LGBTQ2S+ Guide and Glossary
Informational Guide for UCalgary community
Statement in response to recent anti-LGBTQ2S+ protests in Calgary
About the Guide
This guide was developed by the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion with LGBTQ2S+ students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, staff, and allies in mind. At the University of Calgary, we strive to build an equitable, diverse, inclusive, safe, and educational space for all.
This guide provides information on navigating the UCalgary procedures and campuses and information on LGBTQ2S+ terms.
There is value in diversity on campus - and our aim is to create equitable pathways by providing educational resources and supports for all, and by championing gender inclusivity and sexual diversity at UCalgary and the broader community.
The guide will be updated regularly to reflect accurate information and UCalgary procedures as they develop to meet the needs of LGBTQ2S+ members.
Campus + Community Supports
Navigating your communities and the internet for support, allyship, and information can be challenging. Listed is information on LGBTQ2S+ campus and community support.
Our Partners
The Q Centre
The Students’ Union Q Centre is a safe, comfortable and inviting space for the campus LGBTQ2S+ community, featuring a library and peer support services.
Queers on Campus
Queer people and allies working together to encourage and promote understanding and acceptance within the greater university community.
Calgary Pride
Calgary Pride is a not-for-profit organization that exists to promote equality and acceptance of Calgary’s LGBTQ2S+ community.
How-To's
Learn more about changing names on My UCalgary, Unicards, locations of gender neutral washrooms and more.
To change/update your legal name on file, submit a Change of Address/Personal Information form to Enrolment Services.
A photocopy of one of the following original vital statistics documents must be submitted with the completed form:
- Birth certificate
- Legal Change of Name Certificate from Vital Statistics (or equivalent from your home country)
- Government issued Marriage Certificate
- Government issued Divorce Decree
A driver's license or passport are not accepted as proof of your legal name.
Documents in a language other than English must be translated by a notarized translator.
Submitting a change of name request does not alter your log-in information (eID) for myUofC services.
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My UCalgary
In the “Personal Information” section of My UCalgary, you can make changes to your personal information to ensure it is up to date. View detailed instructions.
Preferred Name
You can add or change your preferred name yourself in your Student Centre. This will not change your legal name on your student record, which is the name used on transcripts, parchments, for student loan confirmation, or other purposes. If you would like to update your legal name, please see the instructions above.
In your Student Centre, select the “Personal Information” section.
Select the pencil icon to add or edit your preferred name.
Note that your preferred name will appear as your Zoom name and Microsoft Teams name. Changes you make will take up to 48 hours to reflect in Zoom and Teams.
If your preferred email address is set to UCalgary, you will not be able to change it. Additional Email Addresses will be used for emergency purposes only.
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Unicard
If you would like to request a new Unicard, please visit the UNICARD Office or contact campusservicecentre@ucalgary.ca.
Below is a list of existing gender-neutral restroom facilities at UCalgary:
MacEwan Student Centre (Multistall)
- 206W
Education Classroom Block (Single Stall)
- 381W
Energy Environment Experiential Learning (Single Stall)
- 118W
MacEwan Student Centre (Single Stall)
- 487W
- 489W
Professional Faculties (Single Stall)
- 3229W
- 1223W
- 1244W
- 1245W
- 2247W
Science A (Single Stall)
- 131W
- 133W
Science B (Single Stall)
- 113W
Scurfield Hall (Single Stall)
- 293W
- 393W
Health Sciences Centre
- HSC G313W
- HSC 1496W
- HSC 1497W
Heritage Medical Research Building
- HMRB G11W
- HMRB G21W
Kinesiology A Building
- 163W
- KNA 107W and 108W (Gender Neutral Change Rooms with a sink, toilet and shower_
Learn more about UCalgary Student Wellness Services, and other supports.
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UCalgary Student Wellness Services
Student Wellness Services offers a wide range of support from medical and mental health care, to chiropractic and massage therapy with professionals. If you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or need someone to listen, we encourage you to take advantage of the following services:
- Medical services
- Mental health support
- Peer programming
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Sexual Violence Support
Support is available to anyone in the UCalgary community experiencing domestic or dating violence. You can reach out to UCalgary's Sexual Violence Support Advocate, Carla Bertsch or visit the following LGBTQ2S+ community supports:
Centre for Sexuality | 403-283-5580
Skipping Stone Foundation | 587-333-4342
Calgary Outlink | 403-234-8973
Learn more about reporting an incident and who you can reach out to.
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Reporting an Incident
The Protected Disclosure Advisor is available to all members of the university community and serves as a confidential resource. They are the central point of contact for Protected Disclosure.
You can submit a Protected Disclosure anonymously; however, this may limit the ability of the University to respond and investigate.
