It's a new course of study for Western Illinois University students, dealing with sexual orientation and gender identity struggles.
This is the first year that Western Illinois University is offering a minor in queer studies. That's the study of issues relating to sexual orientation and gender identity.
Professor Merrill Cole, along with staff and students pushed for the minor.
"We respect many kinds of diversity at WIU but for many kinds of diversities like ethnic diversity there are actually programs. There was no program addressing sex, gender, diversity Per say," said Cole.
After doing a pilot course last year, the university saw numerous students interested in the minor. The first course offered this semester is LGBT Topics in Literature. The courses being offered across departments like Women's studies and Psychology. Cole says not only is it important to offer the courses for academic reasons but for students.
"We have a lot of not just LGBTQA students but students who don`t really know what their sexuality might be but these courses are there for them too so they can find out about it in a non-threatening environment," said Cole.
Cole says the minor is a sign of a change.
"I think it's become more topic of mainstream conversation," Cole said.
There are only two other universities in the state that offer a LGBT minor, the Depaul University in Chicago and the University of Illinois in Champaign.