LGBT student life at UChicago

<p>I am thinking about applying EA to UChicago, but was wondering about what life is like for LGBT students there on two levels.</p>

<p>In terms of environment, are most of the students at UChicago comfortable with and accepting of their gay peers? Are there lgbt RSOs and are they more support-based or activist type groups?</p>

<p>Socially, are there a lot of out lgbt students? Also, what is dating life like for UChicago queers (specifically girls..)?</p>

<p>Thanks a million!</p>

<p>of immediate relevance:</p>

<p>[Office</a> of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Student Life | The University of Chicago](<a href=“LGBTQ Student Life | Center for Identity + Inclusion | The University of Chicago”>http://lgbtq.uchicago.edu/)</p>

<p>So yes, social groups, activism groups, etc. I remember a student organization devoted to religious queers as well.</p>

<p>When I was at Chicago several years ago, openly gay people participated in all aspects of campus life without judgment- including but not limited to Greek life, student government, and intercollegiate sports. So not only is there a community and not only are people out, but people for the most part return to their regularly scheduled lives.</p>

<p>And this is kind of cute, from a valentine’s day issue of the Chicago Maroon:</p>

<p>[Evan</a> Garrett & Peter Jensen ? The Chicago Maroon](<a href=“Saul Bellow, dead at 89 – Chicago Maroon”>Saul Bellow, dead at 89 – Chicago Maroon)</p>

<p>Thanks so much–both links were really helpful!</p>

<p>oh, and specifically about queer female dating (speaking from some personal experience as a cis female who dated another female at Chicago back during Bush II):</p>

<p>First, I have somewhat mixed feelings about dating during college, Princeton mother be darned ;-). I have mixed feelings because the amount of time you could end up spending with your SO will ultimately detract what I think college is best for in a developmental/sociological way… that is, I see college as a time to build a broad, shallow social circle and a time to be sexual without necessarily being committed. I see your life after college as your time to start thinking about dating seriously.</p>

<p>(Of course there are some who would strongly disagree with me on both points.)</p>

<p>But regardless of my personal opinions, I think dating in college is hard. It’s possible, but it’s hard. And from my experience there are fewer self-identified lesbians than self-identified gay men, both in college and after, so finding people you want to date might be harder. When I was at Chicago a bunch of us got together and did things like play poker and occasionally crashed apartment parties that our gay male friends hosted. So while I didn’t find the love of my life as an undergrad, I definitely had outlets!</p>