The student orgs below are all focused on LGBTQ+ community, connection, and/or larger social justice topics. They are listed in alphabetical order. Feel free to reach out to the organizations directly and join their meetings as described! Let GSCC staff know if you have questions or want help getting connected to any group. Don’t miss the Discussion Groups page for groups that are not student orgs but are based in campus offices, like for students of faith and fluid sexualities.
Check out the event planning section below on accessible event planning, advertising, and funding sources for your events!
Qouncil is the collective of LGBTQ+ student organizations and LGBTQ+ serving orgs/entities at UW-Madison. Our goal: increase communication, collaboration, and capacity among and across member orgs to engage LGBTQ+ students and their communities.
Qouncil has 15+ affiliated student orgs! Contact us to join. We meet on Fridays once a month to break bread, discuss funding proposals and upcoming events, and get to know one another.
Are you in a student org that’s not listed here but should be? Contact us and we’ll get you set up on the website and in Qouncil! Have the following items ready: an org description, contact information, meeting information, and any other links or social media for the org.
Find Warren and Whitney’s contact info below or reach out to the GSCC general email at lgbt@studentlife.wisc.edu.
Badger Pride
Affinity Group for LGBTQ+ identifying student-athletes to build community and support each other. We meet three times a semester and attendance is confidential.
Interested student-athletes should refer to SAESO’s Affinity Group information for meeting times and locations.
iQueery
iQueery’s purpose is to promote students’ professional interest and aptitude in serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQA+) communities in all library settings. We seek to create awareness of library services to LGBTQA+ people through guest speakers, service projects, workshops, field trips, and networking opportunities. All students, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity interested in service to LGBTQA+ patrons are welcome.
iqueeryuwmad@gmail.com
Robin Gee: rmgee@wisc.edu
MadRainbow Chinese LGBTQ Network
MAdRainbow is a social group for Chinese-speaking LGBTQ people in the Madison area. We aim to create a culturally aware, safe, and inclusive space for low-key gatherings. All students and non-students are welcome to join. Our slogan is “queer needs no extra cool,” meaning…we are pretty chill.
Out for Business
Out for Business (O4B), a student organization serving Wisconsin MBA students builds community among its lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender members and their allies. The club hosts social events for Wisconsin School of Business students, recruits prospective LGBTQ+ students, establishes ties with corporate LGBT employee groups, and participates in national conferences. Out for Business also raises awareness among students, faculty, and staff of the issues facing LGBTQ+ professionals.
Jorge Tefel: tefel@wisc.edu
Xu Hong: xhong36@wisc.edu
PAVE
We are PAVE (Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment), a student organization on the UW-Madison campus working towards ending gender-based and intimate-partner violence. We do this through educational workshops about topics such as bystander intervention, consent, and supporting survivors. In addition, we offer volunteer opportunities, events for awareness months, and collaborations with other student organizations and community organizations.
Workshop options
VLP Interest Form
General Volunteer Interest Form
PEP Interest Form
QBiz
WI School of Biz Undergrad Affinity Group
Queer in Business is a student organization at the University of Wisconsin- Madison that focuses on creating a safe place for students of the LGBTQ+ community to thrive. Allies and non-business students are welcome as well.
QGrads
QGrads is a space for queer/LGBTQIA+ graduate students and queer-adjacent people to socialize, commiserate about being queer and graduate students, and connect queer graduate students to the greater queer community of Madison.
We are primarily a social group that meets once per week on Friday at 6PM during the semester, at varying locations. We announce the meeting time and location each week on our Facebook page and through our mailing list.
Queer & Trans Engineers (QTE)
Queer and Trans Engineers is a University of Wisconsin-Madison based student organization that builds community and fosters individual and professional growth for all LGBTQIA+* identifying students in, considering joining, or with strong ties to the College of Engineering.
QTE WIN page
instagram: @qtesmadison
Queer & Trans People of Color (QTPOC)
Queer & Trans People of Color (QTPOC) is an inclusive org made by and intended for queer and trans BIPOC students at UW-Madison!
qtpoc.uwmadison@gmail.com
instagram: @qtpoc_uw
Sex Out Loud
Sex Out Loud’s mission is to promote healthy sexuality through sex-positive education and activism. Sex Out Loud acknowledges that each person’s sexuality is uniquely shaped by sex, gender identity, gender expression, race, ethnicity, nationality, class, sexual orientation, religion, ability, parental- and marital-status, other facets of identity, and experience. We seek to empower all students in their choices to explore their sexuality.
We offer an assortment of free safer sex supplies; answers to your sexual health-related questions; access to lots of other sexual health resources in the community; free, fun, interactive, and educational programs; campus-wide events and activities promoting safer sex, sex positivity, and exploration; a stocked library full of educational and erotic literature; a well-trained staff willing and open to discuss sexual themes, topics, and questions. Sex Out Loud runs an extensive volunteer program for general members as well as a staff of fourteen students of all majors and career aspirations. Join us!
engagement.sexoutloud@gmail.com
sexoutloud.program@gmail.com (Ky/Chair)
Phone Number: 608-890-2138
Sex Out Loud on Facebook
Sex Out Loud website
The Pride Society
The Pride Society is an LGBTQ+ social organization that focuses on providing space for LGBTQ+ students and their allies. We host study parties, game nights, and many other fun social events for anyone who is interested. We also lend our support to various student activist groups on campus. Additionally, we are most well known for our annual Pride Prom, which prides itself on being a substance-free late-night dance that ends with drag performances! TPS also includes a variety of members, ranging from freshmen to seniors, as well as grad students and transfer students. Anyone is welcome at our events, no matter how they identify.
Email: pridesociety.uw@gmail.com
Instagram: @thepridesociety_uw
Event planning
Accessibility
Please make venue accessibility clear in event descriptions and prioritize taking a variety of needs into account in your programming.
For in-depth information on planning an accessible event, see the Accessible Event Planning Guide.
Advertising
Are you hosting an event that should go on our calendar and in our newsletter? Send us the following and we’ll make it happen:
- time, date, and location
- contact information
- accessibility information
- short blurb
- image or photo
Funding
Qouncil has funding for student orgs! For additional funds, UW-Madison has several grant opportunities for student organizations. Please see the Campus Funding Sources page for details on Associated Students of Madison grants, other Chancellor’s Fund grants, and additional funding sources.
