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Libraries Indiana University Bloomington

Transgender Resources

Here are some recommended resources for those interested in gender identity, trans issues, coming out, and related research.

Resources for Transitioning at Indiana University Bloomington

This box offers a brief overview of primarily Bloomington- and IU-related resources related to transitioning. You will find a list of student and support groups, a name/gender marker change guide, health and legal services at IU, and bias incident reporting. The LGBTQ+ Culture Center offers a comprehensive guide for Transitioning at IU Bloomington. You can also see their Transitioning Guide for more information. It can also be helpful to read about other folks' transitioning journeys, check out the Transgender Media page in this guide for a list of memoirs and non-fiction books.

Additional Resources:

IU Bloomington Groups & Communities

  • LGBTQ+ Culture Center
    • Through the LGBTQ+ Culture Center, students will find a safe and welcoming learning environment that provides resources and support to help students successfully reach their educational goals. The Center, which is a program of the Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs (OVPDEMA), works in partnership with other diversity efforts on campus.
    • You can also join the LGBTQ+ Center Discord server through the link on their website
  • LGBTQ+ Alumni Association  
    • The IU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, and Others Alumni Association is an active and vibrant organization of IU alumni and friends that serves to improve the quality of life for LGBTQ+ students, faculty, staff, and alumni of IU on all eight campuses
  • Transgender Union for Students
    • TrUSt is a peer support, discussion, education, recreation, outreach, and advocacy organization for transgender and trans-allied students, faculty, and alumni of Indiana University. TrUSt provides a safe, welcoming space for trans and gender questioning people, regardless of if they are out publicly, and thus a nontrivial portion of meetings take place in a private and gender-neutral space. TrUSt promotes and organizes recreational and outreach activities among its members and advocates for transgender and questioning students, faculty, alumni, and people broadly. 
  • Queer Student Union
    • The Queer Student Union at Indiana University aims to empower LGBTQ+ students through community building and advocacy at IU.
    • They also organize the Queer Mutual Aid Network
  • Black & Bold
    • Black & BOLD is an organization that works to provide a positive space for growth, self-exploration, support and safety for IU students who identify  as being both of Black and/or African Diaspora descent and as part of the LGBTQ+ community. The group is open to both undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at IU Bloomington.
  • Latinx Initiative
    • This group provides a safe space for LGBTQ+ Latino students, faculty, and staff from all areas of the campus. Through meaningful interactions, the effort strives to be a conduit for LGBTQ+ Latinos in the Indiana University community to develop a support system, have fun, and explore opportunities to educate, advocate, and grow.
  • OUTlaw  
    • OUTlaw is a student alliance working to promote equal rights and protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender. OUTlaw promotes tolerance, visibility, and equality within Maurer School of Law on behalf of the LGBTQIA+ community. We also work with other student, alumni, and political organizations to advance equal rights. We host legislative leaders, legal scholars, and community activists to foster dialogue within the legal community.
  • Out at Kelley
    • Out at Kelley offers programming for LGBTQ+ students, faculty, staff, and allies to form a community, learn, and grow together. Through events like our book club, professional networking nights, social dinners, and more, we seek to create a welcoming and inclusive environment in the Kelley School of Business and encourage our members to expand their personal and professional networks. 
  • Pride in Chemistry
    • A social group for queer chemistry and science graduate students that also hosts professional development seminars, mental health workshops and provides academic resources.
  • Collins Living Learning Community (IU Housing)
    • The Collins LLC cultivates community through leadership, sustainability, humanities, and the arts. Although it is not explicitly themed around LGBTQ+ issues, the students who choose to live there are usually highly passionate about social justice work. It typically has a higher proportion of LGBTQ+ students than other residence halls.
  • Spectrum Community (IU Housing)

    • This is an inclusive community designed to create a comfortable and supportive environment for all students of all gender and sexual identities. Community members have the opportunity to connect with role models and allies within the Indiana University and Bloomington communities.

