LGBTQ at Ohio State

Trans at Ohio State

Transgender and gender non-conforming communities have pioneered the fight for LGBTQ+ rights since the days of Stonewall and before. For individuals who are questioning their gender identity, exploring gender expression, or expressing their most authentic self, finding community is vitally important. The Ohio State University strives to support students, staff, and faculty of all genders by providing resources including trans-inclusive student housing, health care and insurance coverage, legal support, training, and more.

Trans@OSU

The following resources are available for transgender and gender non-conforming students, faculty and staff at The Ohio State University.

Gender-Inclusive Accommodations

Preferred Name Policy

Students and employees have the ability to set a preferred name on my.osu.edu. For more information and steps to set a preferred name, visit our page on Ohio State's Preferred Name Policy.

Preferred Name on BuckID

Once you set a preferred name online, you can request a new BuckID with your preferred name on it free of cost. Note: Your legal name will still appear on diplomas, transcripts, enrollment verifications, and degree verifications. For more information about this process, please see BuckID Frequently Asked Questions.

Faculty and Staff

If you are an employee of the University (excluding student employees), you can set your preferred name on Workday. For steps on how to do so, check out our page on Ohio State's Preferred Name Policy.

Legal Name and Sex/Gender Marker Changes

For steps on how to change your name and/or sex/gender markers in the State of Ohio, visit our page on Changing Legal Name and Legal Sex.

For steps on how to report a legal name change and/or legal sex change to Ohio State in order to update your records, visit our page on Updating Legal Name and Legal Sex with Ohio State.

For funding such legal changes, TransOhio offers a Micro-Grant for Name Change/Gender Marker Change. Learn more and apply at transohio.org/legalinfo. 

Transgender Health Care at Ohio State

Wexner Medical Center operates a Transgender Primary Care Clinic at two locations.

Find additional LGBTQ+ health and wellness resources here. 

Student Health Insurance

The Student Life Student Health Insurance (SHI) Benefit Plan covers many services for transition-related care, including counseling, hormone therapy, and certain surgical procedures. Open the document “Trans Health Care Services with Student Health Insurance” on this page to learn more.

  • If you would like to speak to a SHI staff member who specializes in information to support students seeking transgender services, please contact SHI at 614-688-7979 or shi_info@osu.edu. Specify your needs and your inquiry will be directed to the appropriate staff member.

Staff and Faculty Health Insurance

University-sponsored medical plans provide comprehensive coverage and wellness benefits, including many services for transition-related care. The following health plan benefits are available to enrolled faculty and staff experiencing the distress and impairment of Gender Dysphoria:

  • Mental health coverage

  • Pharmaceutical coverage (e.g., for hormone replacement therapy)

  • Coverage for medical visits or laboratory services

  • Coverage for certain reconstructive surgical procedures related to gender reassignment

  • Coverage of routine, chronic, or urgent non-transition services (e.g., for a transgender individual based on anatomy. For example, gynecological exams for trans men).

Open the document “Trans Health Care Coverage - Faculty and Staff” on this page to learn more.

Trans Mental Health with Counseling and Consultation Service

Involvement Opportunities

  • Trans*Mission - a student organization for trans, non-binary, nonconforming, and questioning students and allies.

  • Center for Belonging and Social Change - Offering LGBTQ programs all year long, the Center is a welcoming space on campus for students of all gender identities and gender expressions. Plus, we have a gender-neutral bathroom!

  • Trans Awareness and Empowerment Week – takes place annually during the third week of November. Join the Center for Belonging and Social Change for a week of events that honor, empower, and support those who are transgender and/or non-binary here at The Ohio State University!

  • Transgender Day of Visibility – takes place annually on March 31.

Find additional student and alumni involvement opportunities here.

Other Internal Resources

External Resources

A great resource is the Transgender Map. This interactive site provides support and resources related to various aspects of the trans experience. Topics include social, legal, and medical transition, including gender-affirming surgery options, as well as financial planning, and more!

Financial

TransOhio's Emergency Fund

Following the passage of Ohio HB 68, which bans gender affirming medical care for minors in the state, TransOhio now offers an emergency fund. TransOhio's Emergency Fund will provide financial assistance for families facing crises such as a lack of access to gender-affirming care, relocation costs, and other essential resources. To learn more, request assistance, or donate to the fund, visit transohio.org/emergency-resources.

Name Change/Gender Marker Change Financial Assistance

TransOhio offers a Micro-Grant for Name Change/Gender Marker Change to help trans folks with the completion of the filing process for name change and/or gender marker change in your Ohio county of residence. Many times in the trans community, individuals lack financial resources to complete this important process in their journey. TransOhio has secured six grants so that resources are available to such individuals to complete this legal hurdle. 

Financial Support for Medical Transition

MoneyGeek created a guide on Financing & Support for Gender Confirmation Surgery. The guide covers topics such as medical transition options, average costs, health insurance coverage, financial support options, resources, and more.

The following organizations have funds available for transition-related medical care:

Free Binders and Shapewear

Central Ohio's Kaleidoscope Youth Center offers The Gender Affirmation Project, which provides free binders and gaffs to young people up to age 24.

