuing education for medical and behavioral health providers. As in past years all Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender Diverse community members (18+) and their immediate caregivers can register for free with full access to all content.
They will have an ASHA approved Voice & Communications track this year, as well as our Medical and Behavioral Health tracks. A robust assortment of Lived Experience Community Panels and Community focused content will also help round out a unique learning experience for everyone.
There are two keynote sessions each day and five one-hour session slots Thursday and Friday, and three one-hour sessions on Saturday of the conference for a total of 22 hours.
Keynotes this year include: Eli Erlick, Meredithe McNamara, stef schuster, AC Goldberg, Kellan Baker, and Uchenna Umeh (Dr. Lulu)!
If there are any questions, please email transpride.hw.conference@gmail.com. Single day registration opens starting October 1! Use the URL above to access the main registration page.
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Research - Call for Participants
The list of academic research in need of participants has just been updated! Take a look at the new content.
Studies must be IRB approved. Priority will be given to research being conducted as a requirement to fulfill academic degree.
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Jobs and Opportunities
West Virginia University MSW Information Sessions
Fall 2025 Dates:
Tuesday, October 7, 12:00-1:00pm
Monday, October 20, 6:00-7:00pm
Wednesday, November 5, 12:00-1:00pm
Thursday, November 20, 6:00-7:00pm
Wednesday, December 3, 3:00-4:00pm
Tuesday, December 16, 6:00-7:00pm
MSW Application opened September 2025!
A Master of Social Work (MSW) from West Virginia University opens doors to a wide range of impactful careers. Whether you see yourself advocating for children and families, shaping and providing health and mental health services, supporting older adults, influencing policy, leading community initiatives, or driving organizational change—your MSW equips you to be a powerful advocate and change agent at every level of service.
With an MSW, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills to fight for social justice, elevate underserved voices, and transform lives in diverse settings including behavioral health settings, schools, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and beyond. This isn’t just another degree—it’s your pathway to meaningful impact and lasting change.
Join us for one of our live, virtual MSW Information Sessions in Fall 2025. Learn about our on-campus and online MSW programs, admissions requirements, application tips, and more.
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Regular Hours
We will be open from 8:15a-4:45p Monday through Friday.
You can reach us by email at lgbtq@mail.wvu.edu
Check out our events page or subscribe to our Google Calendar to be the first to receive more information.