Colleges with Strong Support for LGBT+ Students?

I'm currently in the process of shortlisting colleges to apply for next year. As an openly gay student, it's really important to me that the college I choose is supportive of the LGBT+ community. Could anybody suggest a few colleges that are reputed for being LGBT-friendly?

Sure, certainly happy to help with that! There are several colleges across the U.S. known for being particularly friendly and supportive of their LGBT+ student populations.

1. Harvey Mudd College: Harvey Mudd includes sexual orientation and gender identity in its nondiscrimination policy and offers gender-inclusive housing and restroom options. Furthermore, it provides an array of resources and hosts Pride Week, Ally Week, and Trans Day of Remembrance events.

2. University of California, Berkeley: UC Berkeley has an active Queer Alliance Resource Center, provides gender-neutral restrooms, and hosts events like Lavender Graduation for graduating LGBT+ students.

3. Tufts University: At Tufts, there's the LGBT Center which provides support, resources, and community connections for LGBT+ students. The LGBT Center also offers student mentorship program and several affinity-based support/discussion groups. In addition, Tufts offers both gender-inclusive housing and restrooms.

4. University of Pennsylvania (UPenn): UPenn has a dedicated LGBT Center with resources and support services, and they also host an annual Quaker Days event for LGBT+ accepted students. They also have a Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies program for those interested in academic exploration of these topics.

5. Stanford University: Stanford offers special programs and resources through its Queer Student Resources center, and it holds events like Lavender Graduation for the LGBT+ community. It also has gender-inclusive housing and restrooms.

6. University of Wisconsin, Madison: UW Madison maintains a very active LGBT+ Campus Center, which provides safe spaces, resources, and programming for LGBT+ students.

While these universities stand out for their inclusiveness and the wide range of resources they offer, I'd recommend always visiting a college (if possible) or chatting with current students to get a sense of whether the campus culture feels right and welcoming to you personally. Keep in mind that these are just a few examples and there are hundreds of other LGBT+ friendly colleges out there. Good luck with your search!