Cornell Gender Inclusive Housing Options

• Click here to visit Housing and Residential Life's page with information about gender-inclusive housing options
• Another option is living in Loving House. The Loving House aims to enhance the intellectual and cultural environment of Cornell University regarding issues pertaining to the experiences of the LGBTQ+ and allied communities. The Loving House promotes the development of critical, engaged, and responsible LGBTQIA+ scholars, activists, and community leaders at various levels of experience. In addition to creating an LGBTQ+ living space that is inclusive to all intersections of identity, the Loving House embraces honest and frank dialogues about sex, sexuality, romanticism, gender identity and expression, community development, cross-cultural understanding, and the intersections of identity.

LGBTQ+ Counseling

• Let’s Talk is a drop-in consultation with a counselor, this occurs all across campus, but every Thursday afternoon, the LGBTQ+ Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) liaison hosts Let’s Talk at 626 Thurston on the first floor. 
• Group Counseling is offered every semester through CAPS. There are a number of LGBTQ+ specific groups that focus on both gender and sexuality.
•  All counselors in CAPS are trained to support students from diverse sexualities and genders. However, there are some therapists that provide support specifically for LGBTQ+ students, you can see staff bios here. All mental health supports can be found on the CAPS website or the Mental Health at Cornell website. 

Student Support & Advocacy Services

• The Office of Student Support and Advocacy Services assists students in navigating difficult life events and crisis situations that impact their ability to be successful. 

Sexual Violence Prevention and Advocacy Services

• Cornell SHARE
• Victim Advocacy at Cornell

Career Services
Cornell Career Services is committed to serving diverse populations, including LGBTQ+ students. The career counselors on campus are dedicated to ensuring all students’ experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds are respected and integrated into career planning and development. The CCS office has created identity and career resources on this page. 

What makes an LGBTQ-friendly campus? The question is a very personal one. Each undergraduate and graduate student needs to evaluate their prospective university or college with their own interests and sense of what makes LGBTQ campus life appealing. We encourage you to review our programs and other pages to gain a better sense of the Cornell University LGBTQ+ community. It may also be helpful to review opportunities for undergraduate and graduate studentson campus. There are a number of undergraduate and graduate LGBTQ+ groups on campus here to assist you in finding a home at Cornell.

If you can visit our Ithaca campus, we encourage you to stop by the LGBT Resource Center at 626 Thurston Avenue. The LGBT Resource Center is equipped to provide many different services depending on the needs of individuals. 

Helpful resources when deciding what college is best for you.

• College Experience Guide for LGBTQ+ Students
• Affordable Colleges Online LGBTQ College Student Guide
• Campus Pride
• Online Colleges Guide - Choosing an LGBTQ-Friendly College

We look forward to welcoming you to our community!  

We want the parents and family members of our LGBTQ+ and ally community to know that the LGBT Resource Center is continually working to make Cornell a warm and welcoming place for LGBTQ+ students.

As parents, guardians, or family members of LGBTQ+ or ally students you may have questions and concerns about how your student will experience Cornell. All students are welcome to visit the LGBT Resource Center to learn more about our resource and program offerings.

You may also need support as your LGBTQ+ student goes off to college, and you are welcome to contact the LGBT Resource Center if you have specific questions. Another great resource is Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). Their website has wonderful resources, and you can also locate a chapter near you. For further resources regarding issues of gender and/or sexuality.

Below are a few other resources that may be helpful as a parent, family member, and/or friend of LGBTQ+ individuals.

• HRC guide for coming out to your family and friends
• Tips for those who are friends or family members of LGBTQ people!
• HRC Coming Out as a Supporter of LGBT people

If you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community and a parent, we also want to provide you with resources as you navigate Cornell and our community. Below are some resources that you might find helpful as a LGBTQ+ parent in our community.

PFLAG (Parents, Friends, and Family of Lesbians and Gays)
COLAGE (Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere)
OurPath, formerly Straight Spouse Network (for husbands and wives of LGBT people)
Families Like Mine

Allies are individuals who are supporters and defenders of the LGBTQ+ community. Allies are a vital part of the community. If you are an ally, you are welcome to join in on any of the events and programs that we hold. Please drop by the LGBT Resource Center to see how you can get involved! There is no pressure to disclose your sexual orientation or gender identity unless you choose to do so.