Point of Pride provides binders and femme shapewear for free to any trans person who needs one and cannot afford or safely obtain one.

Paid Research Opportunities

Paid research opportunities are a great way to earn some extra money while helping to advance knowledge in a variety of fields. Below are some current studies looking for trans participants:

TNGE BIPOC Discrimination and Mental Health Study

Are you a transgender, nonbinary, or gender-expansive BIPOC individual? Consider participating in a 15-20 minute survey about your mental health experiences. You can visit https://umassboston.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eJpUybXr7fB4je6 to complete a brief 5-minute screening form to learn if you are eligible for the study. Once you complete the screening form, the PI (Álvaro Gamio Cuervo) will reach out via email to inform you of whether you are eligible to participate in the 15-20 minute cross-sectional survey. Here you will be asked questions about a range of topics (i.e., demographic information, discrimination, trauma, and suicidal ideation). During that survey, you will be able to opt into a raffle for a $50 Amazon gift card. 

Higher Ed Period Product Access Survey for Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender Non-Conforming Students

Researchers at the University of Michigan are working to learn about transmasculine, non-binary, and gender non-conforming (TNG) higher education students' experiences with period poverty and accessing period products on their school campus. If you are 18+, attending higher education in the United States (college, university, trade school), and a person who menstruates or has menstruated in the past AND who does NOT identify as a cisgender woman, you are eligible to participate in our short survey! Your participation will help us learn how to improve period product access for TNG individuals across the country! Click HERE to get started. If you have any questions about the survey, please reach out to mjqp@umich.edu or mskattari@umich.edu.

For more opportunities, check out our page on Paid Research Opportunities.

Finding Trans-Affirming Care

Health Insurance Guides

Community Connections

Central Ohio is home to a vibrant trans community! Check out the organizations and events below.

Kaleidoscope Youth Center

Kaleidoscope Youth Center (KYC) promotes and supports self-confident, healthy, productive lives for LGBTQ youth as they transition from adolescence into adulthood. The organization offer many programs and services, including Genderscope - a discussion and activity group for trans and nonbinary youth, ages 12 - 20. KYC also manages The Gender Affirmation Project, which provides free binders and gaffs to young people up to age 24.

Mozaic

Mozaic supports the success and overall well-being of transgender, gender expansive, and nonbinary communities in Ohio through community building, education, and resource navigation. Mozaic serves transgender, gender expansive, and nonbinary young people of color ages 13-29 by offering programs and services by and for QTPOC.

TransOhio

TransOhio serves the Ohio transgender and ally communities by providing services, education, support, and advocacy, which promotes and improves the health, safety and life experience of the Ohio transgender individual and community.

TransOhio offers several support groups for a varierty of identities and needs. There is a Trans* Support Group,  Youth & Family Support Group, Partners' Discussion Group, and Shooting Stars, a support group and space for trans and gender creative youth ages 5-11. Additional upcoming events include the annual Trans & Ally Symposium and a Trans Job Fair & Wellness Day. TransOhio also offers micro-grants to assist with the costs of name changes and/or gender marker changes. Learn more and apply at transohio.org/legalinfo. 

TransOhio is also launching several new support resources - an Emergency Fund, a hotline, and a Discord server. 

  • TransOhio's Emergency Fund provides financial assistance for families facing crises such as a lack of access to gender-affirming care, relocation costs, and other essential resources. To learn more, request assistance, or donate to the fund, visit transohio.org/emergency-resources.

  • The Trans Care Connect Warm Line is a free and confidential peer support phone and messaging service for the Ohio trans community. Trained volunteers are available to provide a listening ear, emotional support, and information on resources. Call or text 866-708-6446.

  • The TransOhio Discord is a statewide Discord server intended to connect Ohio trans folks to their community, resources, legislation info, and more! Join at tinyurl.com/TransOhioDiscord.

Questioning?

Here are some helpful resources if you are questioning your gender identity:

Coming Out

Coming out, especially as trans, can be scary, but it can also be exciting and liberating! The below resources may be helpful:

Know Your Rights

National Center for Transgender Equality: offers trans-specific Know Your Rights resources related to: airport security, employment, health care, housing, immigration, Medicare, military records, passports, public accommodations, restroom access, schools, social security, and survivors of violence.

Lambda Legal: provides many guides on the rights of LGBTQ folks and those living with HIV, including:

  • Transgender Rights Toolkit: This toolkit is meant to be a resource and advocacy tool designed to educate and empower a community often left outside the walls of power.

  • Transgender College Students: This fact sheet is intended to inform transgender students of their rights on campus and to show what advocates are doing to help make colleges and universities more affirming of, and welcoming to, transgender students.

ACLU and GLSEN: partnered to create Know Your Rights: A Guide for Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students.

Trans Action Kits for Students

Faith

  • Transfaith: A national nonprofit that is led by transgender people and focused on issues of faith and spirituality.

  • Transgender Faith and Action Network: An organization that offers for trans people of faith and allies to vision, build, grow, heal and shift culture within faith communities and the world.