<p>Macalester College, absolutely</p>
<p>Indiana University-Bloomington</p>
<p>There is a history of support and acceptance here. Even in the late 1940’s Alfred Kinsey was permitted by the university to research human sexuality, including homosexuality, etc. While some of his work maybe disparaged today, it was ground breaking at the time. The IU president supported his research despite attempts by many to prevent it. </p>
<p>Back in the mid 1980’s, which is a long time ago in terms of acceptance, groups for GLBT were forming with and without university support. The university studied the needs of GLBT in the early 90’s. One result was the GLBT resource center, still in operation of course, which is a source for counseling, support, events, etc. As pizzagirl stated, one would expect that based upon the size of the school but it is the relatively “early adoption” which says more about the acceptance by the University. </p>
<p>The University and the town offer health benefits to domestic partners, regardless of gender.</p>
<p>“The Advocate” lists the town of Bloomington as one of the gay friendliest towns in the midwest. The town itself has the nation’s 5th largest per capita population of same sex couples. </p>
<p>In addition to the services/events sponsored by the University, a fairly large number of events and groups are oriented to GLBT. </p>
<p>How do I know this: I was a student here many years ago, and I currently reside in this town. My LGBT friends and relatives tell me this is a good place for them.</p>
<p>I’m surprised NYU and Columbia aren’t mentioned. :)</p>
<p>Perhaps I’ll flesh this out later, but…</p>
<p>Brown (attend)
Oberlin
Vassar
Pomona (friends)
Macalaster
Weslyan (friends)
U Hawai’i (attended)
Lewis and Clark (friends)
Reed
Willamette (friends)
Most all-girls schools
Pitzer
U Oregon
Portland State U
UC Sana Cruz
Bard</p>
<p>It would be far more useful if people were to stick to schools they know well, as simply giving the name of an institution is of no use whatsoever.</p>
<p>I am particularly skeptical of the suggestions of LACs for LGBT students. Such institutions are so small that even straight students complain about a lack of dating options, let alone L/G students. The vast majority of LACs simply don’t have a critical mass of out LGBT students, however “friendly” and “supportive” they may be. Furthermore, LACs tend to be in relatively rural/isolated areas, so options for outside dating options or support groups is often extremely limited or nonexistent.</p>
<p>As a final point, I am beyond skeptical about anyone who claims a school is T-friendly unless (s)he has personally visited or attended that school. Investigating the existence of gender-neutral bathrooms, counseling for those undergoing a transition, and other such amenities essentially requires a visit. A warm and fuzzy environment does not make a school T-friendly. Women’s schools, particularly for MTF students, are a prime example of a group of schools requiring close examination, even though most are L/B-friendly.</p>
<p>1) Washington University in St Louis</p>
<p>2 and 3) I go here. A good male friend on my floor just came out and I also have acquaintaines who are GLBT. He said a lot of interesting things about the process at Wash U and how it compared to coming out to his family (wasn’t the easiest thing for him back home). The whole campus is really laid-back, open, and supportive for every kid here. There is a Pride Alliance student group, who plans an annual semi-formal called Gayla which is well attended by straights too. I plan to go this year as my friend’s date although i’m a straight female, and it’s giong to be so much fun! I know gay guys who are in some of the fraternities, and my guy friend who just came out is going to pledge the fraternities next semester, including one who brought his boyfriend to his fraternity formal. </p>
<p>Overall the vibe is “it’s not a big deal if you’re gay” and you are supported to own your sexuality and be proud of it just like straight people are proud of theirs. You’re totally accepted just as if you were anyone else. He didn’t feel pressured or worried to come out, and didn’t feel like it was a big “process.” You just feel that you can be who you are without anyone juding you. the Pride Alliance is active and has other events (a Drag Show, movie nights, film series, brings speakers to campus, and a library they maintain) and is probably a great resource for students active in the group… sorry i can’t speak any more about it but i’m not in it and only have acquaintances who are. By and large I don’t think you feel obligated to join a Pride Alliance-type group to make friends, because you’re still going to be friends with both GLBT people and non GLBT people. i hope that doesn’t sound too hetero-normative. </p>