Listed below are resources and organizations that focus on issues of religion and spirituality for the LGBTQ+ and ally communities. Please contact the LGBT Resource Center if you have suggestions for additions to this resource listing.  

Welcoming Congregations

First Baptist Church

First Congregational Church

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church

St. Luke Lutheran

First Unitarian Society

Other Denominational Resources

Baptist - Welcoming and Affirming Baptist Churches

Soulforce, Inc.

Catholic - Dignity, Inc. (Roman Catholic) / New Ways Ministry (Roman Catholic)

Episcopal - Integrity, Inc.

Hindu - Gay and Lesbian Vaishnava Association

Lutheran - Lutherans Concerned

Mennonite - Brethren Mennonite Council for Lesbian & Gay Concerns

Methodist - Affirmation / Reconciling Ministries Network

Orthodox - Axios - Eastern & Orthodox Christian Gay Men & Women

Presbyterians - More Light Presbyterians

Quaker - Friends for Lesbian/Gay Concerns

Seventh-Day Adventist - Seventh-Day Adventist Kinship International

Unitarian - Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations 

Upon request, the LGBTRC will provide educational resources, trainings, and workshops that align with our mission of supporting LGBTQ+ students on campus. If you wish to request a workshop or training please reach out to Cortney Johnson, cj366@cornell.edu. Please make all requests with ample time for planning, the Resource Center reserves the right to deny any requests based on availability.

The LGBTRC also provides some educational resources via downloadable PDF on this webpage. Please feel free to download and post these infographics in your office or building to help others learn more about ways to make Cornell an even more open and affirming campus. 

Common Questions on Gender Inclusive Pronoun UsageSome people don’t feel like traditional gender pronouns (she/her, he/him) fit their gender identities. Transgender, genderqueer, and other gender-nonconforming people may choose different pronouns for themselves. The following tips are a starting point for using pronouns respectfully. 

How do I know which pronouns to use? If the person you’re referring to is a stranger or brief acquaintance (like a server, cashier, fellow bus patron, etc), you may not need to know. If the person is a classmate, student, or coworker, for example, it is best to ask. Try:

• “What pronouns do you use?”
• “How would you like me to refer to you?”
• “How would you like to be addressed?”
• “My name is Tou, and my pronouns are he and him. What about you?”

How often do pronouns change? Remember that people may change their pronouns without changing their name, appearance, or gender identity. Try making pronouns an optional part of introductions or check-ins at meetings or in class.What if I make a mistake? Most people appreciate a quick apology and correction at the time of the mistake. Try:

• “Her books are—I’m sorry, hir books are over there.”

By correcting yourself, you’re modeling respectful pronoun use for others in the conversation. If you only realize the mistake later, a brief apology can help. Try:

• “I’m sorry I used the wrong pronoun earlier.
• “I’ll be more careful next time.”

When should I correct others? Some people may not want a lot of public attention to their pronouns, while others will appreciate you standing up for them. If someone uses the wrong pronoun for a person who isn’t present, try a brief correction:

• “I think Sam uses she and her pronouns. And yes, I’m going to her house later too!”

It can be tough to remember pronouns at first. The best solution is to practice! Correct pronoun use is an easy step toward showing respect for people of every gender.

What might this look like in other languages? Check out the links below for more information regarding Gender Inclusive Pronoun usage in other languages. Nonbinary.org: Gender neutral language long and comprehensive wiki-style list of ten languages with pronoun options. Multilingual Pronouns list thirty-six languages and some pronoun options- some more detailed than others. Blog by Non-binary French people (in French, no longer updated but has an archive). Series of posts/examples of Non-binary pronouns in German (in German) Non-binary pronouns in Icelandic (in English). Non-binary Gender in Japan: link list (in English) this has terms and narratives; unclear how much about pronouns.

Inclusive Pronouns
There are two sets of commonly used gender-neutral pronouns:sie, hir, hir, hirs, hirselfzie, zir, zir, zirs, zirself
Note: It is often also acceptable to use the third person plural (they, them, their, themselves) instead of the third-person singular (he/she, his/hers, him/her, himself/herself) when referring to someone who has not expressed a clear pronoun choice.