<p>Hi everyone,
I know that schools like Vassar and Wesleyan are known for being accepting of gay students, but can any of you tell me about gay life at Bates? Bates claims to be very accepting, but I was wondering if gay students truly feel accepted at Bates, if they’d be comfortable holding hands with other guys on campus, and if there is a gay dating pool.
Thanks for the help!</p>
<p>The school’s LBGTQ+ group, OUTfront, is one of the most active groups on campus, hosting popular events such as the Lick-It and Gala Dances, as well as offering services for students struggling with their sexuality. I talked to some friends in that group and they said they’ve felt no instances of discrimination since arriving on campus- many of them came to Bates from less accepting environments specifically so they could truly express themselves. The only thing is, the gay community isn’t very visible on campus. It’s not because of a hostile environment, but rather simply because of its small size. This means the dating pool is probably also small, at least much smaller than at the schools you mentioned. I’m confident though that you’d have no issues at all feeling accepted- no one would look twice if they saw two guys holding hands. Bates is one the more laid back and accepting LACs in all respects- including sexuality.</p>