<p>Here in the northeastern part of the US, LGBT issues are more accepted. As I understand, they may not be as accepted in the southern US. If my son is applying to schools in the south, do you think there might be any discrimination if he put LGBT club president on his application?</p>
<p>Also, what about christian universities (not sure if he plans on applying to any of them though)?</p>
<p>If putting LGBT worries you, are you sure those schools will be the best fit socially for your son?</p>
<p>Well there must be some LGBT people down south, so I’m sure he’ll find a good group of friends down there. I just heard there might be a bit more discrimination down there though, so I’m wondering if it’s a good idea or not.</p>
<p>I think OP is more concerned about the extreme right-leaning admissions officer than the rest of the more moderate community. Although I can’t guarantee that unspoken discrimination won’t be involved, it’s probably a good idea to apply to the schools down there including his presidency just because it gives a more accurate views of his passions. As long as he doesn’t say anything offensive (e.g. “Christians are bigots”), he should be okay.</p>
<p>I am originally from the south. I don’t think it would be a problem, unless you are applying to religious schools.</p>
<p>MODERATOR’S NOTE</p>
<p>This thread is acceptable because it is directly related to college. Discussing gay marriage is NOT directly related, so I have deleted the posts concerning the subject. If there are any more posts not specifically answering the OP’s question, I will close the thread.</p>
<p>It could be a problem at some private schools, or depending upon which adcom person reviews his application. </p>
<p>But all Christians do not consider homosexuality to be “an abominable sin of permanence” -only conservative Christians. My (straight) daughter was accepted and chose to attend a Catholic university after listing her service as VP of her high school Gay Straight Alliance. The admissions person even assumed that the friend who came along for the tour was her gay partner, and the girls chose not to correct her.</p>
<p>I’d say that if it is important for you son to be unashamed of his orientation or openness to homosexuality he should list it rather than hide it. But if he is more concerned about being accepted to a specific school, he needs to wrestle with which is more important to him. My kid was adamant that she would not attend a school that discriminated against gays.</p>
<p>Would definitely put this down. If a college sees this and wants to discriminate against you, then that is a school you would have hated attending any ways.</p>
<p>Put it down. It’s a leadership position which indicates that it is something for which your S has a passion. </p>
<p>The only way to ensure the colleges to which your S applies is a fit is to give them as complete and honest look at who he is.</p>
<p>Be careful though, he may be treated like a diversity candidate and accepted to colleges where he is in very minority position of being one of very few.</p>
<p>Don’t believe stereotypes of the South either. The Northeast is no where near as tolerant as you believe and the South is nowhere near as intolerant.</p>
<p>On the Christian school issue. See if the schools already have an active club. If not, it’s probably not acceptable. If so, there is some tolerance for it.</p>
<p>Anyways, I would assume it depends which southern schools? I doubt there would be much discrimination in Tulane, but it’s safe to say there’ll be some bias at, I don’t know, Central Christian University of Mississippi.</p>
<p>If your child is not straight and that has any bearing on the admissions decision, it likely isn’t somewhere your child should be. If he is straight, he’d likely have to check out the general attitude at the college.</p>
<p>It depends on the school. At a liberal LAC like Hendrix, your son would be most welcome. There is an active LGBTQ group and gender-neutral housing options, and even the generally conservative town the college is in has Pride events. Plus Little Rock is apparently the 11th “gayest” city in the country, according to the Advocate magazine. :)</p>
<p>At one of the Southern schools we visited this month, the gay admissions officer made a point of saying in the information session how welcoming this particular Southern town has been for him and his partner. I think your son will find that the South is more open-minded than some Northerners think it is.</p>