Finding Your Place: A Guide to LGBTQ-Friendly Colleges and Universities

For lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) students, the college experience is about more than just academics. It's about finding a place where they can truly belong, thrive, and express themselves freely. LGBTQ students make up around 10% of undergraduate learners, offering diverse perspectives and experiences, and enriching college culture and life. Cultivating an LGBTQ-friendly college culture often helps schools attract and retain LGBTQ enrollees. Choosing a college is a deeply personal decision, and for many students, finding an LGBTQ-friendly campus that offers a safe and genuinely inclusive environment is a top priority. A true LGBTQ-friendly college prioritizes institutional change and equity. This guide discusses some of the most common challenges that LGBTQ college students face, both in school and elsewhere. These challenges include coming out, mental health issues, family issues, and interpersonal violence. This guide also highlights LGBTQ learners’ rights, introduces resources for LGBTQ college students, and summarizes the key features of LGBTQ-friendly college cultures.

Common Challenges Faced by LGBTQ Students

The LGBTQ community faces many unique challenges. These can include coming-out stress, family rejection, anxiety and depression, and verbal and physical abuse. Schools should work to protect and support LGBTQ learners facing these challenges.

Coming Out

Some college students come out during their college years while exploring their identity and sexuality outside of the constraints of their family or community. Often a difficult process, coming out can require courage. LGBTQ college students may expend much emotional energy anticipating this decision and dealing with reactions from family and friends. This intense process can take time, energy, and focus away from college studies.

Mental Health Concerns

According to GLSEN’s 2019 National School Climate Survey, LGBTQ learners aged 13-21 suffer disproportionately from low self-esteem and depression. Many learners also report skipping school out of fear of harassment, which clearly indicates heightened anxiety. Many LGBTQ young people feel different from the straight majority, which can contribute to social anxiety, isolation, and depression. Since learning under stress, anxiety, and depression proves difficult, these mental health issues can negatively affect learners’ studies. Experiencing LGBTQ discrimination and prejudice often takes a toll on students’ mental health. The unique stressors and pressures that LGBTQ college students experience often contribute to anxiety and depression. LGBTQ college enrollees without adequate support systems may also experience loneliness.

Family Issues

Unlike people of marginalized races, religions, or social classes, LGBTQ individuals do not often grow up in families that share their identity. Many LGBTQ youth face misunderstanding and rejection from their families. This lack of support often contributes to LGBTQ students’ depression and isolation. Family stress and lack of support can make earning a college degree more difficult to achieve. Finding a supportive college culture and peer group often proves very important for LGBTQ youth who cannot rely on family support.

Safety and Interpersonal Violence

Many LGBTQ students experience physical harassment or assault. According to the GLSEN School Climate Survey, nearly 60% of students 13-21 years old report feeling unsafe at school due to their sexual orientation. Approximately 37% and 43% of LGBTQ learners feel afraid due to gender identity and gender expression, respectively. LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities provide various policies, programs, and campus safety systems that can help protect LGBTQ enrollees. GLSEN’s 2019 National School Climate Survey highlights incredibly high rates of verbal harassment, sexual harassment, and cyberbullying of LGBTQ students ages 13-21. The report indicates that this hostile climate lowers self-esteem, GPA, and college aspirations.

What to Look For in an LGBTQ+ Friendly Campus

Attending an LGBTQ-friendly school can promote feelings of belonging and satisfaction. Colleges and universities often provide policies, programs, resource centers, and activities that support LGBTQ students. Key indicators of inclusion at these schools often include gender-inclusive housing options, comprehensive health and counseling services that are affirming of trans and non-binary students, and academic offerings in gender and sexuality studies.

Campus Culture and Climate

Institutional best practices for cultivating a campus culture that supports LGBTQ students, include supporting LGBTQ student leadership and tracking LGBTQ retention. Campuses can also create LGBTQ resource centers, programs, clubs, and events. Resource centers often provide educational services, counseling, and programming that promote an LGBTQ-friendly campus culture.

Mental Health Support

Fortunately, many college campuses offer free or low-cost mental health counseling services. Some schools and communities offer LGBTQ mentoring programs that foster supportive, confidential, mentor-mentee relationships. These relationships function as a safe space for mentees to discuss gender identity and sexual orientation issues, thoughts, and feelings.

Community and Housing

Some colleges also offer roommate-matching or gender-inclusive housing options that offer LGBTQ students an aware, supportive community. Schools can also connect LGBTQ learners with supportive off-campus LGBTQ centers, events, and groups.

