GLBTQ
The Counseling and Wellness Services staff at the University of West Florida are committed to promoting and enhancing the well-being of all students. This includes individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered/transvestite/transsexual, intersex, or any other term that best encompasses the intersection of an individual's gender identity and sexual orientation.
Grounded in the work of Fritz Klein, our staff works with GLBTQ clients based on the idea that sexual orientation is composed of multiple factors including sexual attraction, sexual fantasy, sexual behavior, emotional preference, social preference, and lifestyle. Each factor contributes to an individual’s sexual orientation and each factor is fluid (constantly moving and changing with experience) and interconnected (impacting the other factors). Additionally, all sexual orientations are natural and a valid part of each individual’s identity. 
Guided by Klein’s work, our staff helps GLBTQ clients on issues including:
- Exploring one’s Sexual Orientation
- Exploring the Coming Out Process
- Challenges associated with Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia & Heterosexism
- Dating/Relationship Issues
- Career Issues
- Family Issues
- Integration of Sexual Orientation with other identities (i.e., race/ethnicity, religious/spiritual affiliations, political ideologies, family of origin)
Resources/Links
The American Psychological Association (APA) provides information on the meaning of terms including: sexual orientation, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersexed, and coming out. This web site also provides information on identifying one’s sexual orientation, the coming out process, why “conversion” therapy is flawed, and why homosexuality is not an emotional or mental problem.
UWF Gay Straight Alliance
YouthResource, a web site by and for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (GLBTQ) young people, takes a holistic approach to sexual health and exploring issues of concern to GLBTQ youth. This web site provides information, education, support, and advocacy efforts that support GLBTQ youth.
The Gay America site provides ways to connect to the GLBTQ community in various cities across the United States
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is an organization that promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights.
The Trevor Project offers three easily accessible services for LGBTQ youth: THE TREVOR LIFELINE (866-4-U-TREVOR) is the only nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention lifeline for LGBTQ youth. DEAR TREVOR is an online, non-time sensitive question and answer resource for young people with questions surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity. TREVORCHAT is a free, confidential, secure online messaging service that provides live help through this website.