in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program. Various campus and legal services are also available for support and engagement. It is the 5th oldest university in the United States, with the largest endowment per student. Depending on the individual and her/his/their circumstances and environment, the number and degree of challenges will differ. When sharing facts about LGBTQ history, it's important for educators to balance a positive influence and celebration of icons and leaders while not hiding the truth behind historically important events. The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) proudly demonstrates its campus pride by offering The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center (LGBT Center) to its entire student body. The LGBTQ+ Peer Mentor Program matches new students to returning students to facilitate the transition into university. According to U.S. News & World Report, MAC ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the country. University of Louisville, located in Louisville, KY, has a Health Services Center that focuses on the promotion of quality healthcare for the LGBT community and create an inclusive environment for students in health sciences. Typically, 70% of undergraduate students live on campus. Lehigh University created The Pride Center for Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity (The Pride Center), to reach for the objective of an equitable, just campus (and world). Rutgers offers gender inclusive housing, including gender neutral dorms and freshman being paired with student interested in LGBTQ issues. This extensive collection of financial aid opportunities includes LGBTQ+ scholarships and grants of varying amounts. The Safe Space Program at Virginia Wesleyan University seeks to create a safe and bias-free campus environment for the LGBTQ+ community. College diversity initiatives have expanded their definition to include LGBTQ+ students. Is your school on this list? Tufts University ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index. Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students Guidance Document Now 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.". MSU ranks 4 on the Campus Pride Index. Includes links to GLSEN's Safe Space Kit (6-12), Ready Set Respect (K-5), LGBT inclusive decorative materials for the classroom, the Gay Straight Alliance Network, and more. Brown University ranks 4.5 on the Campus Pride Index. CU Boulder ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index. 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. It is also known for its unique Out! LGBTQ Supports - web In support of LGBTQIA students, Augsburg University allows students to select their personal pronoun in their records and registration for use in university records. 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. The GSRC provides peer-facilitated first-year discussion groups, gender support discussion groups, a peer educator program, Out in STEM, and the Q'nnections mentorship program. The center works to create a welcoming climate through advocacy, education, and community building. Bowdoin College ranks 4 on the Campus Pride Index. The LGBTQ Resource Center at the University of New Mexico began as a student-led initiative in 2010 and has significantly expanded since. Princeton University was established in 1746, 30 years before the American Revolution. It is the 4th oldest higher learning institution in the country. UNK ranks 4 on the Campus Pride Index. Despite the recent legalization of gay marriage, the LGBT youth of America still face unwanted discrimination in and out of school. They also provide training and initiatives related to allyship, social justice and mental health, and wellness. They allow students to select the name by which they are known and that is one the schools records. 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. The LGBTQ+ Student Development Program at Towson University was created to cultivate leadership, career development, and organizational involvement through various programs, events, and services. The center works to create a welcoming climate through advocacy, education, and community-building. Housed within the Diversity and Inclusion Student Commons, various programs are available to the community, including identity support, discrimination and bias prevention, and mental health and well-being programs. IU-Bloomington is also home to the worlds 2nd largest student union, another sign of its commitment to student life. The Best College for LGBTQ+ Students In Each State On Instagram, alum Gabi Antuna shared a screenshot from the 2021-2022 student handbook about the gender policy. Graduates can opt to join Elons LGBTQIA Alumni association. In partnership with Campus Pride, BestColleges has put together a list of LGBTQ+-friendly colleges, highlighting the best colleges for LGBTQ+ students in several states. Reviewed by Angelique Geehan Updated December 15, 2022 Learn more about our editorial process In his kindergarten classroom, one teacher in western Massachusetts using "Rights, Respect, Responsibility" introduces the idea . LGBTQ+ Students and Educators | NASSP by Debbi Johnson-Rais, Ed.D. Policies or organizations that work for one college may not work for another, so defining LGBT friendly colleges means sorting through and analyzing. Many education experts have ranked UPenn as a world leading university, known for their academic and research excellence, as well as their social responsibility (they are also one of the top green colleges in the nation). This unique initiative built a comprehensive library resource (i.e. In this minor, students are informed about the intersectional experience of gender and sexuality and they way they move within all humans. Additional support includes access to specialized legal services, health initiatives, and professional and academic development with an LGBT+ focus. The best estimate of how many GSAs exist in Catholic schools comes from GLSEN's 2013 National School Climate Survey, in which only 18 percent of LGBTQ students at private religious schools reported that their school had a GSA. The center, founded in 1999, supports both the academic and social needs of the community and its allies. Adequate health services that provide counseling and gender-affirming treatment are also important factors. Their programming involves social, academic, and advocacy opportunities, as well as health promotion and financial support. One of the strongest ways that a student can help build an inclusive LGBTQ+ environment is by creating or joining a gay-straight alliance, or GSA, club. The TReC meets one on one with students to help them navigate gender identity struggles within the community. MAC voluntarily participates in the Allies Project; a campus model that creates and trains LGBT support faculty, staff and students. Their Dandelion Initiative is a new persistence program serving the non-binary, transgender, and queer communities. Edited by Cobretti D. Williams, Ph.D. A Vermont Christian high school forfeited a girls basketball game because the opposing team had a transgender player, the head of school said. The center provides Safe Zone training, specialized orientation activities, PRIDE activities, and a unique opportunity for a social justice-themed living community. Creating Safe Schools for LGBTQ+ Youth | DASH | CDC The Galerstein Gender Center (GGC) has been part of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion since 1996. There are almost a dozen student groups catering to LGBTQIA+ and the challenges they face. The 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Universities For 2023 - Best Value Schools Glenn . A trans student can update a preferred name on student IDs, class rosters and other campus data. Maine's High School Students Are Far More Likely Than Peers to Identify Public middle and high schools were required to follow the sex ed laws in the California Healthy Youth Act beginning in 2016, . The GGC Equity Excellence program provides a certificate of commitment to participants from the university community upon completion of various academic and social events, book clubs, and lectures. Thanks to Massachusetts' efforts, we know the state's population of teens identifying as. The Best 388 Colleges Our School Ratings Financial Aid Honor Roll Fire Safety Honor Roll . 