However, schools can make a difference. Purdue University ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index. The QRC hosts various support programs such as the Queer and Questioning Mentor Program and events such as National Coming Out Day, Transgender Day of Remembrance, and other social events. Ready, Set, Respect! Annually, Campus Pride produces the Campus Pride Index, which awards star ratings (scaled 1-5) to colleges based on their LGBTQ+ supportive policies, LGBTQ+ student resources, and other criteria. The purpose of the center is to create an inclusive community on campus. There is a focus on the intersectionality of gender, race, religion, and sexuality. Bowdoin College ranks 4 on the Campus Pride Index. 5. A Vermont girls high school basketball team forfeited an out of state tournament after refusing to play against a team that had a transgender player.. Students benefit when they can see people who they can relate to in their school and in the curriculum they . Students learn about the development of LGBTQ identity formation and the coming out process. It has the Gender Identity Expression and Sexual Orientation Resource Center (GIESOPRC), which is dedicated to the education, empowerment and engagement for LGBTQ+ students. According to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the Household Pulse Survey administered by the Census Bureau suggests that 20 million adults in the U.S. identify as LGBTQ+. They offer defined residential communities (DRC), which are hallways where students live with those that share similar interests, and identities. The University of Louisville recognized a lack of competent healthcare for the unique needs of the LGBT community. The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students Increased visibility of LGBTQ+ students on campuses has increased the need for support networks. The LGBTQ+ Culture Center at Indiana University-Bloomington provides support to members of its LGBTQ+ community that includes scholarships, educational resources, and other support services. You have the right to express your gender, and it is unlawful for your peers or teachers to harass or treat you differently because of your gender. It has since grown to provide support, learning and research opportunities, and employment and leadership development for LGBTQ+ students. Nov. 4, 2022, at 5:18 p.m. To ease the trip for the LBGTQ community, Brown gives its students a real life guide with the Renn Mentor Program. The top cities were New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago, followed by San Francisco and Miami. Whether to use the "women's" or "men's" restroom due to . Ithaca College ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index. Ithacas five separate schools include The School of Music, The School of Humanities & Science, The School of Business, The School and Communications and The School of Health Sciences &Human Performance. Kenyon College ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index. Virginia has moved to restrict the rights of trans students in its public schools. Northern Arizona University ranks 4.5 on the Campus Pride Index. University of Pennsylvania Location: Philadelphia, PA Undergraduate Enrollment: 13,000 Acceptance Rate: 6% UPenn ranks high on the scorecard for recruitment and retention of LGBTQ+ students. Guilford College ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index. The 2011 National School Climate survey recommends: Gay Straight Alliances (GSAs). Find out which schools made our list for best colleges for LGBTQ+ students in each state. The almost 2% prevalence rate is more than double the previously available estimate of 0.7%. Mid Vermont Christian School (MVCS) was set . American University in Washington, D.C. provides LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and staff with significant supportive resources through its Center for Diversity and Inclusion. Stonewall Suites provides students with a safe living environment connected to classroom and student involvement options. They have a LGBT Resource Center dedicated to providing security, education, and a productive environment to their LGBT students. In addition to the Campus Pride Index rating scale, BestColleges has included its own ranking methodology and the following factors to produce this list: Is your school on this list? Enrollment Advisor. The Gender & LGBTQIA Center provides LGBT students (and those questioning their sexual identity) a chance to feel valued, validated and victorious while attending Elon, and in their lives. Cobretti's research and writing focuses on the experiences of historically excluded students and faculty and staff in higher education. 2023 College Consensus | All Rights Reserved. Various signature programs include Pride Week, Lavender Graduation, Glamour and Fame Pageant, and Transgender Day of Remembrance. The LGBT Resource Center at Kansas State University opened in 2010, and works to create an inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as resources to support the community at large. The LGBTQ+ Student Development Program at Towson University was created to cultivate leadership, career development, and organizational involvement through various programs, events, and services. Windmeyer is also the author of The Advocate College Guide for LGBTQ+ Students, the first-ever college guide profiling the "100 Best LGBTQ-Friendly Campuses.". The Stonewall Center offers many other resources for students, such as support, a LGBTQIA+ affirming religious group, and LGBTQIA+ related courses. A Florida-based Christian school sent out an email informing parents that LGBTQ-identifying students "will be asked to leave the school immediately." According to the email obtained by NBC . The center not only provides a supportive environment for students, faculty, and staff on campus, but also serves as a resource for training and involvement. The LGBT Center at University of Louisville provides students with a safe space to come together for discussions, advocacy, and to embrace each other's differences. When a student sees a SafeZone sign on campus, it identifies a safe place for LGBT