<p>Basically I'm gay and I smoke a bit but am not like addicted. I was just wondering what the attitudes to being gay and smoking is like at Dartmouth</p>
<p>Don’t think gay is an issue at all but smoking–this is a school full of athletes and outdoor types in clean air NH!</p>
<p>Would you rather have an enabling peer-group or a censuring one?</p>
<p>While I can’t give you a firsthand experience I would say being gay is really not a problem on campus. I really haven’t heard of too much discrimination on campus and most students are pretty progressive. The one criticism heard sometimes from the gay communities is the frat/ sorority system. They do create somewhat gendered social spaces where I think there is some legitimate criticism about them sometimes being a uncomfortable space for members of the lgbt community. </p>
<p>That said almost no frat will exclude you due to sexuality. (And not because it is a rule but just because of what I feel is a progressive and non-discriminatory campus attitude) There are plenty of lgbt members of frats and sororities. We also have co-ed houses which are not as gendered since the membership is (duh) co-ed. It is just the social dynamic (not any discrimination) that single-sex houses make that is occasionally criticized.</p>
<p>Again, I would emphasis that the campus is, overall, very lgbt friendly.</p>
<p>Here is a link to the Gay Straight alliance which will be happy to respond to questions (student run and believe me they will be honest): [Dartmouth</a> Gay-Straight Alliance](<a href=“http://www.dartmouth.edu/~gsa/]Dartmouth”>http://www.dartmouth.edu/~gsa/)</p>
<p>Smoking is not big here but is definitely not a major social stigma. Two of my friends are heavy smokers and they are fine. We just don’t have a large smoking population and obviously you can’t do it in buildings. Besides the occasional encouragement to quit (I have fun teasing my friends to quit every time I see them) you aren’t gonna feel ostracized. Definitely is not a big deal.</p>
<p>cheers guys, didnt think they would be a big deal but u never know</p>
<p>Do yourself a big favor and don’t smoke. I have two very close friends who died of respiratory causes circa age 40: both smokers. Just held the memorial service for another dear friend who died of lung cancer at age 53: smoked for 15 years.</p>
<p>Forty might seem unimaginably far off to you now, but trust me: it is too young to die and leave little children behind who won’t remember you and friends whose lives will forever have a big hole.</p>
<p>Smoking is stupid beyond belief. Besides, as one person I know who finally quit said, his SO told him that kissing him was like licking an ashtray.</p>