LGBTQ College Students Robin Knight Michele Feldman Brad Field COUN 7132 Contemporary College Student Georgia Southern University

LGBTQ  This term has become socially acceptable for individuals who associate themselves in the group.  Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Questioning  There are several variations of the acronym LGBTQ.

Issues facing students in the LGBTQ Community  Bullying  Intimidation  harassment  fear  safety  rejection  denial  secrecy  homophobia  hate crimes  sexual assault  depression  suicide  discrimination

LGBTQ Student Issues Cont.  Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth face many social factors like discrimination or bullying that can lead to feelings of isolation and potentially depression.  Suicide is the leading cause of death among LGBTQ teens, and transgendered teens are 20 times more likely to contemplate, attempt or complete suicide than their heterosexual counterparts.

LGBTQ Acceptance  Many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered or questioning (LGBTQ) students go through a period where they struggle to fit in or feel alienated by their student body. It is important to understand their perspectives and address common feelings they may have as they enter or continue their college experience.  Most college campuses have groups dedicated to promoting the emotional wellbeing of LGBTQ students. There are also many organizations that have been created to bring awareness to the challenges these students face daily and educate their peers on the boundaries and language to use to respect these students.

Bullying  By one estimate more than one-third of the students who identified themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered reported having experienced harassment in the preceding year. Of these, 9 out of 10 incident involved derogatory remarks, with other students the most frequently cited source of the harassment.  Pascarella, E.T., & Terenzini, P.T. (2005). Theories and models of change in college. How college affects students: A third decade of research. (Vol. 2, pp.570). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Bullying Cont.  Risks of suicide are higher due to physical harassment and verbal harassment.  “The Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network’s (GLSEN’s) 2009 survey of 7,261 middle and high school students found that nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT students experienced harassment at school in the past year and nearly two-thirds felt unsafe because of their sexual orientation. Nearly a third of LGBT students skipped at least one day of school in the past month because of safety concerns.” 

Hate Crime & Discrimination Controversies at Universities  Less retention and LGBT students will leave campus due to environment  Having property ripped up  Free Speech - understanding that free speech is very important, but making sure with that free speech that individuals are more aware of being respectful of diverse populations  Vandalized pictures of staff at NC State on the LGBT Center Door  No information is given to universities to properly assess LGBT student needs (No demographic questions)  Homosexuals cannot give blood on some campuses 

Issues at all Institutions  Although HBCUs have been a beacon of hope for thousands of African Americans for decades, they have also been a source of great pain to hundreds of students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). HBCUs, along with the Black church, are the longest-serving Black institutions in the United States and are thus often intertwined. Both have promulgated mass messages that continue to stigmatize their LGBT populations and create subcultures of fear, denial, and secrecy.

Prevention Methods: LGBT Education  Having an LGBT resource and research center on campus can assist in diminishing these factors by addressing these concerns with the entire campus community and creating safe environments for students.  ord=k78405&pageid=icb.page ord=k78405&pageid=icb.page414497

Possible Solutions  -LGBT Friendly College Index  Helps students ensure that they are attending an LGBT friendly institution  LGBT Living Learning Community  Not only open for LGBT, but also for allies  - LGBT Roommate Matching Options  Promotes safe environment for housing students on campus  education/ education/

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Solutions Cont.  LGBT in the media  Websites like Netflix and Hulu have LGBT channels that can help LBGT members of the community further understand and feel more comfortable with their sexual identity.  Media can help non-LBGT members of the community better understand and feel more comfortable with LBGT community.  Shows like Modern Family depicting same sex couples as positive.

Solutions Cont.  Get involved with Silent campaigns like the NOH8 campaign  “The NOH8 Campaign is a charitable organization whose mission is to promote marriage, gender and human equality through education, advocacy, social media, and visual protest.”  Over 300,000 faces (of all different sexual orientations) silently supporting marriage, gender and human equality 

SAFE SPACE  Campus-wide initiative offering a visible message of inclusion, acceptance and support to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning individuals in the university community.  Serves as an ally GLBTQ students and works to raise awareness and knowledge of issues that they face.  Promote an environment where members of the GLBTQ community do not have to censor their identities.  eling/safe-space/ eling/safe-space/

Safe Space Pledge  Strive toward continued development, learning, awareness, and action, and to search for further ways of understanding GLBTQ individuals.  Promote an environment where members of the GLBTQ community do not have to censor their identities.  Promote an atmosphere where members of the GLBTQ community can participate fully, equally, and openly in campus life without fear of discrimination and/or harassment.  Promote a safe and affirming place for GLBTQ people by offering an atmosphere and personal relationship of respect, fairness, and trust.  Serve as a resource of information for students, faculty, and staff having questions about GLBTQ issues, and be willing to refer students to support and resources on campus and in the community.  Maintain confidentiality.

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