<p>Does Duke deserve the bad reputation as being a bad school for LGBT students?</p>
<p>I’m a senior music major at Duke and I can attest to it being as LGBT-friendly as I can reasonably imagine it being. Here are some points for and against its being so:</p>
<p>The University has an [LGBT</a> Task Force](<a href=“http://www.duke.edu/web/lgbttf]LGBT”>http://www.duke.edu/web/lgbttf) consisting of administrators, faculty, students, and staff which "makes ongoing assessments of attitudes and conditions throughout the University regarding gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons and issues.</p>
<p>The LGBT Task Force also makes recommendations for changes and seeks implementation of these recommendations on issues such as (1) the University-wide environment for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students, staff, and faculty; (2) appropriate supportive services for such students, staff, and faculty; (3) educational programs for the entire University community; (4) other matters affecting the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community members at Duke."</p>
<p>In terms of student groups, the largest is [Blue</a> Devils United](<a href=“http://www.duke.edu/web/bdunited]Blue”>http://www.duke.edu/web/bdunited), for all LGBTQA undergrads (there are a number of involved allies), which holds several events a year, from the Drag Show and Lavender Ball to [National</a> Coming Out Day](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Coming_Out_Day]National”>National Coming Out Day - Wikipedia) and [National</a> Day of Silence](<a href=“http://www.dayofsilence.org/index.cfm]National”>http://www.dayofsilence.org/index.cfm)—they also sponsored a trip to this year’s March on Washington. Generally speaking, they carefully monitor the undergrad LGBTQA climate and attempt to improve the undergraduate LGBTQA experience. This semester, they also started a blog to document the Duke LGBTQA experience ([our</a> lives blog](<a href=“http://www.bluedevilsunited.com%5Dour”>http://www.bluedevilsunited.com))—I HIGHLY recommend visiting and spending a while looking at columns which interest you (links to contributors are on the right sidebar, as well as topics).</p>
<p>For the graduate schools, there is [DukeOUT[/url</a>] (for all graduate and professional students), [url=<a href=“http://www.dukeoutlaw.org/]OUTlaw[/url”>http://www.dukeoutlaw.org/]OUTlaw[/url</a>] (in the law school, which particularly discusses legal and political issues), [url=<a href=“http://mbaa.fuqua.duke.edu/glsa/Welcome.html]Fuqua”>http://mbaa.fuqua.duke.edu/glsa/Welcome.html]Fuqua</a> Pride<a href=“business%20school”>/url</a>, and [url=<a href=“http://www.duke.edu/web/sacredworth/]Sacred”>http://www.duke.edu/web/sacredworth/]Sacred</a> Worth<a href=“divinity%20school”>/url</a>.</p>
<p>These are all independent of, though partially advised by, the LGBT Center itself, which holds a number of dialogues and events, such as the [url=<a href=“http://lgbt.studentaffairs.duke.edu/programs_services/programs/LOL/]LGBT”>http://lgbt.studentaffairs.duke.edu/programs_services/programs/LOL/]LGBT</a> Discussion Group<a href=“particularly%20for%20questioning%20students”>/url</a> and the [url=<a href=“http://lgbt.studentaffairs.duke.edu/programs_services/programs/Women%20Loving%20Women/index.html]Women”>http://lgbt.studentaffairs.duke.edu/programs_services/programs/Women%20Loving%20Women/index.html]Women</a> Loving Women](<a href=“http://www.duke.edu/web/gap/DukeOUT/Background.html]DukeOUT[/url”>http://www.duke.edu/web/gap/DukeOUT/Background.html) group. Twice a semester the LGBT center holds ally trainings to add to its [Ally</a> Network](<a href=“http://lgbt.studentaffairs.duke.edu/programs_services/programs/ally_network/index.html]Ally”>http://lgbt.studentaffairs.duke.edu/programs_services/programs/ally_network/index.html). Every year on National Coming Out Day, the LGBT Center along with the campus LGBTQA groups, give out 1500 or so [shirts[/url</a>] (the last few years, they’ve said Love=Love and had images of different couples): [url=<a href=“http://www.bluedevilsunited.com/2009/12/rainbows-buttons-flags-and-umbrellas.html]Here[/url”>our lives: Rainbows, Buttons, Flags, and Umbrellas]Here[/url</a>] is an interesting post from the BDU blog on campus visibility and the shirts. Before Love=Love there was “Gay? Fine by me.” or other similar designs. The shirts are incredibly popular and are always gone within an hour or two.</p>
