Gay-friendly colleges? Non gay-friendly colleges?

Question

I will be a high school senior in the fall, and I have started looking at colleges. It's important to me to find a school that is accepting of GBLTQ students. Or, at least, I want to find to school that isn't extremely UNaccepting. This is not my main focus when looking for a school, but it definitely affects my view of the school.

So, basically, which schools are good? Which should I steer clear of? I'm mostly looking at schools in the northeast.

Thanks!

Answer 1

I live in New England, although I didn't go to college here. However, here's what I've gleaned.

First, let your academic needs dictate your winnowing process. The ease of gay acceptance in non-religious academia is fairly pervasive. Decide if you want a simple liberal arts education, pre-professional training, a program that involves international study, easy access to broad cultural resources, etc. Then, after selecting for your particular interests, take a look at the gay atmosphere.

I suggest you contact the gay student organization at your top choices. Also see if you can speak with recent gay alumni. You want a place where not only is it acceptable to be openly gay on campus, but also in the surrounding community.

Again, almost any non-Catholic college in the Northeast US would be open to giving gay students support, encouragement, and an on-campus social life. Most have gay student centers. Nonetheless, the following have stellar reputations:

Smith College (Lesbian academic capital of the world) in Northampton, MA
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
Emerson College, Boston, MA
Northeastern University, Boston, MA
University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
Williams College, Williamstown, MA
Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH

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Answer 2

Most Gay Friendly Colleges

Answer 3

Although the state of Texas isn't the most accepting, the University of Texas Austin is! I was there for the duration of my bachelor's degree, but I am straight so I guess I can't really say for sure. UT is a great school, and I have a couple of lesbian friends who agree they felt accepted there. Austin is a really down to earth city, I saw a lot there! I live in San Antonio now and although I see many lesbian and gay couples and I'm accepting, I couldn't speak for the rest of the city! Good luck!

Answer 4

I think no matter what Christian college you go to, there will always be a large amount of homophobic people there, some colleges obviously will be worse than others but I am not sure on what ones they are; you should just go to the college that suits you and your future best.

Answer 5

Well, as a trans-man, I can tell you from experience that there ARE a few (at least) gay, bi, trans, and questioning friendly colleges out there. Im attending one right now- the Art institute of pittsburgh (Im going online, though, because im stuck for the moment in the middle of kentucky.) the staff are nice, and were willing to work with me in the future when I get my name change documents taken care of for changing my name and gender marker on everything.

One you might want to steer clear of (if youve even heard of them) is the spencerian/sullivan schools. Their female attrition rate is horrible, as is their attrition rate for gays and trans-people, and with reason. when I attended there (two semesters) I found more hostility from others for that simple fact than ive found anywhere else.

Also, another good one if your planning on coming around here is Transylvania university, transy for short. Theyve got quite a large gay populace in their dorms, frats, and sororities, and though I cant really account for the trans populace, Im pretty sure their welcome there, to.

Hope this helps you any!

Answer 6

Do NOT come to Denton, TX! We have 2 major universities but Denton is extremely conservative! If you get assaulted because of your sexual orientation, don't expect any justice. In May of 2005 a man stood trial for the homocide of a gay restaurant manager who had HIV. He acted like he was gay, went over to his apt. in the middle of the night and stabbed the restaurant mgr 50+ times and got off on a self-defense plea and then there is a dear friend of mine who had to face his assailant in court in March of this year after this guy and a friend of his in the early morning hours of Dec. 3, 2005, he got off after overwhelming evidence proved that he was guilty on a mistaken identity defense. Here is a link that reviews my friends story: http://161.58.61.187/artman/archive/06-01-2007.pdf. Maybe when if enough people steered clear of Denton, then the powers that be will have to change their way of thinking and actually hand out justice.

The two univerisities in Denton are University of North Texas and Texas Womens' University.

Answer 7

It depends what you are interested in doing, many fashion schools are "gay friendly" and almost any performing arts school such as Julliard. I am from New York so those are the only schools I know but Columbia and NYU are great schools and very accepting of just about anyone!

Answer 8

well, i can't say for all of the state colleges in MA, but Salem State(where i just graduated from) is incredibly gay friendly. along with having a very active GSA on campus, we also have an annual drag show, housing for transgendered/gender neutral, and a very large gay population in general. having worked very closely with freshmen for the past three years as an RA, and as an openly gay male, i can also say that a majority of students here are very accepting of people of various sexualities and races.

i also know from some friends that UMass Amherst has housing set aside for those who identify as GBLTQ.

Answer 9

I think you should state a bunch of schools you are considering and ask for the opinions about those schools. Without any guidance from you you will not get the answer you are looking for. Good luck finding an environment where you are comfortable.

Answer 10

The colleges on the west and east coast are the best. That's where all the open-minded people are. Stay away from colleges in the south and private colleges. Private colleges tend to lean conservative and this is where all the good Christian kids are. e