As for the financial-safety question… many might assume that Utah would be a no-fly-zone for those seeking an LGBT-friendly campus, but it’s not https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865561017/University-of-Utah-named-as-top-25-LGBT-friendly-school.html University of Utah is affordable, gives great merit, and allows students to establish residency after a year and save even more money. STEM is strong and the Honors College is innovative. It’s in a real city. It has a national-champion climbing team, an on-campus facility with “a 54-foot climbing wall and a 13-foot bouldering wall, equaling over 4,600 square feet of climbable surface,” and easy access to some of the best outdoor climbing anywhere. There’s even climbing-related research. https://www.climbing.com/gear/a-theoretically-perfect-climbing-rope/ Don’t write it off-of-hand “because Utah” - it is not Brigham Young. On close examination, it could end up beating both UAH and UTK in the financial safety category.
Going to second Smith, Tufts, and the Haverfotf, BMC, Swat trio. I could think of schools that would be a slam-dunk for academic interests and offer abundant climbing opportunities , but you sound like someone who cares about atmospherics. Vassar, Wesleyan, and Reed could definitely be worth a look on that front. But my advice would be not to compromise on that. And think about whether you care about the dominant culture – even if you find your tribe and it’s well outside that.
You’ve gotten great advice and I don’t have any additional suggestions. I just want to say that you are an awesome candidate, and I know you’ll find a great place to go be your awesome self! I hope your common app essay shows your ‘delightfully cranky’ personality. If I were an AO, I’d put you at the top of the heap! 
You sound a lot like my D with slightly better stats.
She wants urban too. I am trying to get her to understand that most of her time will be spent on school so where you are doesn’t matter as much. Also the many of the fun things in an urban area cost $$$.
This is a serious question. What would be some examples things that wouldn’t make a campus be LGBT friendly?
I went to a religious school and never attended a service and it didn’t affect me at all. They had some rules that were a bit more strict than some schools, but not terrible.
^ @gpo613, some campuses might not be unfriendly, exactly, but might offer few dating possibilities if there’s not a large LGBT presence, especially if it’s a small school.
I won’t try to talk you out of ED for Rice, since Rice is wonderful and fantastic but if you aren’t admitted, think about applying ED2 at UChicago.
It’s urban but has a beautiful campus and is one of the most respected research unis in the world. Plus, you sound like someone they are actively looking for right now. Under their new Empower Initiative, you’d automatically get FREE TUITION as the daughter of a law enforcement officer. Talk about a bargain for the level of education! https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/empower Again, this is a first class college and it’s actively seeking people just like you, which greatly increases your chances of admission.
Here’s how you’d convince your dad to let you go even though it’s in a bad part of Chicago:
- Visit. The campus has visible security and police presence everywhere and is safe. No, you don't want to be wandering around some of the surrounding neighborhoods at 2 AM, but you are not going to be shot on campus.
- Tell him with the $54,000 (not a typo, that is the amount of free tuition you'd receive as the daughter of a law enforcement officer) you'd save each year, he can buy you a full set of body armor and still have money left over.
- UChicago loves weird, cranky, smart people. No need to apologize - own it.
- Tell your dad that UChicago is one of the first colleges to take a stand against the special snowflake liberal coddling that has engulfed other unis. There are no trigger warnings, there are no "safe spaces" and conservatives are welcome. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-university-of-chicago-safe-spaces-letter-met-20160825-story.html (You don't have to tell him that liberals are equally welcome and that there's an active LGBTQ community. UChicago's policy is really about not shutting down one side or the other, but as a conservative he'll know this is increasingly rare at elite unis and appreciate it.)
Now get off this message board and start filming your application video. I think you’d get bonus points if you film it while you’re climbing, but that’s just my personal opinion. 
Great post, @milee30
Ok, I realized I didn’t answer the question about safety schools.
Having lived in both the south and in the west, I think you might be happier finding a safety school in the west than in the south. Although both regions appear “conservative” politically, there’s a big difference in the root and expression of the beliefs. The conservatism of the south is generally based in religion, which will permeate many aspects of everyday life and frankly will also often come with a heaping helping of judgment about a LGBTQ lifestyle. The conservatism of the west is generally more of a Libertarian nature, with more respect for individual rights and choices that isn’t necessarily based in religion. LGBTQ lifestyles may not be mainstream, but they won’t be judged for the same reasons and in the same ways.
I haven’t spent time in Huntsville, but my guess is that it will be a difficult place to be LGBTQ. And even if the campus itself is open to alternative lifestyles, the surrounding community and employers aren’t likely to be hugely welcoming.
If living an open LGBTQ lifestyle is important, I’d strongly recommend you find some safeties outside the south. There are a few in the west that you may want to check to see if their scholarships would be at a high enough level to be an economic safety - such as ASU Barrett Honor college. ASU is in Phoenix (Tempe) and having lived there for 15 years, I know the community to be open and welcoming to LGBTQ lifestyles. Check out New Mexico as well. Good scholarships and a Libertarian, nonreligious vibe. AZ and NM both have great natural climbing features throughout the state.
A lack of a campus LGBTQ+ center, resources, and club, a very conservative (especially religious right) surrounding area (I know that not all conservatives, and not all religious people, are homophobic, but enough are that going to school in, say, Alabama, would be hellish), a low ranking on an LGBT-friendly colleges list, and/or policies discouraging people from coming out would qualify a school as not being LGBTQ±friendly.
Also, a name like “Bob Jones University” or “Pensacola Christian College” or “Liberty University” indicates some homophobia.
If you go to JHU you would be a relatively short drive from here - in fact I think there is a JHU shuttle to the Hampden neighborhood! https://www.earthtreksclimbing.com/hampden/ There are 5 Earth treks locations in the Baltimore/Wash DC area. Good luck – you sound like an amazing kid!
I used to live in Northern VA, and I went to Earth Treks in Rockville a few times! Such a cool gym! And thanks!
@milee30 My dad isn’t law enforcement in the sense that would get me free tuition, unfortunately, and I’m not too enthusiastic about UChicago’s core. Thanks for the great post, nonetheless!