As someone who identifies as LGBTQ+, I want to avoid colleges with noted discrimination issues against my community. Has anyone got some colleges that I should probably steer clear of?
While it's challenging to point out specific colleges to avoid due to the need to respect the inherent diversity of everyone's experiences, it's generally a good idea to consider colleges according to a few key factors. Campus climate is one of them. Rural colleges or those located in states where protections against discrimination of LGBTQ+ individuals are limited may sometimes create less welcoming environments.
Look at institutional policies, too. If a college provides strong protections and accommodations for gender identity and sexual orientation, it means they have institutional commitment to their LGBTQ+ students. Lack of such policies may be a red flag.
The availability of LGBTQ+ resources, like a dedicated resource center or office and clubs focusing on these issues, will give you an idea of the supportive student community.
Furthermore, the Campus Pride Index is a great resource for identifying colleges that are particularly supportive and inclusive of LGBTQ+ students, so by contrast, schools with lower scores may be worth reconsidering.
That said, each person's experience can be very different — a school that one person found to be unsupportive could be a great experience for another. As a rule of thumb, be sure to research, ask questions to current students, and potentially visit if that's an option for you. That’ll give you the best picture of what life as an LGBTQ+ person on a particular campus might be like.
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