<p>Is there an LGBT support system at SMU? Is it largely conservative in this respect? Are the students mostly tolerant? I ask this because I am considering SMU as a potential choice for an in-state school, and due to the fact that I am indeed queer, I'd like to know if the environment is friendly.</p>
<p>Hi kaleidotroh,</p>
<p>I emailed Karen Click, our director of the Women’s Center and Gender Pride Initiatives about your question: </p>
<p>"We have 3 undergraduate student groups and 3 graduate student groups. Spectrum is our general undergrad LGBT group. They meet weekly in our center and plan social and activist events. They participate in national conferences and local community events, as well as serving as the primary programming body on campus. There is also Outliers which is an LGBT in the Sciences and Engineering group. We also have a group called LGBT dialogues which is a discussion group that meets twice a month. There are grad organizations in the Law School, Business School, and the School of Theology. Additionally, there is an LGBT Alumni Group and an LGBT Faculty/Staff group.</p>
<p>We in the Women’s Center for Gender and Pride Initiatives are essentially 50% Women’s Center and 50% LGBT Center. We put on campus events and programs, meet individually with students in crisis, maintain a Women/Gender/LGBT themed lending library, and advocate for women and the LGBT Communities.</p>
<p>Campus Pride, a national non-profit LGBT campus organization awarded us 4 out of 5 staffs for our LGBT efforts. We are proud to support the LGBT community at SMU."</p>
<p>Thank you very much, johnangle. I’ll happily add SMU to my list, now that my major concern with it has been assuaged. :)</p>