The LGBTQ+ Center Newsletter
December 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
Happy holidays!The LGBTQ+ Center will be closed for winter break, but our staff will be available remotely. If you need anything, contact us via email!
We know the holidays may be a hard time. If you need support during the holidays, we have an LGBTQ+ Holiday Survival Guide available, and you can also contact the Carruth Center to make an appointment with this link or via phone call at 304-293-4431.
- The Carruth Center is open between 8:30 and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday at 390 Birch St in Morgantown.
- Students in need of mental health crisis services can use the same number for after-hours emergency support.
WVU is also partnered with BetterMynd, an online therapy program, to offer students access to six free teletherapy sessions. Register with BetterMynd here if interested.
Congratulations to all of you for making it to the end of the semester. You’ve done it!!!
Events To Look Forward To…
Details can be found on our Google Calendar, our Events Page, and our Instagram.
We're working on putting together next semester's events, but we can tease.....
- A trip to the State Capital with the Center for Black Culture, BLSA, OUTLaw, and more during the next legislative session, so you can experience being in the middle of the action, meeting the makers and shakers, watching laws and policies that effect our lives actually get made, and learning what effective political advocacy looks like right now in West Virginia;
- A professional networking forum purpose-built to bring STEM students at all levels together with multi-disciplinary professionals and academics working in STEM fields to talk about progress, share career insights, and inspire a new sense of purpose; and
- The 13th Annual Lavender Graduation is in production! All WVU students graduating in December 2025 and May 2026, no matter what you’ve studied, how long you’ve been here, or where you’re going next, are invited to bring as many loved ones as they want and join us on Sunday, April 19th from 3:00-5:00p.m. in the Mountainlair ballrooms. We’re coming together to recognize how far you’ve come, appreciate your academic achievements, and celebrate your success inside and outside of a classroom.
Get Involved With Student Orgs!
LGBTQ+ Club : Connection & Friendship
Date: TBD
Mountainlair, Mountaineer Room
Time: 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
More details on the next LGBTQ+ Club will be released soon, but for now, we are sending heartfelt congratulations to our treasurer, William Barrett, for earning his degree!
Otherwise, next semester’s book for the Book Club will be Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki! The registration link is available [here].
Triota: Women’s & Gender Studies Honors Society Date: TBD(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
Date: TBD
Time: TBD
Come to meet with fellow STEM/LGBTQ+ peers! Keep up with them on Instagram or join their GroupMe to get more updates on future events.
West FURginia : Furry Community
Join the Discord Server for updates on their next events!
Rainbow Coats: Medical Advocacy
Spring’s movie night is already planned! Watch & discuss And The Band Played On February 4 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: Accepting Members!
Stop by the LGBTQ+ Center on the 2nd floor of the Mountainlair or get in touch with us via this Qualtrics survey to learn more!—Community Corner
This section is open to the public! Events outside of the LGBTQ+ Center are posted here.
MindBody Wellness - Coffee Chats but Make it Queer!
Wednesdays from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
This is a free virtual support group and safe space for individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ to build connection and community, facilitated by therapist Shannon McNicholas, LGSW. To get started, call or text 304-363-4265 for a short screening process. For more information, check out their website at www.mindbodywellnesswv.com!
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) of WV
DBSA is the local chapter of the national non-profit organization whose mission is to provide hope, help, and support to improve the lives of people who have mood disorders. Please visit their webpage at https://dbsawv.org to find links about their free Support Group Meetings, Monthly Newsletter, and other resources.
They offer both in-person meetings in their Morgantown office in the Mountaineer Mall, but also have virtual/online meeting options and other in-person meetings around the state!
They also offer free, peer-led support groups for those with mood disorders (and those who care for them). For more information, contact them through 304-241-1862 or reach out via email.
- Check out their New Mood Disorder Expressive Arts Support Group that started December 6th! The group is held on Saturdays from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. at the DBSA WV Office in the Mountaineer Mall (5000 Greenbag Road, Morgantown, WV).
Date: Wednesday, December 17 (Third Wednesday Every Month)
Co-Op, 131 Pleasant Street
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Last month's potluck was so fabulous we're doing it again!
Our Place will provide ham, as well as a vegetarian dish from Roots Natural Kitchen for the main.Please use the link below to let us know if you're bringing something, too.And no stress: if you don't want to bring anything, just bring your fine self! See you next Wednesday!https://forms.gle/4MWrT8CgfDBN69tH7
🎉 Our Place is a once a month calm, relaxing, safe space for our people.Early evening so you're not out too late!Drop by anytime - play games, dance, eat, and hang out with other queer folks someplace cool and not a loud bar (although we love those too 🤗) Comfortable couches, good lighting, and a fabulous potluck.
Monthly, 6pm-10pm every third WednesdayNext one: Wednesday, December 17 At The Co-Op, 131 Pleasant Street, Morgantown WV. All queer folks, all ages 18+ welcome
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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. -----
Jobs and Opportunities
Big Interview - Career Services
Career Services is pleased to introduce Big Interview, a free and innovative training system designed to help students prepare more effectively for job interviews. This online platform combines comprehensive training with practical exercises to enhance students' interview techniques and build their confidence. Check out the overview of Big Interview here!Big Interview Includes:
- Mock Interview Practice: Tools for students to practice and record their interviews.
- Extensive Curriculum: Written and video resources covering the entire job search and interview process.
- Feedback Mechanism: Easily share videos internally or externally for constructive feedback.
- Admin Dashboard: Access detailed reports and analytics to track student progress.
- Customization Options: Create and record custom questions and question sets tailored to specific needs.
- Assignments and Custom Sets: Design and assign personalized interview questions.
- Resume Builder: Assist students in building strong, professional resumes.
Charles S. Longcope Jr. Writers and Artists Grant
The Gay & Lesbian Review/WORLDWIDE (The G&LR) — a bimonthly magazine of history, culture, and politics focusing on LGBTQ+ issues that publishes non-fiction and poetry, as well as reviews of books, movies, and plays — is proud to announce the 4th annual Charles S. Longcope Jr. Writers and Artists Grant for emerging scholars, writers, and artists across disciplines and fields that make a contribution to LGBTQ+ scholarship or the arts!
The purpose of this gift is to bring new and diverse ideas and voices to the magazine and to encourage and support emerging and unpublished LGBTQ+ writers, thinkers, scholars, and artists. Recipients will receive funding (up to $5,000) to write an article for the magazine and to begin, complete, or advance LGBTQ+ related writing and other creative projects such as a research paper or thesis, a book, a podcast, a video, a script, a novel, a multimedia creation, or an art installation.
For more info, visit https://glreview.org/the-gay-lesbian-review-writers-and-artists-grant/. Applications are due by February 15, 2026 at 11:59pm EST.