Clubs and Extracurricular Activities

LGBTQ-friendly college campuses typically offer LGBTQ clubs and various extracurricular events, programs, and activities that support community and camaraderie. Students should look for school calendars indicating gender-diverse activities such as LGBTQ performances, trips, dances, or comedy shows.

Policies and Safety Measures

Schools can help combat these problems by creating and enforcing policies and programs that protect LGBTQ learners. When choosing where to apply, prospective LGBTQ college students should consider school safety.

Academics and Faculty Support

Many schools offer LGBTQ-related majors and minors, such as gender studies, LGBTQ studies, and human sexuality. Sociology and psychology programs may also feature curriculum concentrations in these fields. Colleges and universities can support their LGBTQ populations further by hiring LGBTQ faculty and training non-LGBTQ professors on how to create a safe learning environment for LGBTQ students. Additionally, schools can attract and support marginalized learners by offering identity-based scholarships.

Recruitment and Retention Strategies

Fostering diverse student and faculty populations typically increases the scope, richness, and complexity of the learning environment. Colleges can attract LGBTQ applicants by sending out recruiting materials that highlight relevant campus programs, events, and activities. Schools often identify LGBTQ students by inviting learners to self-disclose their LGBTQ status on their applications.

Understanding Your Rights as an LGBTQ+ College Student

LGBTQ college students should know the rights they hold in a higher education environment. Some federal and state laws protect LGBTQ learners, and many schools feature inclusion statements and policies that offer additional protection and support.

Title IX

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 forbids sex-based discrimination in educational programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. This regulation specifies that federally supported schools and programs cannot treat people differently, refuse them services or housing, impose sanctions or behavioral rules, or discriminate based on sex or appearance.

Inclusion Statements

Inclusion statements demonstrate organizations’ commitments to equality and diversity values, principles, and practices. They can help protect marginalized people by establishing an accepting, supportive organizational culture. LGBTQ students or employees can encourage organizations to substantiate their inclusion statement in various ways. Advocates can also challenge organizations for falling short of their stated values.

State and School Policies

Many states have laws that protect LGBTQ students against discrimination and harassment in schools. States such as California, New York, Vermont, and Iowa offer detailed safeguards requiring local school boards to create and implement anti-harassment policies. These policies may ensure greater awareness of and consequences for LGBTQ harrassment. Many colleges and universities feature diversity, inclusion, and anti-harrassment policies that protect LGBTQ individuals and communities. LGBTQ students who experience discrimination can file internal complaints or appeals. The Campus Pride Index serves as a free benchmarking tool that schools can use to create LGBTQ-inclusive campus cultures. This online tool also helps learners and their families identify LGBTQ-friendly campuses.

Resources for LGBTQ+ College Students

The five organizations below work to reduce violence and discrimination against LGBTQ youth and students. Joining these organizations can help LGBTQ students access scholarships, leadership development opportunities, resources, and advocacy. Some organizations also offer volunteer, internship, and employment opportunities.

Campus Pride: A volunteer-driven network of student leaders, this national nonprofit organization helps protect LGBTQ college students. Campus Pride offers supportive programs, services, and resources for LGBTQ college students.
Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAAD): A non-governmental organization, GLAAD monitors media, fights the negative portrayal of the LGBTQ community, sparks dialogue on related issues, and advocates for greater acceptance.
Point Foundation: This foundation provides scholarships that support LGBTQ students demonstrating academic promise. The Point Foundation also offers mentorship, internship, and community service opportunities.
The Trevor Project: This national nonprofit organization offers crisis intervention and support for LGBTQ individuals. The organization conducts research, runs programs, and hosts speakers.
National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce: Great community resources include the national and local chapters of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. This organization hosts branches throughout the nation. Making connections here can lead to a sense of belonging.

Advice from the Experts

Kryssa Shane

Kryss Shane (she/her) is a leading LGBTQ expert with more than 22 years of experience. She holds two master’s degrees and two licenses to practice mental healthcare. She also appears at events and conferences as a keynote speaker, author, and writer and is a teaching associate at Columbia University. Kryss has significant experience working with transgender youth, transgender military service members, and other transgender groups.

Kryssa suggests that schools can make improvements by offering anonymous surveys for students, staff, and faculty. These surveys allow the school to learn the feelings and experiences of minority populations on campus. It’s especially important to include survey questions that allow for the acknowledgement of race, disabilities, and other aspects of intersectionality that affect LGBTQ students. Schools can also use research and speak with experts to draft ideas for improvements. In some cases, students may offer to be in a focus group to share ideas.