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Reporting Harassment
Individuals who have been subjected to, or become aware of harassment and wish to make a complaint may contact:
- Protected Disclosure Advisor, 403.220.4086
- Human Resources, 403.220.8800
- Student Conduct Office, 403.210.3868
- ConfidenceLine, 1.800.661.9675
- a manager, supervisor, or dean
- Campus Security, 403.220.5333
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Safewalk
At Safewalk, your safety is important to us. We are committed to helping students, staff, and campus visitors safely reach their destination on campus. Safewalk is a free service and volunteers are available to walk 24/7. A pair of trained Safewalk volunteers will walk anywhere on campus with you (including McMahon Stadium, Health Sciences, Student Family Housing, the Alberta Children's Hospital, and the University LRT station).
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Campus Security
Campus Security works closely with the university community, Calgary Police Service, and other agencies to maintain the University of Calgary as a safe place to live, work, and study.
From residence councils to graduate students, there are a variety of student-run organizations and clubs at UCalgary to join.
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Q Centre
The Students’ Union’s Q Centre is a safe, comfortable and inviting space for the LGBTQ2S+ community at the University of Calgary to come together. This is a place to study, read, socialize, or hang out!
QCentre, 210 MacEwan Student Centre | 403-220-4460
qcentre@ucalgary.ca -
Queers on Campus
Queers on Campus encourages and promotes understanding and acceptance of queer people within the greater student, faculty, and staff community at UCalgary.
The SU club operates in three main areas: education, political action, and social events, while operating under a non-judgmental and sex-positive framework.
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Residence Rainbow Council
Student-run organization formed by and built for the UCalgary LGBTQ2S+ residence community.
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Gender and Sexuality Alliance UCalgary
A subcommittee of the Graduate Students' Association at UCalgary that serves LGBTQ2S+ community and allies within the graduate student body.
Get local support with organizations across Calgary.
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Calgary Pride
Calgary Pride promotes equality and celebrates Calgary’s diversity. Its mission is to progress towards a community free from discrimination against gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. It hosts events including the Calgary Pride Parade and other initiatives.
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Calgary Queer Arts Society
Calgary Queer Arts Society amplifies voices of queer people and their stories. Also known as the Fairy Tales Presentation Society, it hosts the annual Fairy Tales Film Festivals and the Outreels Allyship Education and Training Program throughout Calgary.
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Trans Equality Society of Alberta (TESA)
TESA is a non-profit advocacy group that actively presents open opportunities for formal engagement with authorities who otherwise overlook the unique needs of the larger trans community.
Glossary of Terms
Learn more about the range of identities and terms that are used within the LGBTQ2S+ community. While there is no definitive answer as to how everyone understands these terms, this glossary is meant to support education and understanding within and outside the LGBTQ2S+ community.
Ally
A person who confronts heterosexism, sexism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, etc., in themselves and others out of self-interest and a concern for the well-being of LGBTQ people, and who is committed to social justice and equal rights.
Androgynous
Gender expression that falls somewhere in between masculinity and femininity, or perhaps on some other dimension all together.
Asexual
A person who does not experience sexual attraction towards other people, and who identifies as asexual. May still have romantic, emotional, affectional, or relational attractions to other people.
Bisexual
A person who experiences attraction to some people of their gender and another gender.
Gay
A person who experiences attraction to those of the same gender. At times, it can be used to refer to the queer community as a whole, or as an individual identity label for anyone who is not straight.
Intersex
Intersex is an umbrella term for differences in sex traits or reproductive anatomy. This can include differences in genitalia, hormones, internal anatomy, or chromosomes, which fall outside the typical definitions of female and male.
Lesbian
A woman who experiences attraction to another woman.
Nonbinary
A person whose gender identity exists outside the gender binary of being only male or female.
Pansexual
A person who experiences attraction for members of all gender identities/expressions.
Queer
An umbrella term to describe individuals who do not identify as straight. However, the term can have different meanings or understandings by others in the LGBTQ2S+ community.
Transgender
A person whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth.
Two-Spirit
A term used within some Indigenous communities, which encompasses cultural, spiritual, sexual and gender identity.
News
Class of 2021: Indigiqueer advocacy and overcoming adversity define grad student’s experience
Alyjah Neil draws from their personal history to create a safer place for all
International Transgender Day of Visibility celebrates transgender and non-binary people around the world
March 31 is a day of celebration
Werklund School researcher partners with newcomers' centre to improve lives of LGBTQ2S+ refugees
Tonya Callaghan investigates how to improve policies and supports for these often-overlooked arrivals
English professor takes on notions of gender binary, colonialism and the patriarchy
Queer identity research of Rain Prud’homme-Cranford is rooted in the spirit of reclamation