<p>Can anyone, preferably a current student or recent graduate, speak to the lgbtq life at Haverford? My main concern has nothing to do with intolerance, but rather more to do with Haverford's tiny size. If approximately 10% of the population is gay and Haverford consists of 1200 students, well there just cannot be that many gay people! So, all in all, is the lgbtq presence felt on campus? Or is it so minuscule that it's barely noticeable? </p>
<p>I really do love Haverford and it's one of my top choice schools. And honestly, if I weren't gay the size wouldn't be an issue. I just don't want to feel isolated/alone in college. I want to have a community and people to date.</p>
<p>The community is definitely small, but it does exist and there are a lot more queer students here than you’d expect at first glance. For women, Bryn Mawr greatly expands dating opportunities and for all genders, there are tons of LGBTQ students in and around Philly (especially at Swat, where my boyfriend goes). Ultimately, the pool isn’t huge, but if you want to date, you will find people.</p>
<p>Hope that helps! Let me know if you have any more questions.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the responses. Takenfromamap, did you feel like it was hard to come out at Haverford in the beginning, simply because it’s so small and everyone knows everyone?</p>
<p>I found it hard to come out because of my own internalized homophobia (I had just come out to myself a few months prior) but I think Haverford’s an easy place to come out in general. During customs week there is an event called pluralism which is this big bonding activity in which everyone ends up sharing personal things about them (you’re not forced or expected to speak) and one girl on my hall came out during that and it wasn’t a big deal. When I finally got the courage to come out to one of the girls in my customs group, she was incredibly supportive and after that it was pretty easy to tell the rest of my peers. They even gave me the encouragement I needed to come out to my family.</p>
<p>I’m out on campus but I don’t think everyone knows as some people are occasionally surprised when I make reference to my boyfriend. That surprise only lasts a second though and people don’t make a big deal about it at all. I actually can’t imagine an easier place to come out than Haverford. </p>
<p>Wow, I really appreciate you telling me all this, takenfromamap. Only a week or two more before I get my decision, but I already know that if I’m admitted I’ll most definitely accept. Haverford sounds like a fantastic place to be. And good luck with your midterms!</p>