Communities and Identities

GW supports the formation of identity based groups to encourage greater engagement within the GW community. 

LGBTQIA Resource Center 

The George Washington University (GW) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA) Resource Center celebrates and supports sexual and gender diversity and inclusion by providing comprehensive educational, support and advocacy services. These services include trainings, special events and mentoring designed to empower LGBTQIA students, faculty and staff to achieve academic excellence, embrace personal wellness and pursue professional success. The LGBTQIA Resource Center also invites and prepares all members of the GW community to give voice to our shared value of diversity and inclusion as allies with and for LGBTQIA individuals on campus, in our local community and around the globe. 

The LGBTQIA Resource Center is located in Room 103 of the Multicultural Student Services Center, 2127 G Street, NW. Students are welcome to utilize the Resource Center during the building hours. For more information, call 202-994-4568 or [email protected].

Religious and Faith Community 

The Religious and Faith community at the George Washington University (GW) is a diverse group of students, faculty and staff, who represent a variety of backgrounds and experiences unified under the goal of religious celebration and interfaith sharing. Currently, Roman Catholic and Jewish student enrollment represent the largest combined percentage of the undergraduate population, with religiously unaffiliated students representing the next largest self-identification.

With 22 student organizations promoting the values, beliefs and traditions of numerous religious and faith traditions, Religious Life programs include worship services, community building, study of sacred texts, as well as signature interfaith events, including the9/11 Interfaith Vigil, the Interfaith Dinner and the Interfaith Baccalaureate. 

Throughout the year, GW celebrates religious holidays and faith traditions (PDF). The Multicultural Student Services Center provides logistical support for religious and faith-based organizations to collaborate and promote dialogue.

The Disabled Students Collective 

The Disabled Students Collective is an organization founded by and for disabled students* at GWU! We welcome both disabled individuals and non-disabled allies to join us in weekly meetings and additional events focused on advocacy, creating community, providing support, and fostering pride in disability culture and identity! No disclosure of disability is required for membership. The privacy of our members is of utmost importance, and we promise to never share anyone's personal information without permission. *We welcome people with all types of disabilities, including (but definitely not limited to!) chronic illnesses, mental illnesses, learning disabilities, Autism, d/Deaf & Hard of Hearing, individuals who are blind/low vision and all others. We never want anyone to feel as if they are "not disabled enough" to join. You are welcome and supported!

The GW Autism Institute 

The George Washington University’s Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute (ANDI) was established to conduct groundbreaking research that will:

  • Improve our understanding of the root causes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
  • Develop tools for accurate diagnosis and cutting-edge treatments with a focus on getting the right treatment to the right person at the best time
  • Inform policies that address the complex issues facing the ASD community, particularly those relevant to young people living with autism as they transition to adulthood

As the lead site and only member of a National Institutes of Health’s Autism Center of Excellence (ACE) network in the mid-Atlantic, ANDI will harness the expertise of its researchers and clinicians to provide top-notch clinical services in DC and Northern Virginia while connecting faculty, families affected by ASD and policymakers to tackle tough questions that continue to divide the ASD community.

The institute will also develop more effective interventions, treatments and policies specifically focused on supporting women and girls with autism and individuals transitioning to adulthood, two groups that are often underserved and under-researched.

Despite more than 3.5 million Americans living with ASD, there is still significant mystery to its causes and which treatments are most effective. By combining science, evidence-based treatments and smart policy, ANDI will create better outcomes and better futures for those living with ASD. For more information on The GW Austism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute visit their website here.

Disability Speaker's Bureau

he DSS Speakers Bureau provides disability education to the George Washington campus community.  Comprised of DSS-registered students, the Speakers Bureau is routinely asked to offer presentations that highlight proactive approaches that the university can take toward increasing disability inclusion.  In many cases, the bureau works to raise a greater awareness of universal design models for physical and curricular accessibility.  These presentations frequently take the form of prepared formal speeches, but they are also conversational, allowing the audience plenty of Q&A time.

The DSS Speakers Bureau has prepared talks for:

  • The US Agency for International Development (USAID)
  • The US Environmental Protection Agency
  • The US State Department
  • The Center for Career Services
  • The Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s Institute for Citizen Leaders
  • The Multicultural Student Services Center

In addition, the Speakers Bureau helps to foster community among the DSS student population.  Upon request, members of the Speakers Bureau are available to provide general—and disability-centric—mentorship to DSS students as they navigate student life at George Washington. For more information on the Speaker's Bureau visit.