<p>Other student groups also target homophobia. Examples include [url=<a href=“http://www.duke.edu/web/racerelations/retreats/]Common”>http://www.duke.edu/web/racerelations/retreats/]Common</a> Ground](<a href=“http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WkIebZWWPcI/Sxl0PQOJmtI/AAAAAAAAAIo/8J4xgnEGf6o/s1600-h/love+love+mockup.jpg]shirts[/url”>love+love+mockup.jpg (image)), a diversity retreat run by the [Center</a> for Race Relations](<a href=“http://www.duke.edu/web/racerelations/]Center”>http://www.duke.edu/web/racerelations/), which focuses on confronting racism, sexism, and homophobia/transphobia on campus. The [Catholic</a> Student Center](<a href=“http://www.catholic.duke.edu/]Catholic”>http://www.catholic.duke.edu/) has also led two dialogues during the past year on LGBT issues within the church—it also recently formed a committee on sexuality and LGBT affairs to advocate for a more affirming Catholic community. I’m also told the campus Lutheran group is very affirming—I know there are a number of active reconciling Methodist groups in the area, but I don’t know how active the Methodist LGBT community is on campus, nor any Episcopal group.</p>
![http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WkIebZWWPcI/Sxl0PQOJmtI/AAAAAAAAAIo/8J4xgnEGf6o/s1600-h/love+love+mockup.jpg]shirts[/url](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WkIebZWWPcI/Sxl0PQOJmtI/AAAAAAAAAIo/8J4xgnEGf6o/s1600-h/love+love+mockup.jpg%5Dshirts%5B/url){kind=link}
<p>I’ve heard some mixed things about other students groups’ responses to the LGBTQA community. [CRU[/url</a>] (Campus Crusade for Christ), in particular, has, from my perspective, not a particularly good reputation on this front in particular.</p>
<p>In terms of Greek life, I know a number of out fraternity brothers (I myself came out to my fraternity during my junior year and received an entirely positive reception, and though I’m no longer affiliated, mostly due to financial reasons, I can’t imagine any negative reactions). Yeah, you’ll hear the occasional “■■■” or “that’s gay,” which we’re certainly working to combat, but it’s really quite minimal, and I personally do my best to confront it when I see or hear it. [url=<a href=“http://www.bluedevilsunited.com/2009/11/bro-sex-and-other-subtleties-of-being.html]Here[/url”>http://www.bluedevilsunited.com/2009/11/bro-sex-and-other-subtleties-of-being.html]Here[/url</a>] is a great blog entry on being out and Greek.</p>
<p>All across campus, you can see [url=<a href=“IMG_8446.jpg]rainbow (image)”>IMG_8446.jpg (image)]rainbow</a> flags](<a href=“http://dukecru.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/who-we-are/]CRU[/url”>http://dukecru.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/who-we-are/) hanging from students’ windows, a very visible and affirming gesture–this is in response to the bridge incident. Before [NC</a> Pride 2009<a href=“held%20on%20Duke’s%20East%20Campus”>/url</a>, Blue Devils United painted the campus bridge (widely used by student groups to publicize events). During the night, someone painted the words “F–k rainbows. F–k gay pride” on top of it. The response was almost immediate—a group of students covered over the hate speech so quickly that the email sent to the entire student body decrying the hate speech was confusing to many who never saw the bridge before it was painted over. Blue Devils United ordered rainbow flags and passed them out immediately beginning the day after the incident, and they now hang all over each campus.</p>
![IMG_8446.jpg]rainbow (image)](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WkIebZWWPcI/Sxlq02coL0I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/uafL29663vg/s1600-h/IMG_8446.jpg%5Drainbow){kind=link}
