Finding a college or university environment that is welcoming to lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered students is an important consideration for prospective LGBT students in search of a college--and also a consideration for allies who would like to attend a school with progressive attitudes. A gay friendly campus can provide students with an invaluable support system and the opportunity to come out more easily. On the contrary, a campus that's hostile to GLBT students can be a terrible environment.
So how do you find a gay friendly college campus? If you're planning to attend college in the United States, you'll definitely want to look at The Advocate College Guide for LGBT Students by Shane Windmeyer. This thoroughly researched guidebook provides detailed information about the Top 100 gay friendly campuses in the United States.
In addition, here are some criteria to keep in mind while searching for a gay friendly college or university.
LGBT Population on Campus
It's impossible to know how many LGBT students attend a school, but by talking to students and members of campus organizations, you can get a sense of how many openly gay students are on campus. Numbers aren't everything, but they sure help!
LGBT Campus Organizations
What kind of organizations are available for students? How active are these organizations and what functions do they provide? Ideally, there should be multiple organizations on campus to meet different needs.
Homophobia and Hate Crimes
Are homophobic incidents on campus a common occurrence, or unusual? Have there ever been any violent hate crimes? How has the administration responded to homophobia and hate crimes, and what kinds of policies do they have in place should incidents occur?
LGBT Studies or Queer Studies Classes
A growing trend in some colleges and universities is to offer an interdisciplinary major in LGBT or Queer Studies. Even if you never take classes in this area, the presence of this major is a very good sign. If there's not a separate program like this, browse through course offerings to see if there are LGBT-related classes in various departments.
Does the English department offer a course on contemporary lesbian authors? Does the history department offer a course on Stonewall and the gay rights movement? In addition, try to find out if LGBT concerns are incorporated into broader coursework. For example, if there's a communication class called Minority Representations in the Media, is there a unit on sexual minorities, or just racial and religious minorities?
Out Displays on Campus
When you visit a campus, keep an eye out for open displays of homosexuality, such as pink triangle pins, rainbow flags, same-sex couples holding hands, or professors with "Safe Zone" signs on their office doors.
Community Outside of Campus
A college may be a very gay friendly place, but what are the attitudes in the community outside of campus? Is there an abundance of gay bars, or an abundance of homophobes, or both?
Policies for Faculty Members and Other Employees
This may not affect you directly, but how the school treats its gay employees says quite a bit about their attitudes. For starters, are domestic partners given similar benefits to married heterosexual couples?
Best of luck with your college search! Here's a list of LGBT scholarships to help you further.
Naomi Rockler-Gladen - Instructional designer and freelance writer, Naomi Rockler-Gladen writes some of Suite101's most read work.