2:02. San Diego State University (SDSU), located in San Diego, CA, is one of the best schools for LGBT students. 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. Several factors that can help improve outcomes for LGBTQ+ young people include: Addressing LGBTQ+-related stigma, discrimination, and violence Building on the strengths of LGBTQ+ youth Fostering supports such as family acceptance and safe, affirming environments in schools and other settings Students have the opportunity to create and design their preferred interdisciplinary coursework/degree. Washington University offers a great deal of resources for LGBTQIA+ students and allies, from special interest organizations, retreats, leadership opportunities and various online resources. The 1,000-acre campus is a couple of miles north of downtown Columbus. UW-Eau Claire has a Gender & Sexuality Resource Center dedicated to creating a safe and inclusive campus for all students. The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students Increased visibility of LGBTQ+ students on campuses has increased the need for support networks. The Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion created the Gender & Sexuality Resource Office to provide a safe space to voice concerns and share ideas related to issues facing the LGBTQ+ community. It has the Gender Identity Expression and Sexual Orientation Resource Center (GIESOPRC), which is dedicated to the education, empowerment and engagement for LGBTQ+ students. Ithaca College has set up all-gender restrooms across the campus. Lower rates of having been bullied were found among both middle school (58%) and high school (44%) students who described their school as LGBTQ-affirming compared to middle school (69%) and high school (54%) students who did not. California Colorado Connecticut Illinois Iowa Maryland Massachusetts New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Virginia Washington Washington DC LGBT students can study International Affairs, Finance, Engineering, Architecture, Theology, the Social and Natural Sciences, among other majors. The Center provides regular programming throughout the year, but also a Queer Students of Color Conference, and various affinity groups. Ithaca Colleges LGBT center was established in 2001 and continues to provide a supportive and welcoming environment for LGBT students and their allies. The organization's projects and initiatives are concentrated in five core values: social justice, youth voice and action, empowerment, positive change, and diversity. See the LGBTQ community page for more resources. "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." Obviously, a vocal and well-promoted campus pride organization is a clear sign, but most LGBTQIA organizations are student-run; they dont show an institutional commitment. We rank the least LGBTQ-friendly colleges based on ratings and quotes from real students about equality on their campus. Its also a proud home of Pride, dedicated to providing a nurturing and safe environment for all LGBT students. Their mission is to foster personal and academic growth for those students who identify, and those who are exploring their gender identity. A bias-based bullying prevention program providing LGBTQ+ and gender inclusive professional development training, lesson plans, booklists and resources specifically designed for educators and youth-serving professionals. They gain a broader understanding of how health, family difficulties and LGBTQ issues play out across an individuals life span. Ally training is available on campus, and the university collaborates closely advocacy groups in the community such as Freedom Oklahoma and the Norman Queer Alliance. Top Scholarships for LGBTQ Students 2020 - NerdWallet The University of Washington (UW or U-Dub) opened The Q Center, primarily run by students, that offers advising, policy advocacy and mentoring services to anyone regardless of their identified gender or sexual preference. The Training Outreach Program promotes institutional equity by educating campus partners on issues facing the community. The University of Wisconsin Eau Claire has a significant number of resources for members of the LGBTQ+ community to get involved in social, educational and advocacy programs through the Gender & Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC). Its belief is that support for the LGBTQ+ community requires intentional support for all historically excluded communities. IU Bloomington offers gender neutral housing that allows LGBT students to live their authentic selves on campus. QST looks at how society and politics shapes sexual and gender expression norms. The QSR provides programming for members of various communities such as Black queer and trans students and queer and trans people of color, academic-focused programs, and queer faith-based initiatives. The student services strive to support an inclusive understanding of gender and sexuality. Off-campus community groups also create strong partnerships for the campus community. The Health Center provides counseling as well as wellness promotion and gender-affirming support. The Queer Mentoring and Peer Program provides peer support as students navigate the college experience alongside sexual orientation and identity. LGBTQ+ youth activists who have overcome different hardships and struggles. Have inclusive and representative curriculum. The Queer Mentoring and Peer Program provides peer support as students navigate the college experience alongside sexual orientation and identity. Its a little objective and a little subjective, and always open for debate. Unique opportunities include the Lavender Leadership Honor Society, the #TransTerps project, and the Rainbow Terrapin Network. Legal Issues Related to Transgender Students January 2023 - TASB UWs Q Center also includes a lending library, gender discussion groups and blog opportunities for those students seeking a chance to participate to spread their message through two UW-sponsored blogs. $10,000 (INR 8.2 Lakhs) Markowski-Leach Scholarships. The Commission supports the Office of Inclusion: Multicultural & LGBTQIA Student Services and provides Safe Zone training, counseling services, and policy for safety and health promotion on campus. Rutgers has a Douglass themed living community for students exploring lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and asexual experiences both in and out of the classroom. Start the Survey .