students to talk about gender identity concerns with faculty committed and trained to support diversity and inclusion. They do this through increasing awareness, leadership development, and various other resources. One of Tufts Universitys earliest benefactors was none other than P.T. The center also facilitates participation in events such as the Pride Parade, Black Gay Pride Week, Dragstavaganza, and Trans Day of Remembrance. The school is named after Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in the United States.Though the school has a special emphasis on students questioning their gender identity or . "To do otherwise would not only be discriminatory but would deprive high school students of the meaningful opportunity to participate in educational activities, including inter-scholastic sports, based on sex-stereotyping and prejudice sought to be prevented by Title IX and Connecticut state law." K-State has a Gender Collective, which is an organization that provides a safe place for trans, cross gender, intersex, androgynous, gender variant individuals. 4 Best Scholarships for LGBTQ Students Scholarships are a type of financial aid that don't need to be paid back, which means they can make a substantial difference in your ability to afford. Macalester has been ranked one of CCs best River and Lake Colleges. Debbi Johnson-Rais, Ed.D., is the director of Florida Atlantic University's Scholars Program, an initiative that provides support and programming for high-achieving students, particularly those in medicine. The Counseling and Human Development office offers a safe and welcoming space for individuals to seek help with issues of gender identity and sexuality confidentially. The center of the campus is known as Red Square a location that includes landmarks like a statue of George Washington and the Broken Obelisk. It now offers more than 60 online degrees and certificates. UMD College Park ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index. Lehigh has established SafeZones throughout the campus, where staff, students and faculty are trained to professionally handle gender diversity issues. It exists to develop, support, and give "voice and action" in building future LGBTQ+ and ally student leaders. PSU ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index. The Dartmouth College Office of Pluralism and Leadership (OPAL) provides community-specific campus resources to various student populations, including the LGBTQ+ community. Campus-wide events include an Ithaca Pride walking tour of historically meaningful sites in Ithaca, an important site for LGBTQ+ rights. Through peer support, leadership development, and training, GSA Network supports young people in starting, strengthening, and sustaining GSAs and builds the capacity of GSAs to: (1) create safe environments in schools for students to support each other and learn about homophobia and other oppressions; (2) educate school communities about This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site. 22 school districts were given "top tier" ratings, 80 . This high school in New York City was the first high school in the world designed for LGBTQ+ students when it opened its doors in 1985.. Online learning opportunities also allow involvement with easier access. Students can live with a student of any gender identity. The QSR provides programming for members of various communities such as Black queer and trans students, queer and trans people of color, academic-focused programs, and queer faith-based initiatives. The city with the highest percentage of LGBTQ+ individuals per population was San Francisco. This ranking, in partnership with Campus Pride, looks at the top 25 LGBTQ+-friendly colleges. SDSU has gender neutral restrooms. The GGC provides support to the LGBTQ+ community through specialized advising, training, lectures, workshops, and celebratory advocacy. In a survey of 180,000 undergraduate and graduate students in 2018, the Association of American Universities found that 17% of students identified as LGBTQ+. Some consider Indiana University Bloomington to be a Public Ivy school. "We are aware of the situation with one student at one of our high schools who is dissatisfied with SBISD practices, which are applied to all athletes at that campus." Community dinner nights and Lavender Coffee chats also allow for social engagement. Effective professional development can help to educate staff on how to handle harassment and bullying, and it can provide a place to share resources and best practices to . The scholarships typically range from $1,000 to $2,500. Cities considered LGBTQ+-friendly have well-established, safe communities with activities, nightlife, housing, and events that are appealing to the LGBTQ+ community. Top Scholarships for LGBTQ Students to Apply For Included below are a number of different financial awards including LGBTQ Awareness awards, awards based on academic interests, and awards based on concepts like optimism, learning and changing, and more. In partnership with Campus Pride, we are happy to bring you our top 25 most LGBTQ+-friendly colleges in the United States. The University of Colorado at Boulder was established in 1876 five months before Colorado became a state. The GSRC fosters a supportive environment with intellectual, personal, and cultural programming. Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) are student clubs, just like Drama Club or Key Club, that allow students with a common interest to get together and have discussions or activities about that interest. OnlineSchools.org. In a Wall Street Journal survey, corporate recruiters ranked graduates of Penn State #1 in terms of their ability to reach for success when hired. Start the Survey . A battle over rainbow stickers at a high school near Dallas has hobbled the Gay-Straight Alliance and left LGBTQ students feeling unsafe. BestColleges.com is an advertising-supported site. They have gender inclusive housing in Stonewall Living Suites, which connects students interested in supporting the LGBTQA community. Shane Windmeyer is a leading author on LGBTQ+ campus issues, national leader in LGBTQ+ civil rights, and a champion for LGBTQ+ issues on college campuses. According to Shane Windmeyer, the founder and executive director of Campus Pride, the mission is to serve "LGBTQ+ and ally student leaders and campus organizations in the areas of leadership development, support programs, and services to create safer, more inclusive LGBTQ+-friendly colleges and universities.". The office also provides connections to community activism and support programs. Services provided by the center range from educational programming to counseling and health promotion resources. Founded in 1989, the Gender + Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC) was created to support and empower the LGBTQ+ community through events, education and other interventions. They offer training on the proper pronoun usage and how to engage in a conversation about which pronoun to use. San Diego State University (SDSU), located in San Diego, CA, is one of the best schools for LGBT students. They have gender inclusive restrooms and gender inclusive housing. CU offers its LGBT students the opportunity to join the Lavender Graduation, a yearly event that honors LGBT graduates. They have a Queer Resource Center (QRT) offering resources and programming to support all students at PSU. Its also a proud home of Pride, dedicated to providing a nurturing and safe environment for all LGBT students. Its a little objective and a little subjective, and always open for debate. In addition to harassment in schools, many LGBTQ+ students experience family and peer rejection, bullying, and isolation. These universities are: Augsburg College, Elon University, Harvey Mudd College, Guilford College, Indiana University Bloomington, Ithaca College, Kansas State University, Kent State University, Kenyon College, Lehigh University, Macalester College, Montclair State University, Northern Kentucky University, Purdue University, Portland State The Center provides a location for study and programming and a resource library for the community. The center has collaborative initiatives with other diversity programs on campus to facilitate support to the community. Those attending Harvey Mudd College proudly call themselves Mudders, and theyre frequently ranked among the best small colleges in the nation. The Q Center was created in 2005 as a result of a letter to the University President requesting a safe space for queer students. It is the 5th oldest university in the United States, with the largest endowment per student. LGBTQ+ youth activists who have overcome different hardships and struggles. It has a campus Pride Center. Genny Beemyn is a leading expert on the experiences of trans people in the United States, particularly the lives of trans students, and on the development of trans-inclusive college policies and practices. It also hosts speakers, film series, receptions, and other social gatherings. We rank the least LGBTQ-friendly colleges based on ratings and quotes from real students about equality on their campus. Augsburg has gender neutral restrooms all over campus for students to have a safe restroom. OStem UMD promotes participation and the development of LGBTQA communities in STEM. Workshops and professional development with experts can help to ensure that your school is inclusive, safe, and affirming for LGBTQ youth. According to U.S. News & World Report, Lehigh University ranked 53rd (Tied) among 2019s best colleges. State laws and school district policies in many places also protect transgender students from discrimination. Ithaca College provides a vibrant and engaged community for LGBTQ+ students through its Center for LGBT Education, Outreach and Services. The Queer Student Resources (QSR) office creates spaces for students of all genders and sexualities to feel safe. Portland State University (PSU), located in Portland, OR, is one of the top LGBT friendly schools. The Gender and Sexuality Resource Center collaborates with various campus partners to provide support to the LGBTQ+ community. There are factors to consider when choosing an LGBTQ+-friendly college. The All Gender Community housing is a model community where students of all genders are welcome, and the GSRC Qmmunity Connections creates a space for members of the community to make connections. Support individual transgender and gender . Their mission is to create a campust where everyone has a chance to explore who they and who they wish to be. Penn State is a proud member of the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT resource. The Campus Pride Index has recognized Macalester College as one of the best colleges for LGBT students in the nation. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Center, part of the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, serves the LGBTQ+ community through social events, lecture series, advocacy for a discrimination-free environment, and various training opportunities. A recent report by the Proud and Thriving Project found that LGBTQ+ students experience greater incidences of mental health conditions than their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts, making adequate mental health resources critical. University of Oklahoma ranks 4 on the Campus Pride Index. Other initiatives include workshops, leadership programs, and student organizations. Here are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Universities For 2021 1 University of Chicago Chicago, Illinois Graduation Rate: 94% Students at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business have access to several conferences that support LGBTQ students, such as Reaching Out's Annual LGBT MBA conference and the Out for Undergraduate Business Conference. This is due to changes and improvements made to the campus climate through the creation of a robust support network for students. Whether it is through regular campus events, housing and safe spaces, or training opportunities, there is robust support available. A Vermont girls high school basketball team forfeited out of the Vermont Division IV state tournament after refusing to play against a team that includes a transgender player. Image Credit: RobinOlimb / DigitalVision Vectors / Getty