[Sara]

Is college different for students who are gay, lesbian, transgendered or bisexual? If so, how (e.g. in terms of participating in campus organizations, availability/quality of services and clubs that meet your needs, choice of institution to attend, course content, comfort level with other students, staff and faculty at the institution)?

User Detail :  

Name : Sara, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 22, City : Toledo, State : OH, Country : United States, 

[Rhiannon]

Funny you should ask. It’s Coming Out Week, and college campuses across the country are offering programs for gay and straight students. At the liberal arts college where I teach, there are a variety of speakers. At today’s chapel service, a lesbian student gave the homily and came out to the audience. Our campus offers an Out House, where gay students and straight student allies live together. A statewide organization comes here yearly and offers a program about gay students for faculty members. I attended, and now have a banner o my bulletin board that reads, ‘Safe Place,’ inviting gay students to feel free to speak to me openly. For students on this campus, it’s kind of a mixed bag; many of the students come from conservative backgrounds and are uncomfortable or naive about homosexuality, but the school itself is fairly liberal and has made efforts to make gay students feel welcome. I’m sure experiences for gay students differ by school. I attended large state universities where there were many resources for gay students. At small, conservative schools, I’m sure resources are limited.

User Detail :  

Name : Rhiannon, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 29, City : Eden Prairie, State : MN, Country : United States, Occupation : Professor, Social class : Middle class, 

[Jeff]

There is definitely a difference in the college experience for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexuals, etc. students. Usually college is a time for coming out, and as many of you should know, this is quite traumatic and very life changing. The addition of everyday stresses like going to class and getting good grades can make life unbearable. It’s harder because you also have to deal with collegues and professors who may or may not like you, and times when your sexual orientation is openly discussed and often ridiculed in class and on campus. Plus, what about homecoming dances and activities designed for ‘couples’? You lose a lot of the traditional experience of college.

User Detail :  

Name : Jeff, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Gay, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 22, City : Salt Lake City, State : UT, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Jay]

I’m not sure I understand the question. College is completely different for everyone. But I guess if a gay person went around their campus making everyone aware of his or her sexuality, he or she would have a certain kind of college experience. When I was in college, I didn’t make myself known as gay, so I had a pretty ‘normal’ college experience. My freshman year, while I was still coming out to myself and having some problems with that, I found a gay-based professional to talk to, as well as a counselling group for gay people. In the group, I found I didn’t relate to gay people very well and that I was happier being a regular guy than making ‘gay’ a huge part of who I was. I didn’t feel the need to seek out gay student organizations. I told who I needed to tell, and the people who cared about me had no issues with it. As far as the specifics you mentioned, I can’t see basing major college decisions (i.e. choice of institution to attend, course content, staff and faculty) on one’s sexuality. My sexuality just isn’t that big of a force in determining what I do with my life.

User Detail :  

Name : Jay, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Gay, Age : 24, City : Asheville, State : NC, Country : United States, Social class : Middle class, 

[Courtney H.]

Transsexualism is not a sexual orientation and in itself does not imply that a person is gay or necessarily accepts gays. Of course, TS’s are just as capable of being gay as anyone else in society. Many TS’s may consider themselves to be stuggling in ways similar to gays and lesbians and may therefore join them in a political sense. But gender identity and sexual orientation are not one in the same. Nor is there any direct correlation between transsexualism and any specific sexual activity or conduct.

User Detail :  

Name : Courtney H., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Asexual, Disability : Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Baptist, Age : 31, City : High Point, State : NC, Country : United States, Occupation : Disabled, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Lower middle class, 

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