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Welcome to Gender & Sexuality Departments
This page of the wellbeing website contains departments that offer services relating to Gender and Sexuality equity and health.
On this page you can learn more about safe community spaces on campus such as the Women's Center and the Resource Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity (both located in the SRB). You can also learn about the patient advocate, an on-campus resource designated to ensure health equity is being upheld at UCSB. Lastly, you can learn about how Student Health and CAPS offer resources to women and students in the LGBTQIA+ community.
Use the buttons above or scroll around the page to learn more!
Women's Center
The Women’s Center is the primary organization on campus dedicated to providing education on women’s issues, feminism, healthy masculinities, and gender and social equity. Our space and programs are available to all individuals of all genders interested in understanding how gender shapes our social world, and how we can work to eliminate all forms of gender-based oppression. The Women's Center does regular collaborations with student health and the Department of Health & Wellness. We share a lounge space with Health and Wellness where students are welcome to study, relax, check out books from The Women’s Center library, use the massage chair, and get access to free and healthy snacks.
The Women's Center is dedicated to providing students with the menstrual and sexual health products they need. More information on where you can get free and affordable menstrual and sexual health products on campus.
Resource Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity
The Resource Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity (RCSGD) serves as UCSB's LGBTQIA+ center, and is located on the 3rd floor of the Student Resource Building. The RCSGD exists to ensure that LGBTQIA+ students have the support they need to succeed at UC Santa Barbara. They provide services such as counseling, a confidential resource for those who have experienced interpersonal violence, student engagement initiatives, seminars, and consultation services for campus departments and student orgs.
The center has a lounge where students can study and spend time between classes, a computer lab with free printing, free snacks, free safer sex and menstruation supplies, and a whole lot of resources!
Patient Advocate
The Health Equity Advocate role works closely with Student Health, the RCSGD, and other campus departments to assure that marginalized students, especially queer and trans students, receive accessible and equitable healthcare. They are equipped to help with health discrimination, transitioning, LGBTQ+ health, insurance, and more. Check out the LGBTQIA+ student health page for more information. Or you can email them equity@sa.ucsb.edu or schedule a 30 or 50 minute meeting via shoreline.
Student Health Services
Student Health recognizes that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning, intersex, asexual, and aromantic students have health concerns that are the same as other students. However, other issues may be different and require a greater understanding or specific information or programs.
This section does not cover all services available to you as a UCSB student. Please browse the website, for a more complete picture. However, this section does address some areas that may be of specific interest or concern. Be sure to update your name and pronoun(s) through GOLD.
LGBTQIA+ & Transgender Care Services at Student Health Services
Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) Group Counseling
CAPS offers single session, short term, and long term talk therapy in either one-on-one or group therapy formats. In addition, Mental Health Peers offer workshops, support, and education on mental health topics to students. Professional consultation is available to faculty, staff, and families. All registered students are eligible for services at CAPS. When help is needed in sorting out a personal concern, CAPS is a resource for learning new skills in building self-confidence, relating to others, reducing stress, solving problems, and identifying options.
LGTBQIA+ Group Counseling with CAPS
CAPS offers Group Counseling options that include gender identity-based circles. Check out some of the options below for Winter 2024.
TransFormative; Wednesdays 4:30-6:00pm (Fall 2024)
TransFormative is a group for trans, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, gender fluid, gender queer and other gender questioning/exploring students to meet others, share and process, heal and help one another, and find/practice community in a safe, co-created, therapeutic and celebrating space. Topics may include trans identity, transitioning, internalized transphobia/negativity, friends and family, gender and physiological dysphorias, HRT and gender congruent procedures, community building, dating, self compassion, empowerment, and many others. 15 minute pre-screens are required; max 10 participants. Click below to apply.
True Selves; Mondays 4:30-6:00pm
(Fall 2024)
True Selves is an LGBTQ+ support and process group intended to serve all LGBTQ+ students by providing a safe and therapeutic space for students to explore, discuss, share and celebrate their authenticity, confidence and selfhood with other similarly-identified students. This group is appropriate for students newer to exploring or questioning sexual identity, students wanting to deepen and enrich self knowledge and identity, students wanting to broaden their support system and community, and students looking to share and learn with other LGBTQ+ peers. Topics explored have included family/friends, finding/creating community, coming/being out, neurodiversity, relationship with self, internalized homophobia, dating, aro ace identities, trauma and marginalization, exploring/defining selfhood, and many others. Brief prescreens are required. Click below to apply.
