<p>In CC discussions on diversity, the subject of tolerance for gay students (and others) hardly ever comes up and I realized there is a difference between what recruitment or website materials say, and what students observe in real life while on campus. I've recently met several students thinking about applying to BS and this is an important topic to know.</p>
<p>What's the climate on your campus? Tolerant? Difficult? Or -- No one makes a big deal about it because all students get along and are treated equally? </p>
<p>Constructive comments would be appreciated!</p>
<p>St. Paul’s has an active Gay Straight Alliance. Several of the members recently spoke before the NH state legislature in opposition to the attempts to repel gay marriage in NH. </p>
<p>Below is a chapel talk given by a student who came out during his chapel talk. As you can see from the response the community was very supportive. </p>
<p>I know my daughter always goes to the SPS Gay Straight Alliance Dances and says they are fun. Her favorite TV show is Glee which has an openly gay student, so I have never heard anything negative coming from her or any of her friends. Hope this helps.</p>
<p>The student has also written thoughtful commentaries in the Phillipian. It’s searchable, and worth a look at what comes up for “gay” or “LGBT” or GSA. There are a number of same-sex married or otherwise partnered couples on faculty. As a parent, from what I’ve heard I’d feel very comfortable about having a LGBT child go to Andover. And a wonderful gay parent, brooklynguy, used to post regularly here: he was very pleased with the treatment he and his partner got at Andover.</p>
<p>I’ll second Sue22 on CA. Very open, accepting and cohesive community about all kinds of diversity be it intellectual thought or sexual preference.</p>
<p>Izzy Busy Bee posted about this topic a while ago. She said that most people didn’t come out at boarding school. She said there are very few openly gay people at her school (Middlesex). She said this is b/c people are living in close quarters and that people who attended her school were generally “Type A” people. If someone can find the thread were this was mentioned, (I think it was in the Cafe) that would help this discussion.</p>
<p>Well, at my school there are very few gays (or at least ones that are open to everyone) this year. Last year there were a few and everyone knew but they didn’t really say anything. I don’t think it was a very big deal.</p>
<p>I like this thread…glad to hear boarding schools are not only accepting but supportive of gay students. A student at my public school just came out this year, and he’s been serving as a friend and mentor to other LGBT students. Still, some here are not so open-minded…</p>
<p>I just got a response from two student leaders at Taft. There are two organizations (SHOUT, and Rainbow Rhinos). The school has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment.</p>
<p>Strong emphasis on diversity and guest lecturers on acceptance throughout the year.</p>
<p>All I know is that at Parent Weekend at my daughter’s school, it was also club sign up day. The GL group sign up sheet was several pages long. My daughter (not gay) and all her friends signed up. Her school seemed very supportive, plus, the group plans a lot of fun activities.
zp</p>
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