Bloomington Groups

  • Trans and Allies Support Community (TASC)

    • TASC is a Bloomington PRIDE program working to support and affirm transgender and nonbinary gender-diverse people in Central Indiana through support, advocacy, and social connection. The peer-facilitated group meets once per week. For more information, connect with TASC on Facebook or email tasc@bloomingtonpride.org.

  • Queer of Color Alliance
    • The Queer of Color Alliance is a social group for LGBTQ+ of color identifying individuals living in the Bloomington area. The alliance is focused on building relationships, educating ourselves about QOC history and culture, and uplifting the community through civic engagement. 

Name Change: Indiana University Bloomington

Indiana University’s Bloomington campus utilizes both Preferred Name and Primary Name fields for students and employees. A student’s Primary Name is essentially the student’s legal name and a student’s Preferred Name is the name the student prefers, or requires, to be used. Even if a student has not legally changed their name, that student can have their Preferred Name reflected in many campus databases and on their Indiana University Identification Card.

Legal Name Change

If you wish to legally change your name and are a resident of Indiana, you will begin the process at Indiana’s online Self-Service Legal Center.

  • Fill out the packet provided on the site, publish your intent to change your name, and then appear before a judge, who will grant the name change.

Once you have changed your name with the state of Indiana (or your state of residence), you will need to change the name on your Social Security card.

  • The steps to change your name on your Social Security card can be found in great detail on the Social Security website.
  • This can also be done by going to the office of Social Security Administration in your town. The Bloomington office is located at 515 W. Patterson Drive.

After a legal name change, you’ll also want to change your name on your driver’s license or state ID.

  • To see the various things you’ll need to make this change if you are an Indiana resident, please check out the BMV’s page on Proving Your Identity. If you are a resident of another state, check with the office that issues driver’s credentials and/or photo ID cards in your state.

See this guide for information about changing the gender marker on your birth certificate and on additional Indiana documents.

Legal Assistance

  •  Student Legal Services  If you are an IU student and pay a student activity fee, you are entitled to free legal assistance and representation from. Their staff would be happy to assist you with this process.
  • Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund Name Change Project  Provides pro bono legal name change services to low-income transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary people through partnerships with some of the nation’s most prestigious law firms and corporate law departments.

See more on the Health Services page.

  • Student Health Center at IU Bloomington  Gender-affirming health care, STI testing, HIV prevention, Sexual wellness information, Hormone therapy, counseling
    • As part of our commitment to ensuring that everyone feels welcome and accepted at the Health Center, representatives from the medical clinic, CAPS, and Health and Wellness Education have come together to create the Gender Affirming Care Team. This team helps create a more inclusive environment and provides specialty care for more diverse and LGBTQ+ students. The team has led initiatives such as updating documentation to be more inclusive and providing gender sensitivity training for Health Center staff.
    • The Health Center not only continues previously prescribed gender-affirming hormone treatments, but also can initiate them. Learn more about Gender Affirming HRT on their website.
  • Bloomington, IN Gender Affirming Care Providers  This list was curated by a group of LGBTQ+ students at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law and is not a definitive document of LGBTQ+-friendly resources.

Transgender Healthcare Guides for Indiana

See more on the Legal Services page:

  • Student Legal Services  IU's Student Legal Services can help trans and nonbinary students undergo a legal name change and gender marker change as well as support students with confidential legal advice. 812-855-7867
  • Indiana Legal Services (ILS)  Hosts the LGBT Project: Name and Gender Marker Changes
  • Transgender Law Center  Transgender Law Center works to change law, policy, and attitudes so that all people can live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression.

A bias incident is any conduct, speech, or expression, motivated in whole or in part by bias or prejudice meant to intimidate, demean, mock, degrade, marginalize, or threaten individuals or groups based on that individual or group's actual or perceived identities. 

Indiana University is committed to creating welcoming, inclusive, and respectful campus communities where everyone can thrive and do their best work—a place where all are treated with civility and respect. If you experience, witness, or are aware of a bias incident, submit a report to alert the university. Reporting an incident allows IU to support those impacted and take steps to prevent future incidents. Report a bias incident here.