<p>I just got into Upenn ED! So excited.
So I just recently came out of the closet (I'm a gay guy) at my high school and told my close friends and family. I have read that Penn is a great school to go to if you're LGBT, so I'm not too worried. However, I have heard from some friends who currently attend that a lot of the social life is based around frats, most of which are based around getting girls, and seeing that I don't really want to do that, I dont' know if I would end up joining one. So I'm just wondering, what's it like to be gay at Penn (socially)? I'm not asking about the LGBT activities really, because I'm sure there are tons of organizations on campus that are alive and thriving. I'm just wondering, as a gay penn student, what are the nights like? Do you go to frat parties? Are many gays in frats? Is there a whole separate scene? I could be generalizing right now and it might not even make a difference in the social life whether you're gay or straight, but I'm just wondering from a current Penn student POV. Thanks to all who answer.</p>
<p>I’m personally not LGBT but several of my closest friends as well as my roommate are LGBT and so I’ve gotten a feel for the community here. There are gay parties here, not as frequent as the frat parties every weekend but they do occur. There are a lot more private and smaller parties held, and thus it’s classier than the bump-and-grind of a frat party. There is a gay frat, from what I know. I forget the name though. A lot of my LBGT friends still go to frat parties anyway because frat parties are usually less about hooking up and more about having fun with your friends. It doesn’t matter too much whether you’re straight or gay.</p>
<p>I’ve seen two guys making out at a frat party and nobody was freaking about it. Penn is such an open community for LGBT folks :)</p>
<p>^ There is no gay fraternity. There are many fraternities that are open to gay members because people are Penn are open-minded.</p>
<p>Ah so there isn’t. I was just repeating what some of my friends have told me. Woops. </p>
<p>But ditto on the open-minded ness. I know plenty of LGBT in frats.</p>
<p>Thanks for your responses! I’m feeling a lot better. If anyone else has any more input, I’d love to hear.</p>
<p>There are out gay students even in the Orthodox Jewish community at Penn, and the LGBT center is active on campus. You’ll love it!</p>