Links We Like: LGBTQIA+ Career & Grad Resources

We hope these curated links help you explore opportunities, build confidence, and take the next step on your academic or career journey. Every student’s path is unique—and you don’t have to navigate it alone. If you have questions, want to talk through your options, or need help making a plan, we’re here for you. Schedule an appointment with a career coach to get personalized support tailored to your goals and experiences.

Local Resources

The Office of Student Inclusion and Diversity actively fosters the academic success and personal growth of LGBTQIA+ students, and it offers college-wide services to enhance the campus community’s understanding and appreciation of LGBTQIA+ people and themes.

• Quad Cities Affirming Diversity Out for Good (QCAD Out For Good): Youth Drop in Center; Support groups for youth, young adults, seniors, men coming out, and transgender individuals; Social events (e.g. Gay Prom, Film Fest, etc.); Community outreach and advocacy; Speakers Bureau.
• The Project of the Quad Cities: HIV/STI/Hepatitis C testing and treatment (PrEP/PEP); counseling and support groups; domestic violence and interpersonal violence services; outreach and prevention services.
• Augustana Center for Speech, Language, and Hearing: Transgender people’s voices don’t always match their desired gender presentation. Fiona Briggs of the Augustana Center for Speech, Language, and Hearing developed a voice modification program to help transgender clients develop their desired voice in a healthy way.
• Family Resources: Counseling for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and other violent crimes; legal advocacy; medical advocacy; prevention education; sheltering and housing
• University of Iowa Health Care LGBTQ Clinic: Chronic disease management (including anxiety and depression), contraceptive management, gynecological services, HIV testing and prevention, hormone therapy, immunizations, post-surgical care for those who have undergone gender-affirming surgery, routine physical exams and wellness, sexual transmitted infection (STI) testing and treatment

 National resources

• LGBTQ+ churches
• The Trevor Project
• GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation)
• National Center for Transgender Equality
• It Gets Better Project
• Human Rights Campaign (HRC)

Career Resources

The Human Rights Campaign maintains a list of industry specific LGBTQ+ Professional and Student Associations, we’ve highlighted general career resources here.

• Campus Pride:  National LGBTQ+ nonprofit run by college students.  Career fairs and job board to connect with LGBTQ+ friendly careers.
• Out For Undergrad: Dedicated to helping high-achieving lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender undergraduates reach their full potential in their careers. Hosts career conferences in the fields of Business, Marketing, Engineering and Technology.
• Human Rights Campaign: Employee resources on everything from coming out to addressing workplace discrimination as well as the annual Corporate Equiality Index.
• Lesbians Who Tech & Allies:  Community of LGBTQ+ women, non-binary and trans individuals in and around tech (and the people who support them).
• Out and Equal Workplace Advocates: Provides information regarding workplace issues and hosts job board and an annual LGBTQ+ workplace summit.
• Out Professionals: Leading LGBTQ+ networking site with a fairly extensive LGBTQ+ centered job bank.
• Out to Innovate: Global community of LGBTQ+ professionals in STEM, provides education, advocacy, professional development, networking, and peer support. Science and Engineering with PRIDE.
• StartOut:  LGBTQ+ non-profit for entrepreneurs to drive the economic empowerment of the community.
• Stonewall: UK-based LGBT equality organisation. Offers best practices for LGBT inclusive workplaces and annual list of the 100 best employers for LGBT people in the UK and Europe.

LGBTQ+ Fellowships and Research Opportunities

These are sample fellowships and research opportunities that are available for students.  Be sure to connect with your faculty advisor and the Office of Fellowships to find out additional opportunities.

• Institute for the Study of Sexuality and Gender — Queer Studies Award: honors an undergraduate for excellence in research and writing in Queer Studies.
• FEA Rainbow Scholarship: Fund for Education Abroad provides scholarships and ongoing support to students who are underrepresented among the U.S. study abroad population.
• The Point Foundation LGBTQ+ Scholarships: The Point Flagship Scholarship empowers LGBTQ+ students to access and succeed in their education at accredited four-year institutions in the United States.
• ABF Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program:  American Bar Foundation Fellowships introduce undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds to the rewards and demands of a research-oriented career in the field of law and social science.
• Victory Empowerment Fellowship: Victory Empowerment Fellowship is for LGBTQ+ leaders of color and/or transgender leaders who seek to expand their campaign skills and policy-making power.

 Additional Resources

• Sylvia Rivera Law Project: SRLP works to guarantee that all people are free to self-determine gender identity and expression, regardless of income or race, and without facing harassment, discrimination or violence.
• The National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce: NGLCC is dedicated to expanding economic opportunities and advancements for LGBTQ+ people.
• Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund: TLDEF is committed to ending discrimination based upon gender identity and expression and to achieving equality for transgender people through public education, test-case litigation, direct legal services, and public policy efforts.
• International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association: ILGA World is proud to be a global voice of LGBTI networks, communities and movements tirelessly committed to shaping a world where everyone can live safely, equally and free.