<p>I was wondering if anyone could comment on the quality of life for LGBT students at Chicago. </p>
<p>It seems to be a very accepting place, and I've looked over the website, but I was looking for personal experiences if possible.</p>
<p>Here’s what I can say:</p>
<p>I have many friends here who hold many different kinds of orientation and gender identities. A few general observations:</p>
<p>I know some people who are VERY interested in discussing their sexual orientation openly and publicly and I know some people who are comfortable with it, but won’t bring it up unless it’s directly addressed. In other words, I don’t think a campus visit tells you the whole story, because what you don’t know is that that frat boy/athlete/econ major dude you saw walking across the quad has a boyfriend. (In fact, I can think of at least two males who fit that description.) If you are looking for sparkly scarves, short haircuts, and other symbols of a gay/queer community, you will see a good deal of that as well, but if you’re looking for a place to be comfortable being you and get on with your life, you will be far from alone.</p>
<p>I also know a few people who are genderqueer or go by a name that denotes a different gender than their birth name. From my understanding Chicago has made strides in making campus more gender-unbinary -friendly, with single-user restrooms and all that jazz. I’ve also seen a lot of people dress in ways that could be considered gender-deviant, but I think those people don’t identify differently gender-wise. Anyway, what I’m saying is that it’s a big, diverse world out there.</p>
<p>What actually surprises me more than anything is how accepting my friends and my peers are of fluid sexual orientations. For example, many of my friends (both male and female) who would identify as straight if you gave them a survey and asked to pick an option are comfortable talking about their homosexual feelings. Some of them place themselves on the Kinsey scale at a 2 or a 3 (with one being 100% straight and 7 being 100% gay) and one of my male friends even said something to the effect of, “I’m straight, but you know, I could see myself having sex with a man. It could be fun.”</p>
<p>I am nowhere near as qualified as unalove (or any other current students) to address this, but through my kids I happen to know a bunch of LGB people at Chicago (no Ts yet). The thing that impresses me most is that it’s clear that at Chicago your sexual orientation doesn’t have to be the most important thing about you, or even in the top 5. If you want to be out and loud, or queer and here, that’s fine, but if what you are is a Republican sociology freak who likes prog rock and archery (and is attracted to people with the same gender as you), then people will deal with you as a conservative, a sociologist, an archer, or a TV on the Radio fan, with minimal to no noise based on sexuality (unless they happen to like you back, in which case all bets are off). There’s no reason not to be out, but you don’t have to be, either.</p>
<p>That’s not unique to Chicago, or even to college. People out here in the adult world achieve that state, but it often takes years and a lot of trial and error. At Chicago, and maybe a few other similar institutions, it seems as close to effortless and natural as I can imagine under real-world conditions. </p>
<p>And there are some reasons why Chicago specifically is a great place to be LGBT. First, although Chicago’s political median is probably a good deal farther right compared to similar colleges, it is not a place that attracts a lot of fundamentalist social conservatives. The right wing there is overwhelmingly libertarian, and thus committed to respect for personal choices. Second, there is an overarching culture of respect for others generally. There is lots of fierce debate over politics and philosophy, but very little nasty fierce debate, and people learn very quickly that empty rhetoric does not get them any points. That carries over to personal lives – being polite and respectful, and looking for common ground, is the way you are expected to deal with other people, including everybody. Third, and related, traditionally, and still, there are plenty of people at Chicago who are queer in the old-fashioned, nontechnical sense: slightly odd, nonnormative in some dimension(s). The university is proud that such people are part of its community. LGBT orientation is just another spice in the stew, so to speak – another way to be a little off-center, and far from the most interesting or noticeable one. And no one treats being on-center as any kind of virtue.</p>
<p>Which is not to say that it’s paradise. College-age people tend to be a lot more competent at the physical aspects of sexuality than the emotional ones. Gay and straight, people get hurt, betrayed, fooled, confused, misunderstood, rejected, infected. And sometimes not, of course, or the opposite. Something to maybe look forward to.</p>
<p>What helpful and detailed information! Much thanks to both of you. Chicago sounds just about perfect.</p>