For many queer students, college is as emotionally demanding as it is exciting, making it crucial to have an outlet beyond classes and coursework.

Whether that be a friend group, family, or an interest, having something separate from the stressor creates an environment that can help you get through tough times.

On FAU’s Boca Raton campus, several options are available that specifically cater to the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. Two specific examples are the services offered at FAU’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and Queer Coffee Hour, run by FAU’s Lavender Alliance (LA).

CAPS

CAPS offers a wide range of services that aren’t limited to LGBTQ+ students, including one-on-one counseling, group therapy, crisis response, and more.

According to Laura Dipasquale, University Counseling Center Director, support groups are offered each semester based on “the unique needs of the students coming in.”

Dipasquale adds that several groups address needs common in the LGBTQ+ community, such as “social isolation, fears of rejection, family concerns, trauma, depression, and anxiety.”

Each group typically includes four to 10 participants and is led by one or two experienced therapists. Meetings are typically held weekly, lasting 60 to 90 minutes, at the same time each week.

If you’re properly enrolled at FAU and have paid the Health Fee, you can access CAPS services. Only FAU students are eligible to utilize and attend CAPS services.

For CAPS, “confidentiality in groups is strictly respected,” meaning information shared during a group session stays within the group.

To learn about current support groups, Dipasquale recommends contacting CAPS in person or by phone at 561-297-2277. You can also schedule an initial screening with a CAPS therapist, who can connect you with groups that match your “individual needs.”

Once recommended to a group, “you may be asked to meet with the group facilitator prior to starting the group to better understand the group and expectations for members,” said Dipasquale.

CAPS is located on the second floor of the Breezeway on the Boca Raton campus, in Room 226 above the food court. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Queer Coffee Hour

Queer Coffee Hour is an event hosted by the Lavender Alliance (LA), a student organization dedicated to creating a fun, inclusive, and safe space for LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies. They aim to create a climate where politics are not centralized and all members feel welcome and included.

Each session centers on a discussion topic; recent themes this semester include childhood queerness, queerness in media, and fashion and gender expression. Attendees enjoy a variety of beverages, including coffee, hot chocolate, and tea.

The event serves as an open forum, where anyone can join the conversation by using prompts provided by the hosts. For example, during the childhood queerness session, a question such as “What was your first encounter with queerness?” serves as a springboard to broader discussion.

“Queer Coffee Hour is a nice, chill environment… It’s a good place for people to be themselves and get comfortable with themselves,” said Taylor Dawkins, LA Treasurer. 

For LA, Queer Coffee Hour has served as a means to foster a sense of community.

“Once people get comfortable with themselves and their identity, they start showing up to more events, and that’s how we build community,” said Dawkins.

The program’s aim is to facilitate dialogue on topics attendees consider important to themselves and to the broader LGBTQ+ community. Recently, LA introduced a poll to gauge interest and shape future discussions.

“It’s important to get perspectives from other queer people and hear what their experiences have been like,” said Dawkins. “Because it can really help you learn more about yourself and understand ‘oh I’m not alone in this.’”

Queer Coffee Hour began in mid-2023 in the former Diversity Center and moved to CAPS at the start of this semester. It meets biweekly, every other Wednesday from 1:45 to 3:45 p.m.

“It’s generally just really fun to have people together and talk about a commonality,” said Dawkins. “We’ve all had queer experiences, and it’s fun to be able to talk to other people and hear how their perspectives are similar or different [from] the experiences I’ve had.”

To get involved, check out LA’s Linktree for upcoming dates. Events are open to all; club membership is not required.

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