LGBTQ+ Resource Guide: Community Resources

As a part of our partnership with Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS), students at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary now have the opportunity to complete a concentration in LGBTQ Studies. Master of Divinity students wishing to complete the concentration will take a minimum of five courses that CTS has identified as an LGBTQ concentration elective. Courses will be offered in a mix of online, intensive, and regular semester courses on the CTS campus in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago.

The Gender and Sexuality Resource Center offers a variety of resources and amenities available to all students and student groups, including: space to socialize, study, and meet; a library with over 300 books, 40 movies/DVDs, and magazine subscriptions; and, a computer station.

Sacred Worth at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary is a student group that seeks to advocate for the dignity, rights, and issues of the LGBTQ+ communities and their allies. It is a place of fellowship and support for all persons. Sacred Worth affirms that all persons are of sacred worth, created in the image of God and every effort is made to recognize the rights of all people and to celebrate each person regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

This list of resources includes many different types of information sources for all about/for the LGBTQ+ community.

Gerber/Hart Library and Archives was founded in 1981 to be a depository for the records of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer-identified (LGBTQ) individuals and organizations, and for other resources bearing upon their lives and experiences in American society. Gerber/Hart Library and Archives has since grown into being the Midwest’s largest LGBTQ circulating library with over 14,000 volumes, 800 periodical titles, and 100 archival collections.

The Leather Archives & Museum was founded by Chuck Renslow and Tony DeBlase in 1991 as a community archives, library, and museum of Leather, kink, fetish, and BDSM history and culture.

Center on Halsted is the Midwest's most comprehensive community center dedicated to advancing community and securing the health and well-being of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) people of Chicagoland. More than 1,000 community members visit the Center every day, located in the heart of Chicago's Lakeview Neighborhood.

Reconciling Ministries Network is committed to the justice imperative of the Gospel and to grounding its ministries in the Wesleyan practice of personal and social holiness. RMN is committed to utilizing inclusive language and respectfully recognizing the diverse approaches to scripture, tradition, reason, and experience of the congregations and communities with whom it relates.

The Center serves three distinct but overlapping constituencies: the world of academic religious scholarship; faith communities; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer and transgender people and organizations. For each of these constituent groups, CLGS is committed to providing programming and support for research, resources, education for leadership, and community-building/advocacy.

This is a very helpful resource with a glossary of term and colorful graphics to illustrate.

This curated list from Austen Hartke includes many trans* and Christian resources for everyone.