College Experience Guide for LGBTQ+ Students

A February 2023 Gallup poll February 2023 Gallup poll indicates that 7.2% of U.S. adults identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community — a notable increase from 2017 data (4.5%). Furthermore, millennials and Generation Z are more likely to identify as LGBTQ+ than previous age groups, meaning incoming college classes will likely include more LGBTQ+ students than ever before. Where an LGBTQ+ student chooses to attend college can have lifelong implications on their future. As a result, campus culture and resources are integral to the college experience for LGBTQ+ students.

Schools that aren’t committed to gender justice and sexual liberation may expose LGBTQ+ students to additional stress and academic disruptions, which can impact their mental health and wellbeing. LGBTQ+ students deserve to study in educational environments that empower them, support their personal growth, and invest in change that improves their lives.

The following guide offers a brief overview of the varying experiences and challenges LGBTQ+ students may face on campus, important issues LGBTQ+ learners should consider when navigating college life, and resources for additional education, awareness, and support.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has amplified preexisting challenges for LGBTQ+ college students, such as financial stress, health disparities, housing insecurity, home/family conditions that aren’t fully supportive, and a sense of isolation and disconnection from communities and support systems. Understanding this context is essential to recognizing the hurdles these students were already experiencing prior to the pandemic, and it informs the unique support LGBTQ+ college students need moving forward.

Efforts to combat racism and anti-Blackness are playing out on college campuses and deeply affect student life. Students who activate in response to injustices against Black and Brown communities are faced with choices about balancing school work with fighting for justice. LGBTQ+ students of color are also concurrently impacted by the dynamics of racism, homophobia, and transphobia. College learners need programs and support services that follow intersectional approaches and honor the identities and experiences of all students.

Policy proposals intended to restrict transgender and nonbinary people’s lives are not new, but recently there’s been a significant increase in anti-trans legislation. This legislation reduces trans people’s access to healthcare, participation in sports, and safety in public spaces on and off campus. Colleges that comply with transphobic laws damage the mental health of trans, nonbinary, and intersex students, which also creates more work for support staff. These proposed policies are harmful and negatively impact how trans people are perceived and treated, even if they aren’t voted into law.

Sharing space with other LGBTQ+ people can be empowering, but it can also cause students to compare themselves to others in ways that impact their self-worth and confidence. This can spur feelings of not being queer/trans enough. This is a valid experience, which can be mitigated by supportive community-centered spaces that assure students of their progress and honor the worth of their journeys.

Establishing meaningful relationships is an important aspect of LGBTQ+ students’ college experiences and overall well-being. However, finding community can be difficult if LGBTQ+ students don’t have access to welcoming spaces based on shared interests beyond having similar identities, such as hobbies or academic programs. Both in-person and online spaces can provide opportunities for LGBTQ+ students to make connections. Digital spaces can allow students to explore their identities in ways that are safer and more comfortable than doing so in person.