Images, 2023 BestColleges.com, a Red Ventures Company. He is co-founder and executive director of Campus Pride. Kenyon College hosts the Queer and Trans Studies Conference biennially, featuring tracks in healthcare and technology, visual and performing arts, humanities and popular culture, society and law, and community interest workshops. According to the National Science Foundation, Harvey Mudd consistently generates the most Science and Engineering Ph.D. graduates, among its competing universities like Caltech and MIT. For LGBTQ students, attending a school with an inclusive curriculum is related to less-hostile school experiences and increased feelings of connectedness to the school community. It consistently ranks among the top one hundred public institutes of higher learning in the country. The program support includes health and wellness initiatives, crisis response, and academic and social support groups. The Queer Resource Center began in 2003 as a response to the need for support and protection for the LGBTQ+ community. Rutgers is a LGBT friendly college offering many courses and programs dedicated to LGBTQ studies. The LGBTQ Student Center at the University of Miami provides the community a breadth of both virtual and face-to-face options for support. They recruit and address the needs of the LGBTQA and STEM communities and those who have been underrepresented in the past. Edited by Cobretti D. Williams, Ph.D. The policy says students will be treated according to their "biological sex" when it comes to names . SOU has a Queer Resource Center (QRC), which is dedicated to visible and accessible advocacy for the needs of LGBT students. Other sources of support include identity-affirming care, emergency funds for urgent needs, and housing. Guilford College's Diversity and Inclusion office provides a number of support services for members of the LGBTQ+ community. 3 In 2014, young gay and bisexual Lavender Graduation is a celebration of the LGBTQ+ graduates and their allies. Students have the ability to show their LGBTQ+ classmates they are welcome and safe within campus halls. Ithaca College is a private college founded in 1892. Ithaca College began as a music conservatory in a building that was recognized, in 1971, as a part of the National Register of Historic Places. September 15, 2018. He is co-founder and executive director of Campus Pride. Lambda Legal is a nonprofit organization that provides legal advocacy for members of the LGBTQ+ community. Gender neutral dorms and other forms of gender inclusive housing, for instance, allow transgender students to find a housing situation where they can be comfortable, just one example of how intentional policies can make for LGBT friendly colleges. The university provides special interest housing, and the campus health center is available for a broad range of sexual health support and gender-confirming therapy. When she started going through . The Prism Center has been serving the LGBTQ+ population at the University of Vermont since 1999 and is a place for students to build their leadership skills, connect to the community and advocate for equity and inclusion. Intentional gender neutral language, or explicit non-discrimination policies, create penalties for hate speech or discrimination, whether students are abusing other students, or faculty abuse their power in the classroom. The center provides holistic and transformative opportunities for student, faculty, and staff members. Sex education has always been an undercovered topic in schools, but little to no coverage ever reaches the LGBT community. Gender-inclusive housing, scholarship opportunities, health care, faculty representation, and the availability of student organizations and mentorship opportunities are all important factors to LGBTQ+ student success. diverse students. The center, founded in 1999, supports both the academic and social needs of the community and its allies. The approach of this minor is to study sexuality in relation to the social construction of gender, race, and class. Students who attended schools with GSAs reported fewer homophobic remarks, more intervention from school personnel and a greater sense of connectedness. This unique initiative built a comprehensive library resource (i.e. September 3, 2019. Washington State University, located in Pullman, WA, is one of the top 31 LGBT friendly universities. 1-800-2REVIEW . Vanderbilt University's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Life Office offers several campus, local and national resources to serve its LGBTQ+ community. $3,250 to $12,000 (INR 2.6 Lakhs to INR 9.9 Lakhs) Colin Higgins Courage Award. However, the presence of a strong campus pride network is a good indication of queer acceptance and protections; if students feel safe to form an active (and activist) organization, thats a pretty good sign that the institution is at least tolerant. GLSEN's "Back-To-School-Guide for Creating LGBT Inclusive Environments" includes steps you can take right now to make your classroom or school a more inclusive and safer space for LGBT students. But the best colleges for LGBT students can truly be a matter of life or death. Its belief is that support for the LGBTQ+ community requires intentional support for all historically excluded communities. There are many student groups dedicated to enriching the lives of students regardless of sexual orientation, or identity. Inclusive curriculum benefits all students by promoting diversity and A 2020 American College Health Association study reported that out of a cohort of 8,000 surveyed, 21% identified as LGBTQ+. Is your school on this list? There are many ways for students to get involved at the GSRC, with volunteer or service learning opportunities. Other sources of support include identity-affirming care, emergency funds for urgent needs, and housing. 15. They provide space for all members of the Duck community to explore their identity, gender expression and sexual orientation. The Pride Office, which is part of the Center for Inclusion and Social Change, provides the LGBTQ+ community with a support system that encourages dialogue, advocacy, and education.