<p>Hello,</p>
<p>As of now I am trying to decide between Dartmouth and Carnegie Mellon University. I like both of them, but there is one aspect that might be the deciding factor between the two. I'm a gay guy in the closet. I have already done some research and they both seem to be relatively accepting. I'm a bit of a straight-acting introvert, and not one of those "out and proud" people who are comfortable with themselves; I have no experience dating or anything like that. Unfortunately I was unable to make Dimensions due to a conflict that weekend, so I'm not very familiar with what the students are like there. Is anyone (especially current students) able to give me some advice on this?</p>
<p>I sent you a PM. Here are a few links that you might find of interest:</p>
<p>[Women’s</a> and Gender Studies Office](<a href=“http://www.dartmouth.edu/~wstudies]Women’s”>Home | Program in Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies) – very cool series. These are impressive speakers to lure to Hanover.</p>
<p>Vibrant and effective alumni group: [xsmkandelx</a> |](<a href=“http://dgala.me/author/xsmkandelx/]xsmkandelx”>xsmkandelx – DGALA | Dartmouth LGBTQIA+ Alum Association)</p>
<p>Advisors: [LGBT</a> Student Advising](<a href=“Home | Office of Pluralism and Leadership”>Home | Office of Pluralism and Leadership)</p>
<p>Five star rating: [TheDartmouth.com:</a> College receive 5-star LGBT rating](<a href=“http://thedartmouth.com/2011/9/23/news/lgbt]TheDartmouth.com:”>http://thedartmouth.com/2011/9/23/news/lgbt)</p>
<p>I think you would find the atmosphere warm and accepting.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>As someone who went to Dimensions this year, I can tell you that I saw one giant rainbow flag on Saturday out front by the Collis Center and a large LGBT-awareness poster inside of the building. From the facebook group, it seems like a lot of students are interested in LGBT activism according to a recent flurry of posts. As a kid from San Francisco, I didn’t notice anything amiss. I think you would find Dartmouth a welcoming environment.</p>
<p>Overall, I found a friendly, close-knit community with diverse backgrounds and interests. Very enthusiastic about their school (even when compared to similar admitted student events). Smart and hard-working, but definitely laid-back and fun-loving, whether that means a capella or the frat scene or something else entirely.</p>
<p>But, I didn’t look at Carnegie Mellon, nor am I a current student. Still, I don’t think you need to worry about the acceptance of the LGBT community at Dartmouth when making your decision.</p>
<p>I look forward to the day that LGBT students do not have to factor in worry of bigotry during their college selection. I don’t have advice, but good luck OP and congrats on your acceptances to some great schools.</p>
<p>I’m in the same boat as you op! I went to dimensions, but unfortunately missed the lgbt mixer. Nevertheless I found that there were several openly gay guys as current students who were leading tours and organizing events and performing for prefrosh. Even though the culture is very fratty, even those guys I found to be really nice and chill. Even though Harvard and yale had much more developed community for lgbt, I did not find dartmouth to be at all discriminatory! </p>
<p>Sent from my LG-P509 using CC</p>
<p>but what about that rolling stone article? made it seem like Dartmouth was a pretty creepy place… is Dartmouth really a gay friendly place?</p>
<p>^Did you read any articles refuting that article? It twisted life at Dartmouth pretty harshly. The kid who it featured had multiple arrests for drug use. He clearly had a lot of problems, and I don’t think he alone can reflect the culture of the entire college.</p>
<p>I actually haven’t seen any articles refuting it which is why I’m asking you guys who know first hand! maybe it’s like news articles that print controversial articles in bold and retractions in fine print in the back!!</p>
<p>There are other threads on this site that discuss the RS article. Back to the question posed here, all I know is this. My D went to a small very elite private high school in a very liberal and educated area of the country, and it was only after she graduated that I learned how horrible and homophobic her years there had been. “Oh there’s ####, she’s our dyke.” Not that she would have ever let me do anything about it: she fights her own battles, and quite well. Dartmouth is wonderful. Not perfect, you can and will find jerks anywhere, but there are so many LGBT in so many organizations that it’s never been an issue for her. I don’t have any basis for comparison with other schools, but, having visited and met many members of the groups (sorority, sports team, major department) she’s involved with, I’d call Dartmouth gay-friendly for sure.</p>
<p>thanks for the useful first hand info!</p>
<p>Hey don’t need to worry about being gay at Dartmouth, it’s a very friendly community. Hope to see you at Dartmouth, UndecidedKid2016!</p>