When I entered college, the absence of an official LGBTQ+ center meant that I had to search for resources to foster a sense of belonging and community on campus.
Fortunately, I found support through a newly formed LGBTQ+ student organization, which significantly shaped my college experience and career aspirations positively.
Although colleges and universities today offer a more inclusive environment, a study conducted by the Point Foundation in collaboration with the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law reveals that LGBTQ+ students continue to encounter bullying, harassment, and assault on campuses, resulting in poorer mental health compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers.
Amid a surge in legislation targeting LGBTQ+ rights, access to education for students of color, and equity and inclusion initiatives, universities must adopt new strategies to support historically excluded communities.
This challenge is compounded by limited data on LGBTQ+ students’ academic outcomes.
Universities urged to prioritize LGBTQ+
To address these issues, university leaders must invest in increasing institutional awareness of LGBTQ+ students’ experiences and developing innovative support systems.
Recent surveys indicate that LGBTQ+ students comprise a more significant portion of the student population than commonly assumed, with as many as one-third identifying as LGBTQ+ or gender-nonconforming.
The hostile political climate, characterized by anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and censorship of curricula, particularly affects LGBTQ+ students of color and transgender students.
Even in states without active legislation, universities can become unwelcoming environments.
This hostility jeopardizes the physical and psychological well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals and forces some LGBTQ+ leaders to conceal their identity for safety reasons.
Studies show that students’ sense of belonging significantly impacts learning and academic persistence.
However, LGBTQ+ students often struggle to find this sense of belonging, with a majority not disclosing their LGBTQ+ identity to faculty and staff and a significant portion facing anti-LGBTQ+ comments in residence halls.
The erosion of diversity and inclusion efforts threatens LGBTQ+ students’ academic success and persistence.
The absence of comprehensive data on LGBTQ+ students further hinders efforts to understand and support their academic success.
While collecting sensitive personal data like sexual orientation must be approached with caution, responsibly gathered and reported data are essential for addressing inequities and supporting minoritized students.
Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation also affects recruitment and retention, as prospective LGBTQ+ students may eliminate universities in states with unsafe conditions.
Universities cannot ignore the impact of such legislation on students’ enrollment decisions, especially as enrollment targets face challenges.
Higher education institutions should empower faculty and staff to provide resources and programming that celebrate diverse identities, creating an internal feedback loop based on student experiences rather than state politics.
Elevating and supporting student-led initiatives can also contribute to meaningful change on campuses, but institutions must provide resources, including funding, physical space, and advisory support.
Uplifting student representation by offering a platform for students to share their experiences and engage in decision-making processes can foster a more inclusive campus environment.
Despite reductions in DEI and LGBTQ+ programming, colleges can rely on nonprofit organizations to provide resources and information to students, ensuring they still have opportunities to connect and learn online.
