To ensure Shillington’s commitment to the LGBTQ+ community extends beyond Pride Month, we’ve collated a list of incredible resources, communities, archives, directories and charities for LGBTQ+ creatives. This list isn’t exhaustive—there are many amazing, invaluable resources out there—this list is just the tip of the iceberg.
I’m Meg, part of the Student Experience Team in the UK. The Experience Team is here to support students’ journeys throughout the course, and share resources for students and graduates to get involved with when getting out into the design industry.
For me personally as a part of the community, I’ve volunteered for various LGBTQ+ events and organisations in London—and it’s always beautiful to see how the community is interlinked to provide the best support for one another. It’s becoming increasingly important to show up and support each intersection of the community, and these resources are a great way to start.
Communities, Platforms and Directories
Both a directory and a community, QDC is a global community specifically for LGBTQ+ creatives working within the design industry. Its aim is simple; to promote and celebrate queer identity and LGBTQ+ contributions to the world of design.
2. AZ Magazine
AZ Magazine is an online platform for LGBTQ+ people of colour; to showcase their talents and celebrate the intersections of the queer community. It’s a space to hear voices that have been historically underrepresented, with opportunities for QTIBPOC creatives to submit pitches and contribute to the platform.
For UK-based creatives working or looking at getting into journalism, the LGBTQ+ Journalism Network is a space for people to meet and find support from each other.
4. Outvertising
Within the UK marketing industry, Outvertising are fighting for more inclusive and equal representation within advertising. An organisation full of resources, events and media guides—including their podcast here.
5. Queer AF
Queer AF is an online newsletter and platform for UK-based creatives looking to launch their careers. Offering support, mentoring and opportunities to publish work in their weekly newsletter, helping to build the careers of budding LGBTQ+ creatives within the media industry.
6. Queer Creatives Community Directory
A global directory for LGBTQ+ creatives in any field which primarily features USA-based creatives, but open to submissions from any location.
A community for Black, Queer, Trans women and non-binary people looking to work remotely. Black Remote She offers resources, an online email course, events & a jobs board focused on remote opportunities.
Out for Australia is a growing network and community for young LGBTQ+ people at the start of their careers. An organisation providing mentoring, support and role models within the community to empower young LGBTQ+ professionals in the workplace.
9. Queer Circle
A London-based charity based in the heart of Greenwich’s Design District, Queer Circle is a space where intersections of the arts, health and social action come together through exhibitions, residencies and wellbeing programmes.
Queer Art Projects (QAP) is a UK-based production company, founded and ran by Queer artists. Creating exhibitions, events, workshops and so much more to highlight and support emerging LGBTQ+ creatives. QAP Digital is their online platform, showcasing artists and their exhibitions.
Archives
Archives play a crucial role in learning and understanding LGBTQ+ history and identity; so much has been lost in recent years sadly during the AIDs Crisis that archives help connect past and present communities together.
Queer Zine Library is a UK-based mobile collection of Zines celebrating queer culture, art and identity from self-publishing creatives. The library also has an online collection, which you can access for free.
2. Gal-Dem
Gal-Dem is an online media publication dedicated to creating space and a voice for people of colour from marginalised genders. Sadly, Gal-Dem ended publishing new material in 2023—but has since archived all of their incredible work accessible here. They have also curated a directory of all their contributors—which is accessible here.
3. Black & Gay, Back in the Day
An online photo archive celebrating and honouring the history of Black Queer Britain from the 70s, up until the 2000s. Black & Gay, Back in the Day regularly host events bringing the community together, and feature contributors and panellists on their podcast.
4. Digital Transgender Archive
An archive dedicated to celebrating Transgender identities and history, featuring oral archives, ephemera, artworks and so much more.
Pride of Arabia is a support network and community for LGBTQ+ creatives, centering South West Asian, North African people, migrants and POC. The platform hosts events, and an online library of resources and conversations.
An archive dedicated to showcasing Lesbian ‘herstory’ and identities; featuring a digital collection of audio and visual resources. From photography and pin designs, to cassettes and video tapes, this is a vast collection celebrating women and non-binary lesbian stories.
