In many of Bates College’s academic departments and interdisciplinary programs, students are offered academic courses and programs that explore many different facets of sexuality and gender. Bates College offers a Gender and Sexuality Studies major and minor, as well as a Queer Studies General Education Concentration (GEC).

We believe that one of the most effective ways to create a truly inclusive campus is to build a strong and active network of allies. The OIE provides an LGBTQ+ Active Ally Workshop to provide the student community with introductory knowledge and understanding about LGBTQ+ identities and experiences. For more information click here.

Health Services provides LGBTQ+ students with on campus, judgment-free and supportive physical and mental health services.

Students who are seeking to or are currently transitioning, Health Services offers medical support for trans students through partnerships with local Lewiston medical services. To schedule an appointment, contact them at healthservices@bates.edu or call 207-786-6199.

CAPS provides free and confidential counseling/mental health services. To schedule an appointment, please contact CAPS@bates.edu or call 207-786-6200.

The Title IX and Civil Rights Compliance team is here to help. The Title IX team welcomes conversations with any Bates community member about gender or sexual respect. Students who have questions or want to learn more, do not hesitate connecting with Gwen Lexow, Associate Vice President for Title IX & Civil Rights Compliance/Title IX Coordinator at glexow@bates.edu to learn more.

This is a confidential resource and support and the team will work with you about moving forward with reports should this be something you want to do.

Students are able to change their gender on their HouseCat application, regardless of the gender listed through the Registrar. Some campus locations have gender-neutral or single-user bathrooms associated with them, and some do not. A full list is available here. Students should factor this into their housing preferences and are encouraged to list this concern in their application. Housing application information is only used by the professional staff in our office and is not linked to any other database on campus.

All gender housing is available to all non-first-year students. Please read more on Residence Life’s Open Gender Housing Policy. First-year students are paired with other students that match their selected gender identity on the Housing Application.

While we expect all students to create a welcoming environment for all members of the Bates community, students who are open to living with gender non-binary, transitioning, or questioning students are encouraged to let their openness and welcoming spirit known to the Bates Office of Residence Life and Health Education in the Additional Information section.

The OIE offers the SPARQ program. But there is student-led club that hosts regular meetings and programming for LGBTQ+ students called OutFront. Keep up to date with their programs and events by joining them on Bates Engage and/or following them on Instagram.

Also check out Bates Today and the College Events Calendar for list of various events from other campus partners.

The LGBTQ+ community uses terms and labels as a way to describe and self-identify. Knowing how and when to use proper terms can be powerful. In addition, providing terms for those questions helps to provide a space for self-discovery and identity.

SPARQ is working on a document that will be used as a living document for the ever-growing list of identities and terms adopted by the larger LGBTQ+ community. Below are a few lists of LGBTQ+ terminology resources:

• The Safe Zone Project
• The Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
• PFLAG
• GLAAD

Bates College believes in the transformative power of our differences. Therefore, it holds policies around discrimination, bias, and sexual misconduct that help to protect all students. In addition, Bates prescribes to one of the most inclusive policies around trans athletes.

Bates Policies

Athletics Trans Inclusion Guide

• American Civil Liberties Union – LGBT Project
• Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
• Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
• Lambda Legal
• LGBT Foundation
• LGBT Life Center
• The Safe Zone Project

• bi.org
• Bisexual Resource Center

Trans Advocacy

• Transgender Law Center
• Sylvia Rivera Law Project (SRLP)
• Transgender Emergency Fund – MA (TEF)

Additional Trans support resources

• Finding Your True Voice: A Guide to Gender-Affirming Verbal Communication – OSPP
• Registered Nursing – Gender Affirming Care resources

• The Intersex Society of North America (ISNA)
• interACT Advocates for Intersex Youth

• Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals
• Gay, Lesbian and Straight Educator Network (GLSEN)
• Q Research Institute for Higher Education
• Campus Pride Index

• The Trevor Project
• Trans Lifeline

• Being an LGBTQ+ ally – Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
• Be an Ally: Support Trans Equality – Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
• Being an Ally to transgender and nonbinary young people – Trevor Project

• A Guide To Gender Identity Terms – NPR
• What Does It Mean to Be Cisgender? – healthline
• Everything you wanted to know about gender neutral pronouns – XM
• What People Get Wrong About They/Them Pronouns – them
• Pronouns (tool to practice) – Minus18

• Why you should always use “transgender” instead of “transgendered” – Vox
• Inclusive Language Guide – American Psychological Association (APA)