<p>Hey everyone,
I haven't gotten the chance to visit yet (I am in 2 weeks), but im a rising high school senior and I live in Michigan(Lansing area). I was basically wondering how gay life is at u of m.</p>
<p>A little bit about me, I'm not out to anyone yet (which is why I can't inquire about gay life at my campus visit, I will be with my parents), and I don't plan on coming out until at least around the end of this school year. The community I live in leans socially conservative, isn't extremely conservative, but I also go to a conservative, ignorant catholic high school where I would not be accepted at all. I wouldn't say that I'm the completely stereotypical gay guy either. I play sports, and plan on playing at least intramurals in college, I'm a sports fan and I hate theater/plays(however I do enjoy pop music lol). I don't dress "gay"(I hate using that stereotypical word), so I don't think people would know I'm gay just by looking. That being said, I'm not a total shocker by any means either, I would say that if people interacted with me for a while they would probably suspect it.</p>
<p>Now, for what I'm looking for. I know that Ann Arbor and U of M in general are very liberal and that the majority of people are tolerant. However, I want to be actually accepted, not just tolerated. I don't want to be known simply as a gay guy, I want people to realize that is just a part of who I am. And while I think it's good to have very close knit and powerful LGTB organizations and groups, I don't want to only be friends with other gay people if you know what I mean? I think I probably would join one or two of the groups, but I wouldn't want to be a die-hard member, I want to be in an environment where both straight guys and girls would be open to being friends with me and where I can just be a normal everyday student. </p>
<p>Lastly, I would like there to be an at least somewhat decent amount of other gay people.</p>
<p>I'm looking to study either business or biology(most likely pre-med) if that makes any difference.</p>
<p>So do you think Michigan would be a good fit for me?</p>
<p>I can’t answer about acceptance but I met at least 5 gay guys during my orientation and one female. So I’m sure there’s a decent amount.</p>
<p>If you look at a lot of the upper-tierish schools, there tends to be a LOT of gays I’ve read. I believe like Yale, 25% of the males are gay or something and at Michigan, 20% of the student population identifies itself as such (that’s like 10k people?) which is w-o-w. I wouldn’t “come out” in your high school either :0</p>
<p>^
I highly doubt those numbers.</p>
<p>yup, I know those numbers sound weird, but I swear I read them in an article a while ago. I don’t think they’re right either, but I don’t think they’re that far off honestly.</p>
<p>Here’s 1 link anyway, I can’t find the Michigan article I read earlier, but here’s the Yale one:
<a href=“http://www.yaledailynews.com/photos/2010/feb/10/14889/[/url]”>http://www.yaledailynews.com/photos/2010/feb/10/14889/</a></p>
<p>I have more trouble believing it at Michigan. Yale is known as the gay Ivy after all (among other things of course). Be sure to post the poll though if you find it. Just have a hard time believing 10k UM students are gay. Maybe the study included grad students?</p>
<p>OP, I was basically in the same situation that you’re in. Came out when I came to Michigan two years ago, and it’s been a great experience so far. I have a good variety of friends and acquaintances, both gay and straight. Some of them occasionally joke about me being gay, but it’s never in a malicious way, the same way people joke about other things.</p>
<p>The beauty of Michigan in our situation is its sheer size. Because there are so many students, there will be a couple of people who are against or dislike homosexuality, as there will be at any college you go to. That’s their prerogative, and you can simply drop them and find other friends because again there are so many other students to get to know.</p>
<p>In my two years here so far, no one’s ever given me **** for my sexuality. Like you said, it’s just another part of who I am. Ann Arbor’s overall liberal-ness helps a lot, since you’re likely to find more people who are willing to accept you for who you are.</p>
<p>There are couple of gay organizations, and we have Club Necto, which hosts gay Friday nights that attracts people from all over Michigan. But you don’t have to go to them if you don’t want to. Make what you want out of your college experience, because Ann Arbor has all the resources you need.</p>
<p>Hope that helps! Long story short, yes I do think it’ll be a good fit. :)</p>