7. LGBTQ+ at the New York Public Library
An incredible digital collection of LGBTQ+ artwork, photographs and records which is accessible for free.
Another zine archive, preserving and celebrating LGBTQ+ zines and culture.
9. A Queer Year of Love Letters
A Queer Year of Love Letters is a series of fonts and stories highlighting Queer counterculture throughout the past; “it aims to make the act of typing an act of remembering.”
Charities & Organisations to support or reach out to
We’ve collated below various charities and organisations in our campus countries that offer support to the LGBTQ+ community. This list is not exhaustive, there are plenty more organisations that offer specialised support to various intersections of the community across the globe.
1. Switchboard LGBT (UK)
A helpline based in the UK for any LGBTQ+ person to seek support.
2. Mind Out (UK)
MindOut is a mental health service run by and for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ) people.
3. Gendered Intelligence (UK)
Gendered Intelligence, established in 2008, is a registered charity that exists to increase understandings of gender diversity and improve trans people’s quality of life.
4. Opening Doors (UK)
Opening Doors is the only dedicated national charity connecting LGBTQ+ people over 50 with creative activities, events, support and information. They also provide accredited training to professionals, conduct research and create policy.
5. The Trevor Project (USA)
The Trevor Project provides 24/7 crisis support services to LGBTQ young people. Text, chat, or call anytime to reach a trained counsellor.
6. GLAAD (USA)
Founded in 1985, GLAAD is a non-profit organisation focused on LGBTQ advocacy and cultural change. GLAAD works to ensure fair, accurate, and inclusive representation and creates national and local programs that advance LGBTQ acceptance.
7. BTFA Collective (USA)
An organisation to create spaces for the production and preservation of Black trans art and culture by building community with Black trans femme artists and providing them with the resources and support necessary to thrive.
8. Qlife (Australia)
QLife provides Australia-wide anonymous, LGBTIQ+ peer support and referral for people wanting to talk about a range of issues including sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships.
9. Stonewall (UK)
At Stonewall, we stand for lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, questioning and ace (LGBTQ+) people everywhere. We imagine a world where all LGBTQ+ people are free to be themselves and can live their lives to the full.
10. The Pinnacle Foundation (Australia)
We are Australia’s LGBTIQ+ education charity. We provide educational scholarships, mentoring and opportunities for young LGBTIQ+ Australians to realise their full potential.
11. Pride Foundation Australia (Australia)
Pride Foundation Australia is a national philanthropic foundation run by volunteers, specifically focused on addressing lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, gender diverse, queer, intersex, asexual and other LGBTQIA+ community issues in Australia through targeted funding around dedicated research, training development and community support.
Glossary of Terms
(Source: Stonewall, UK).
Lesbian: Refers to a woman who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards women. Some non-binary people may also identify with this term.
LGBTQ+: An acronym for the community as a whole; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer. The ‘+’ represents the wider range of identities that are a part of this community.
QDC: Acronym for Queer Design Club.
QTIBPOC: An acronym for Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, People of Color.
POC: An acronym for People of Colour.
Queer: Queer is a term used by those wanting to reject specific labels of romantic orientation, sexual orientation and/or gender identity. It can also be a way of rejecting the perceived norms of the LGBT community (racism, sizeism, ableism etc). Although some LGBT people view the word as a slur, it was reclaimed in the late 80s by the queer community who have embraced it.
Transgender: An umbrella term to describe people whose gender is not the same as, or does not sit comfortably with, the sex they were assigned at birth.
Trans people may describe themselves using one or more of a wide variety of terms, including (but not limited to) transgender, transsexual, gender-queer (GQ), gender-fluid, non-binary, gender-variant, crossdresser, genderless, agender, nongender, third gender, bi-gender, trans man, trans woman, trans masculine, trans feminine and neutrois.
Artwork by #ShilloOnline Teacher Dan Wilson.
https://blog.shillingtoneducation.com/lgbtq-resources-creatives/