<p>The fact that we see such hate speech from time to time is quite disappointing, but I know that things have improved dramatically even over the past six years or so (this is what the director of the LGBT Center tells me, anyhow). The LGBT Center has a small, cozy room with computers with wireless internet access where many students and allies hang out during the weekdays. It’s really a very active and vibrant community.</p>
<p>I will say that there are many more out gay men at Duke than there are women. There are many reasons for this, but it’s something we’re working on. Additionally, there are some issues with trans discrimination with regards to housing (currently, there are not gender-neutral bathrooms in every building), but this is also something Duke Student Government as well as the other LGBTQA student groups are working on with Residence Life and Housing Services. DSG also recently ratified their constitution and moved to gender-neutral language throughout—small victories, but they’re there. </p>
<p>All in all, it was a great place for me to come out—as a Catholic, as a fraternity member, and as everything else. Feel free to ask me questions via the blog (I’m a contributor and administrator—there’s a link on the right sidebar to contact us). Once again, that’s at BDU’s [url=<a href=“http://www.bluedevilsunited.com%5Dour”>http://www.bluedevilsunited.com]our</a> lives blog](<a href=“http://www.ncpride.org/pride/]NC”>http://www.ncpride.org/pride/). </p>
<p>Yes, there are problems, as there are likely always to be. I have personally had a great experience.</p>
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<p>I am a Duke student but not a member of the lgbt community so take my thoughts with a grain of salt. Most universities are liberal and tolerant and Duke is no exception. Undergraduates at Duke are for the most part restricted to just the campus- they live on the campus, have most of their entertainment options on campus, eat on campus, and almost never interact with people outside of it. I imagine this is fortunate since Durham is particularly poor, crime ridden and less tolerant. I think if you are seriously considering attending a college in the south, Duke will be more lgbt friendly than most.</p>
<p>I don’t know a lot about this but I read the thread “More CC Research Help Needed. This time: LGBT-Friendly Colleges” under featured discussions and there was a lot of information about this very question.</p>
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<p>actually, Durham and the RTP area are quite open, liberal, and “forward-thinking,” most likely due to the presence of three strong universities (UNC, NC State, and Duke). For example, the city of Durham itself holds a hugeeeee LGBT-ally pride parade every year. It’s quite a cool spectacle - coming from the San Francisco area, I was worried about closed-mindedness. Luckily, Duke far exceeded by expectations.</p>
<p>The rest of the south though, for what it’s worth, is definitely not as liberal. RTP is itself a little unique pocket within the south. But it’s a pocket I love :)</p>
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<p>
Then perhaps you should defer to those who actually know what they’re talking about – namely, the students who’ve experienced the school in question. </p>
<p>As a gay student, I’ve paid a lot of attention to these threads as a matter of curiosity, and I’ve noticed several Duke students write glowing reviews of LGBT life there. </p>
<p>Interestingly enough, his post history indicates that the OP chose Duke in the end and likes it quite a lot:
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<p>Personally, I think PiMC2CM should be applauded. It’s always nice to hear directly from the horse’s mouth. It gets so tiresome hearing the same old tripe on CC (Harvard is not good for undergrads, Wharton is 10x better than Penn CAS, Duke is more homophobic than Fred Phelps, Dartmouth students have a BAC of 50%, Berkeley classes have 567623 students, etc.). </p>
<p>As for digging up old threads, I must admit that I despise thread necromancy, but PiMC2CM has not posted since well before this thread was created, so perhaps (s)he chose to resurrect this thread rather than create a new one. Slightly annoying but understandable.</p>
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