<p>Upperclassmen can lived in mixed-gender suites… so you can have 2 guys and 2 girls in a 4-person suite, 3 girls and 1 guy, etc. </p>
<p>There is a GLBT Advisor/Coordinator, who is a full time staff member in the Student Activites office. There are also these things called “Safe Zones” (not sure other colleges have them?) which are these little signs on offices/dorms/classrooms that are indicators to people that discrimination is not tolerated in these areas… considering these signs are basically on every door i see, i think it says a lot for Wash U’s campus as a whole.</p>
<p>There is a major in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. I’m in one of the classes this semester and the thing that most surprised me was the diversity of students in the class… it’s not all girls. I probably had a mis-conceived stereotype where there were only going to be a certain type of people in these classes and it was totally not true, thankfully. There are straights, GLBT, men, and women. the first day of class we went around the room and talked about your own sexuality on Wash u’s campus. i really appreciate the willingness of many types of kids to take a class like this to broaden their academic and personal experiences about this area of study. </p>
<p>sorry if I’m not up on some of the other information, like gender-neutral bathrooms (the student center has one i know for sure though) and other resources for certain populations of people in the GLBTQIA spectrum… these are just personal anecodotes from my experience here and i hope it helps a little bit.</p>
<ol>
<li>University of Michigan</li>
<li>They have several LGBT clubs and associations. Plus, it’s in Ann Arbor, a very LGBT-friendly town. They also have gender-neutral housing and readily-available resources for all LGBTQ. </li>
<li>College visits, extensive research, friends who attend(ed).</li>
</ol>
<p>IBclass, I agree on the T-friendly issue. That is the hardest to support (or find information about). But I disagree with your point about LACs. Dave Berry asked about LGBT support:
He wasn’t asking about the depth of the dating pool.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>St. Olaf College</p></li>
<li><p>Although it is a Christian college, they really support the LGBT community. They even have a gay men’s chorus. </p></li>
<li><p>I have a couple of friends who go there and love it. The people at the college seem to be non judgemental and very down to earth.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Wesleyan–a substantial and vocal queer population (that isn’t just ‘tolerated’ by the community, it is integral to the community), a queer resource center, queer-themed program house, many out faculty, and a lot of social and activist events. there are also a number of trans/genderqueer people. students learn to use gender neutral pronouns during orientation, and most dorms have gender neutral bathrooms.
source: I’m a current student.</p>
<p>Smith–let’s just say that parents ask on tours if the straight girls will feel left out at Smith. also has a genderqueer/trans population and is in an area with a decent-sized LGBT community despite being a small town.
source: best friend goes there, and I took classes there.</p>
<p>
a transguy I know who goes to Smith (and transitioned there) says he couldn’t imagine going anywhere else.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>College name: University of Arizona</p></li>
<li><p>Why you consider it an LGBT-friendly school:</p></li>
<li><p>Over 5 LGBTQ-based campus groups (some for undergrad, some for graduate, some for medical or law students) – all are VERY active</p></li>
<li><p>Institute of LGBTQ Studies based in the Women’s Studies Institute</p></li>
<li><p>Several open courses devoted to sexual orientation</p></li>
<li><p>Large number of open faculty and students</p></li>
<li><p>Located in a liberal city</p></li>
<li><p>A number of gay bars and gay businesses located within a few miles of campus</p></li>
<li><p>Transgendered options (we have bathrooms right now and working on gender neutral housing)</p></li>
<li><p>Anti-discrimination policy</p></li>