Safety is always a huge concern - both overall safety and how the community and local organizations react to and interact with the LGBTQ community. Many students also seek out information about Pride events to gauge how open they can be if they attend that school. Others ask about events that don’t occur in June (typically considered “Pride Month”) because they want to know if a campus is a safe place for them all year.

Kryssa emphasizes, "You are valued, you are worthy, and you matter. I know this often sounds trite or cliche, but too often, young adults go into a brand new collegiate world alone, and they may feel lonely if they don’t make friends immediately. Knowing how to seek out help for mental healthcare is a crucial part of adulthood and one best learned early. It’s also good to know that, in the first year or even first two years, most college credits transfer, so if your first school was not the right fit, it’s okay to consider finding a better fit." The Trevor Project also offers dedicated 24/7 support to LGBTQ students. Additionally, the National Suicide Prevention Helpline offers support to anyone in need 24/7.

Ebony Jackson

Ebony Jackson is the assistant director of the Office for Social Justice and Diversity at Montclair State University. She oversees the institution’s LGBTQ Center. Prior to coming to Montclair State University in February 2018, she served as the coordinator of the Women’s Center at Ramapo College of New Jersey. She is dedicated to social justice programming, education, and advocacy. She shapes her approach from an intersectional lens with influence from Audre Lorde’s quote: “There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.” Ebony holds a BA in linguistics and an MA in counseling from Montclair State University.

Ebony notes that over the years, there have been efforts on college campuses to create more inclusive and affirming spaces for LGBTQ students. For example, some trends I’ve observed are the incorporation of LGBTQ studies (majors and minors), gender-inclusive restrooms, name change policies, training for the campus community, and LGBTQ-themed housing options.

Ebony highlights that some areas for improvement are the interpersonal, institutional, and systemic. Interpersonally, LGBTQ students still deal with their name and pronouns not being respected and microaggressions about their gender identity and/or sexual orientation. While some colleges have name change policies, gender-inclusive restrooms, and LGBTQ-themed housing, others don’t, rendering it an institutional issue. Systemically, laws surrounding issues such as discrimination, hate crimes, gay panic defense, and gay conversion therapy aren’t nationally addressed to protect the lives of LGBTQ community members.

Examples of LGBTQ+ Friendly Colleges and Universities

Many institutions across the country are making strides in creating inclusive environments for LGBTQ+ students. Here are a few examples:

Princeton University (Princeton, NJ): Offers LGBTQ+ counseling, gender-inclusive housing, and gathering places like the Carl A. Fields Center. In 2006, the Princeton LGBT Center opened as a symbol of their campus pride. This center provided the necessary resources for those on an exploration path to discover their own sexuality. According to BestColleges.com, Princeton University ranked first among the best colleges for LGBT for students.
Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ): A top-rated LGBT University. The Center for Social Justice Education and LGBT Communities provides educational and social programs, and leadership development for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, queer, and asexual and ally students. Rutgers offers gender inclusive housing, including gender neutral dorms and freshman being paired with student interested in LGBTQ issues.
Montclair State University (Clifton, NJ): Has a LGBTQ Center dedicated to creating an environment of inclusion and support to all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expression. The LGBTQ Center offers various resources for LGBTQ students, including student organizations and the Safe Space program.
University of Maryland: The University of Maryland is committed to providing a safe space for its LGBTQ students. The LGBTQ+ Equity Center supports UMD students, alums, and staff across all gender identities and sexual orientations and provides various resources and events on campus. For example, Quelcome is a long-running program that allows LGBTQ students to connect and have fun.
San Diego State University: San Diego State University’s Pride Center is an inclusive space that helps students with their sexual orientation, romantic orientation, gender identity, and gender expression development.
University of Washington: In 2005, the University of Washington established The Q Center after the university president received a letter that requested a safe space for queer students. The center assists LGBTQ+ students, staff, and faculty by providing educational programs and community building.

Addressing Unique Challenges for Online LGBTQ+ Students

Enrolling in an online program can contribute to the isolation LGBTQ students feel because they aren’t on campus with their peers every day. Online students who can travel to campus may consider joining LGBTQ groups so they can meet other members of the community at their school and connect with them. In some cases, schools may have virtual clubs that students can join, as well as virtual events where they can socialize with each other. Additionally, LGBTQ centers can offer advice on how to connect with other students in the community. Students can generally obtain information on how to get counseling and support from their school’s health center or the LGBTQ student center. They can also get in touch with The Trevor Project, which is an organization that provides a crisis and suicide hotline to LGBTQ people who need help. Students can review ACO’s ranking of the best LGBTQ-friendly colleges and also consult ACO’s transgender college student guide.

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