They also provide training and initiatives related to allyship, social justice, and mental health and wellness. 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. curriculum, teacher training, suicide prevention and transgender students to rate school districts' LGBTQ policies on a three-tier, color-coded scale. OnlineSchools.org. The University of Wisconsin Eau Claire is located in Eau Claire, WI, and has received a 5 star rating by the Campus Pride Index as the best school in Wisconsin for LGBTQIA+ students. Theyre a LGBT friendly college believing in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). Online learning opportunities also allow involvement with easier access. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Equity Center serves all LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and staff at the university. PSUs Trans Student Resources and Retention Coordinator (TReC) is the contact for resources and services for students identifying as trans, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and questioning, in addition to students who are intersex. This 17-page document obtained by The Denver Post offers guidance to Catholic school administrators on how to handle gay and transgender students, parents and staff. They have gender inclusive restrooms and gender inclusive housing. 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. 1. Workshops and professional development with experts can help to ensure that your school is inclusive, safe, and affirming for LGBTQ youth. They have gender inclusive housing such as residence halls for individuals that do not conform to male or female gender. There is a focus on the intersectionality of gender, race, religion, and sexuality. This was a foreshadowing of Princeton Universitys egalitarian ethos. Bowdoin College ranks 4 on the Campus Pride Index. Here are the top-ranked colleges for LGBTQ+ support. UPenns SafeZones program is an exemplary model used by other LGBT schools. The Center for Social Justice Education and LGBT Communities provides educational and social programs, and leadership development for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, queer, and asexual (LGBTQIA) and ally students. LGBT movies and books). 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. The Pride Center at Lehigh University has a strong history of consistent development since its first student organization was created in 1972. University of Maryland, located in College Park, MD, is a LGBT friendly college. 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. We rank the least LGBTQ-friendly colleges based on ratings and quotes from real students about equality on their campus. The Campus Pride Index has recognized Macalester College as one of the best colleges for LGBT students in the nation. by Debbi Johnson-Rais, Ed.D. Mid Vermont Christian School in Junction had been . A battle over rainbow stickers at a high school near Dallas has hobbled the Gay-Straight Alliance and left LGBTQ students feeling unsafe. 3 In 2014, young gay and bisexual QST looks at how society and politics shapes sexual and gender expression norms. The Queer Student Resources (QSR) office creates spaces for students of all genders and sexualities to feel safe. 5. 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 University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) proudly demonstrates its campus pride by offering The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center (LGBT Center) to its entire student body. Some consider Indiana University Bloomington to be a Public Ivy school. Have inclusive and representative curriculum. Founded in 1989, the Gender + Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC) was created to support and empower the LGBTQ+ community through events, education and other interventions. Graduates can opt to join Elons LGBTQIA Alumni association. The primary objective is to enhance awareness of the many issues faced by those who wish to live as their authentic selves in a less traditional gender identity. 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 Gamma Mu Foundation awards scholarships to gay men under age 35 and one award each year to a member of the broader LGBT community. The Center provides a location for study and programming and a resource library for the community. Ithaca Colleges campus pride can been seen by their addition of the LGBT Education, Outreach, and Services center. A resource library also catalogs books, movies, and other resources. UMDs Clark School of Engineering is known for its hands on engineering program, allowing students to research and build as soon as they begin school. The LGBTQ Resource Center at the University of New Mexico began as a student-led initiative in 2010 and has significantly expanded since. The top cities were New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago, followed by San Francisco and Miami. Ohio State University has an active LGBTQ+ community and provides comprehensive support for them with gender-inclusive housing, comprehensive health services, and faith-based support. Students connect with faculty members who are already "out" to give them positive guidance. According to studies of LGBTQ youth by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a median of 7.9% of students in the U.S. identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual and an . The center has collaborative initiatives with other diversity programs on campus to facilitate support to the community. 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. They allow students to select the name by which they are known and that is one the schools records. LGBT friendly colleges are critical for the safety and well-being of gay, lesbian, trans, and nonconforming young people all over the nation. The five strategies below provide action-oriented practices that can positively impact your LGBTQ students' experience while they are in school. Los Angeles LGBT Center: Out for Safe School Campaign. THE LGBTQ Center maintains a library of resources and historical artifacts related to key moments in the history of the community. diverse students. Penn State is a proud member of the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT resource. The Terrapins value a strong understanding of diversity. In support of LGBTQIA students, Augsburg University allows students to select their personal pronoun in their records and registration for use in university records. 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. Unique opportunities include the Lavender Leadership Honor Society, the #TransTerps project, and the Rainbow Terrapin Network. They create a network and opportunity for the LGBTQIA+ campus community. What does it take to be one of the Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students? Inclusive curriculum benefits all students by promoting diversity and Fast-forward two and a half centuries, into the new millennium, where Princeton remains true to their principles of justice. They have safe zone training centered around LGBT specific health issues in medicine, practice, and research. Additionally, the Safe Space program allows the community to learn how to create a safe environment on campus. The scholarships typically range from $1,000 to $2,500. It fosters a safe campus environment and affirms members of its community. However, schools can make a difference. The center, founded in 1999, supports both the academic and social needs of the community and its allies. No matter what sex you were assigned at birth, you have the right to cut your hair and wear your clothes in a way that matches . The University Counseling Center offers individual and group therapy options and critical care. It consistently ranks among the top one hundred public institutes of higher learning in the country. 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 . Montclair State University, located in Clifton, NJ, has a LGBTQ Center dedicated to creating an environment of inclusion and support to all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expression. Ithaca College provides a vibrant and engaged community for LGBTQ+ students through its Center for LGBT Education, Outreach and Services. The Best 388 Colleges Our School Ratings Financial Aid Honor Roll Fire Safety Honor Roll . The LGBTQ Student Center at the University of Miami provides the community a breadth of both virtual and face-to-face options for support. 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 780-acre campus is home to a student body that exceeded 33,000 in the fall of 2017 (and one of the best college for skiing and snowboarding, naturally). They host a InQueery Symposium which features a speaker and student presentations related to LGBTQ+. The center works closely with other campus identity centers to achieve this goal. The GSRCs website offers easy access to many resources for students determining their true gender identity. Harvey Mudd College was founded in 1955 and named in honor of one of its initial benefactors. Kansas State University, located in Manhattan, KS, is the proud home of the Wildcats. Among the LGBT friendly colleges, HMC is one of the most selective, as its acceptance rate is only 13%. Connecticut College's LGBTQIA Center was founded in 2007 by a group of students in conjunction with a faculty member. This extensive collection of financial aid opportunities includes LGBTQ+ scholarships and grants of varying amounts. They offer defined residential communities (DRC), which are hallways where students live with those that share similar interests, and identities. Founded in 1989, the Gender + Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC) was created to support and empower the LGBTQ+ community through events, education, and other initiatives.