<p>Whats the lesbian community like in and around the school?</p>
<p>It exists but it's not overly prominent. Miniscule compared to Smith.</p>
<p>What do you mean by "miniscule compared to Smith?"</p>
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What do you mean by "miniscule compared to Smith?"
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<p>I must admit I have a warped perspective because I was born and raised in San Francisco. However, my impression when I stayed overnight at Smith was that the lesbian population was greater in number/more outspoken than at Wellesley. And I was just comparing the impressions I got from both campuses regarding the lesbian community. Some people are (unfortunately) uneasy about women's colleges because of the supposed big lesbian communities and I wanted to give my honest opinion.</p>
<p>Wellesley was ranked the #3 gay friendly college by Princeton Review. Also check out: <a href="http://www.livejournal.com/community/wellesleyblue/155345.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.livejournal.com/community/wellesleyblue/155345.html</a></p>
<p>I don't know where Princeton Reiew did their research but with a sister at Wellesley and being from thea area, I can tell you all three girls schools aare very-lesbian friendly, that being said how good is the comunity, Smith has a much more apparent lesbian community than Wellesley, and many lesbian grads say that Mount. Holyoke is their hevaen. You wont hear that from Wellesley, but all three are very accepting liberal schools.</p>
<p>Smith & Mount Holyoke wer on the top 10 list for Best Schools for Gays/Lesbians in Northeast, here's the excerpt, oh and the link for the trest of the schools, <a href="http://www.planetout.com/people/features/2001/01/colleges/northeast.html#mtholyoke%5B/url%5D">http://www.planetout.com/people/features/2001/01/colleges/northeast.html#mtholyoke</a>. They're ranked for each region :</p>
<p>SMITH COLLEGE
Northampton, Massachusetts </p>
<p>Location Small lesbian-friendly town
Undergraduates 2,665
GLBT groups LBTA, Prism
Social life On-campus parties, local bars
Nondiscrimination policy Includes sexual orientation
Official Web site <a href="http://www.smith.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://www.smith.edu/</a> </p>
<p>I may be a bit biased because I am the head of the LBTA, but I attended two other colleges before transferring to Smith, and Smith is about as open an atmosphere as you can get. The LBTA has a board of about 12 people, and several hundred students are on our e--mail list. Our Trans, Bi, and Political Committees are very active, and PRISM (queer women of color) is as well. </p>
<p>Although there are no stats that I'm aware of (nothing official at least), I would guess that about a third of the campus engages in same-sex activities, at least while at Smith. Many speculate that it is closer to two-thirds. </p>
<p>-- Jesse </p>
<p>It's as common to see two women holding hands as a man and a woman (more common, even, because straight women have to import men from outside). I would be very surprised if there were gay faculty who found it necessary to stay closeted. </p>
<p>Noho is "Lesbianville, USA." While outside the direct area of the campus looks and feels just like every other small New England town, Main St. has "Pride and Joy," a "Mom & Mom" shop full of rainbow gear, and most of the cars have rainbow stickers. Walking down Main St. is the only place (besides campus) I can hold my girlfriend's hand and not feel out-of-place. There's a gay bar around the corner from the bookstore. Pride Northampton is huge, or at least it was this year. </p>
<p>-- Sylvia </p>
<p>My guess about the number of lesbians on campus is that Smith doesn't have an unusually high percentage ... probably close to the same as anywhere else. The difference is that in such an open community, more women are comfortable experimenting with their sexuality. The school seems incredibly queer to many outsiders because so many women are choosing to be open to explore themselves. </p>
<p>-- Rebecca </p>
<p>Because Smith is so queer-friendly, the queer social life on campus is just like the straight social life -- but with an actual chance of getting a date. Northampton itself is rather aptly called Lesbianville, USA. You can hold hands downtown and there are rainbow stickers on half the cars you pass. It is a small town, so the only gay bar is a bit lame (bad music), but fun for excursions occasionally -- straight and queer alike go. </p>
