One of duke’s optional supplements is:
“Duke’s commitment to diversity and inclusion includes sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. If you would like to share with us more about how you identify as LGBTQIA+, and have not done so elsewhere in the application, we invite you to do so here.”
I am straight, but should I still write a response to this supplement? I’m obviously not gonna say I fall into the LGBT category, but I have had many encounters with this community and the people within it. My question is, does this question apply to people who are straight? I read somewhere that they wrote about how they responded to someone being gay from this question for Duke.
I read this as an opportunity for those within that community to add some information. It specifically states, “how you identify as LGBTQIA+” so if you don’t so identify, I don’t think I’d write anything on this.
I consider myself as part of the community — meaning I have gone to many rallies protesting gay marriage rights, was a part of LGBT club in middle school, gave a speech on LGBT rights at diversity day (I do this cause one of my friends was bullied for being gay). Could I mention that? I don’t want to be unsympathetic and frame myself to understand what the LGBT community faces, but I am an avid member in the community. Then do you think I could write on this issue? Thanks for the feedback!
It’s basically a means of finding out more about you as an applicant and as a means of facilitating flow of resource information. The question is optional. Answer if you want, don’t answer if you don’t want. Since the question is meant to promote inclusiveness, it does not mean that only LGBTQ applicants can answer it. After all, the “A” by some definitions stands for “allies.” (it’s most often “asexual,” but does have other definitions) and the “+” is meant to capture all other all sexualities, sexes, genders that aren’t covered by the alphabet soup.