<li><p>IMPORTANT: Your knowledge source (how you know this to be true):
Out and proud student. ;)</p></li>
</ol>
<p>This is a sidenote, sorry if its random. I go to St Thomas and it is just down the street from Macalester, yet polar opposite. I guess 2-3 years ago the English department had a common text book about a gay couple, and how one was dying due to aids. Some people on the board who helped fund the school pulled their money cause they were so agianst it. I know Macalester is very liberal and accepting of gays. Whenever you are around conservatives they bash that place</p>
<p>Any information about the environment at MIT and CalTech?</p>
<p>I’d like to add Stony Brook (New York) to the mix. We have a very strong, very well-supported LGBT group ([stony</a> brook lgbt](<a href=“http://www.stonybrooklgbt.org/]stony”>http://www.stonybrooklgbt.org/)), who announced on Twitter recently ([Stony</a> Brook LGBTA (SBLGBTA) on Twitter](<a href=“x.com”>x.com)) that we’ve finally approved gender-neutral housing. (I haven’t seen anything official about that yet, however.)</p>
<p>Our counseling center has a large “Safe Space” program ([Stony</a> Brook University - Center for Prevention and Outreach](<a href=“Home | Center for Prevention and Outreach”>Home | Center for Prevention and Outreach)) that has trained dozens of faculty and staff members across campus, myself included, to be welcoming places for LGBTQ students. (And there is also a list of gender-neutral bathrooms on their site – [Stony</a> Brook University - Center for Prevention and Outreach](<a href=“Home | Center for Prevention and Outreach”>Home | Center for Prevention and Outreach))</p>
<p>Chris</p>
<ol>
<li><p>College name: Yale University</p></li>
<li><p>Why you consider it an LGBT-friendly school: I came out to my peers for the first time here and was absolutely terrified. I’ve been overwhelmed with the amount of kindness and support I get here. Really, though, the best thing for me is the reactions I don’t get. Honestly, nobody really cares. There’s places for you to talk about being gay and tons of support, but in the end, being gay is just like having red hair here. It’s a little different, but nobody really gives it much of a second thought. And that’s AWESOME.</p></li>
<li><p>Me! I’m gay at Yale! Check out the Yale Daily News today too–a big story is about an anti-gay evangelist who came to campus to preach on the sidewalks. I think this picture says it all: [Yale</a> Daily News - Media -](<a href=“http://www.yaledailynews.com/media/2009/12/04/preacher-2/]Yale”>http://www.yaledailynews.com/media/2009/12/04/preacher-2/)</p></li>
</ol>
<p>As a current student at Wesleyan, I want to second jarsilver’s rec, and add:</p>
<p>–Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program, which includes many classes on queer issues.
–Ability to live with anyone of any gender after Freshmen year (and any concerns about living with someone of the same sex freshmen year will be addressed).</p>
<p>Good article on this topic in a Gay newspaper for some Boston metro area colleges:</p>
<p>[Keeping</a> the Faith :: GLBT students face adversity at Catholic colleges :: EDGE Boston](<a href=“http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=&sc3=&id=52747]Keeping”>http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=&sc3=&id=52747)</p>
<p>Chris, you linked to the faculty/staff LGBT group, Pride at SBU, who are awesome but are not LGBTA 
Stony Brook’s LGBTA can be found online at [Stony</a> Brook LGBTA](<a href=“http://www.ic.sunysb.edu/clubs/lgbta/]Stony”>http://www.ic.sunysb.edu/clubs/lgbta/) and [Stony</a> Brook LGBTA | Facebook](<a href=“Facebook Public Group | Facebook”>Facebook Public Group | Facebook) There’s also a med student group (I don’t think they have a website right now), and the med school has done some great things recently with incorporating LGBT health into their curriculum.</p>
<p>I’d also add that Campus Residences at Stony Brook is hugely queer-friendly (and has a large number of LGBT staff members), that LGBTA is the 2nd oldest student group on campus and the oldest LGBT organization on Long Island, and that the LGBT community on campus is very trans-inclusive.</p>
<p>OMG I can not express how accepting Yale is toward the LGBT community. They even have Queer Peer Counselors here, I went to one and I talked for like a hour. If you are LGBT this is a GREAT campus to attend.</p>
<p>Duke is extremely gay friendly. No need to
make assumptions based off false stereotypes?</p>