<p>Transgendered issues are increasingly discussed on campus. People, while they need to be educated, are very open-minded for the most part, and especially in the realm of gender**** and play with gender roles, it is very much in line with the liberal thinking of the campus. Obviously, as a women's college, it might be a difficult place to be for some FTMs, but the Trans committee of the LBTA is very supportive, and my T friends have found it very helpful. </p>
<p>-- Elena </p>
<p>There are queer type festivities throughout the year, the biggest of which has got to be Celebration of Sisterhood. This is an annual campuswide event where all of the a cappella groups and Quad houses (dorms) get together and put on a big show about lesbianism with many funny skits, singing, dancing, and outright letting-loose. It was founded in response to a homophobic act that happened about ten years ago. Now it is a tradition and staple of Smith life that, I believe, they even mention in several of their brochures. This past year I ended up observing the festivities right next to our school president. She was just a regular member of the crowd like the rest of us who came out to support and revel in her students. Now, if the president of your school is out supporting and genuinely enjoying such a major gay event, then I would say that the school, in general, is pretty cool towards gays. </p>
<p>-- Anonymous </p>
<p>When the school was built, most of the dorm rooms were made into singles, so that there would be no unsuitable female relations. But now, the singles just enhance it. </p>
<h2>-- Anonymous </h2>
<p>MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE
South Hadley, Massachusetts </p>
<p>Location Small college town
Undergraduates 1,979
Queer studies Women's studies covers lesbian issues
GLBT groups Lesbian Bisexual Alliance, Spectrum, SYSTA
Social life Parties, local bars
Queer spaces Queer center
Nondiscrimination policy Includes sexual orientation
Official Web site <a href="http://www.mtholyoke.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://www.mtholyoke.edu/</a> </p>
<p>Mount Holyoke is the best, because it is a good mix of people, and many/most of them are very, very fluid in their sexuality, so coming out isn't an issue. It's sort of taken for granted that virtually no one will graduate without some kind of same-sex physical interaction -- at least a kiss. Every dorm was sort of a gay dorm. Every party was basically a gay party, even though there were straight people there. </p>
<p>-- Amanda </p>
<p>Mount Holyoke has my firm vote for a place to find the big dykes on campus. It's a charming, beautiful, top-notch school with short spikey hair and piercings galore. It's deeply accepting and welcoming. I helped to carry the MHC banner in D.C. this summer, and Smith, Wellesley, and Bryn Mawr marched along with us. </p>
<p>-- Jennifer </p>
<p>Mount Holyoke College, an all women's college, in Western Massachusetts, is lesbian/bisexual heaven! Lots of cute curious and lesbian girls, near Northampton, beautiful bucolic setting. The LBTA (lesbian, bisexual, transgendered alliance) is very active, and there is a queer house that is basically a place for meetings, dances, a library, a computer, etc. Many staff/faculty are queer and out. It's almost as if being queer is a nonissue there. </p>
<p>-- Anonymous </p>
<p>I graduated almost five years ago and I think the climate has improved even more by supporting queer groups/events/etc. since then. We have "out" faculty, and women's studies classes don't gloss over sexuality or lives of lesbians. The school recently did a five-year plan which has really shaped their policies around recruitment, hiring, and other relevant stuff. </p>
<p>My memories of homophobic incidents often happened in social settings when straight men came to MHC to "meet women," and then there would be a bunch of us "ignoring" their advances. </p>
<p>-- Kris</p>
<p>So is Smith an unfriendly environment for heteros ?</p>
<p>That question is perhaps better suited for the Smith board.</p>
<p>Is anyone else feeling that Wellesley is unfriendly to hetero?</p>
<p>I never felt Wellesley was unfriendly to heterosexuals when I was a student there. I know several current Wellesley students and all of them (they are heterosexual) have found the campus to be inclusive. The campus community embraces students regardless of their sexual orientation. Current students that I know, do not feel W is unfriendly to heterosexuals. It is quite an accepting school where people respect you regardless of your differences.</p>