Top LGBTQ-Friendly Colleges & Universities In The World

Despite the fact that it is 21st century, our society is still plagued with ample of hackneyed issues.

Discrimination on the basis of color, race, religion, and the worst, gender and sexuality is no less than a blotch on the society. From India to America and Australia to Japan, every country stumbles whenever such issues are brought into the limelight.

The Campus climate’s report quotes, “Many GLBT campus members find that they must hide significant parts of their identity from peers and others, thereby isolating themselves socially or emotionally.”

Though the situation is highly distressing, some educational institutions are coming forward to reduce these problems. Besides, if we consider gender & sexual discrimination, in particular, there a lot of colleges and universities those are making substantial efforts to provide a favorable environment for the LGBTQ students.

It has been observed that these students do not search for a college that gives them special treatments; instead, they look for a college or a university that accepts them wholeheartedly. They want an institution that accepts them the way they are.

Presently, there are a significant number of LGBTQ-Friendly colleges and universities that strictly condemn such sexual prejudice and welcome these students with open arms. These institutions assure equality and safety to LGBTQ community.

Below is the list of some of the top LGBTQ-Friendly colleges and universities in the world. These institutions are willing going an extra mile to make their campuses LGBTQ-Friendly.

These institutions let the students choose a college based on their talent & interest and not on the basis of their sex, caste, religion, or race.

Please note that the list below does not follow any chronology, they are ranked so only as per their recurrence on various portals.

1. The Pennsylvania State University
2. The Williams College
3. The University of California, Los Angeles
4. Princeton University
5. Emerson College, Boston
6. Warren Wilson College, Asheville
7. Amherst College
8. Cornell University, Ithaca
9. Washington University, St. Louis
10. University of Washington, Seattle
11. Macalester College
12. Rutgers University
13. Ithaca College
14. Ohio State University
15. University of Maryland
16. University of Michigan
17. Augsburg College
18. San Diego State University
19. University of Vermont
20. University of Oregon
21. University of California, Riverside
22. Washington State University
23. Oberlin College, Oberlin
24. Harvard University, Cambridge
25. Indiana University, Bloomington
26. University of Central Florida, Orlando
27. Stanford University, Stanford
28. Pomona College, Claremont
29. Dartmouth College, Hanover
30. Bowdoin College

Given below are the details pertaining these colleges / universities:

• The Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania State University, popularly known as Penn. University has been echeloned among the top most LGBTQ-friendly University for the year 2016. It has 30+ LGBTQ related courses. The University was acclaimed for establishing its own LGBTQ Resource Center and advocating the policy change at the institutional level to meet the unique needs of LGBTQ community.

In their words, “We work to eliminate homophobia and hetero sexism at the Pennsylvania State University so that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer students and their allies have equity in every respect and are included in all areas of the Penn State Community.”

• The Williams College

Williams College is doing great for LGBTQ students. They assure campus safety, support, and institutional commitment to LGBTQ students. Besides they have a resource center and a paid-staff that focuses on these students. A number of student clubs, events, and educational opportunities further help to become students more aware of the LGBTQ issues.

• The University of California, Los Angeles

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is among those notable universities that have a welcoming attitude towards LGBTQ community. It has been a leader in LGBTQ research, advocacy, and education since the 1950s. UCLA’s LGBTQ resource center is a member of the David Bohnett Foundation and the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals. The center aspires to empower LGBTQ students by providing the educational opportunities that they deserve.

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• Princeton University

Princeton University, a private Ivy League university, has maintained a consistent position in the list of top LGBTQ-friendly universities for a long time. The university established its LGBTQ center in the year 2005. Since then, weekly activities, gender-free bathrooms, discussion & support groups, and off-campus & online resources are some of the initiatives taken by the university to enhance the personalities of LGBTQ individuals.

• Emerson College, Boston

Emerson College in Boston is among the most LGBTQ-friendly college as per the Princeton Review. The College has its LGBTQ group, named as E.A.G.L.E. (Emerson’s Alliance for Gay, Lesbian, and Everyone). The group was established to support and promote queer culture on the campus. It sponsors a dozen of functions supporting LGBTQ culture.

• Warren Wilson College, Asheville

Warren Wilson College is another educational institution regarded as an LGBTQ-friendly college in the world. The college’s Centre for Gender and Relationships (CGR) imparts programming and resources on sexual health & education, LGBTQ advocacy, prevention of sexual assault & relationship violence, and gender equity.

• Amherst College

Over the time, LGBTQ student ratio has bloomed substantially in the Amherst College. The college has a sundry of LGBTQ student communities. Its Queer Resource Centre (QRC) provides plenty of resources and opportunities to all the students of Amherst. The center also conducts numerous events for the students interested in queer education. Besides, it has a library that stocks a huge miscellany of themed books, magazines, and movies.

• Cornell University, Ithaca

The LGBTQ Resource Centre of Cornell University was set up in 1994. The center commits to provide a safe and welcoming environment for the individuals, irrespective of their gender identities. The university’s non-discrimination policy includes protection of sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Transgender Health Insurance plans, gender- friendly restrooms, and on-campus housing of transgender students are some other initiatives taken by the university to promote equality in the campus.

• Washington University, St. Louis

Though the University does not have a separate Resource Centre for LGBTQ community, its friendliness with the same is clearly evident. The university has a number of gender-neutral restrooms, on- campus housing, and health care facilities. It has an extensive network of groups and organizations that support the LGBTQ community, both locally and nationally. Also, it holds three annual events in a year, namely, Destination Q, Lavender Recognition, and Holobaugh Honors for the community.

• University of Washington, Seattle

The University of Washington, which is also known as UW or U-Dub, is a public research university. The Q Centre of the university is a student-run resource center that caters to the needs of students irrespective of their gender and sexuality. The center has a library, escorts a variety of events, runs several blogs, and has over 100 queer courses. It also yields policy advocacy, counseling, and group meeting space.

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• Macalester College

The Gender & Sexuality Resource Centre (GSRC) comes under the dominance of the college’s Department of Multicultural Life. The center missions to create a strong culture, that’s free of any resistance to communities with different needs and identities. Gender-free restrooms, health facility, resources, and annual events are some of the strategies adopted by the college to promote gender equality.

• Rutgers University

The Centre for Social Justice Education and LGBT Communities (SJE) aims to provide an inclusive campus experience to all members of the LGBTQ community. It holds a variety of events and resources for the students. The center also conducts a free Space-Training session for the students who wish to advocate for the LGBT students. The college has six LGBTQ organizations including Queer & Asian and Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (OSTEM).

• Ithaca College

The college’s LGBT center, namely, Centre for LGBT Education, came into existence in the year 2001. The center is a patron of academic success and personal growth of the LGBT students. It proffers college-wide services to magnify the campus community’s understanding of the LGBTQ community.

The services include a range of resources, events, and programs to enlighten the community about various LGBTQ issues. Other than the center, the college has four LGBTQ student organizations, viz., Created Equal (LGBTQA activism), PRISM (social and education focus), Spectrum (community for “people who have feelings and are attracted to the person and not the gender”), and Athlete Ally (ending homo- and transphobia in sports teams).

• Ohio State University

Ohio State University (OSU) fosters its LGBT initiative through Student Life Multicultural Centre. Ample of LGBT programs and events are sighted on a regular basis in the university’s campus. Moreover, the university purveys gender inclusive housing facilities and gender neutral restrooms in the campus. Students have access to enormous valuable resources such as the list of gender and sexuality studies programs, a declaration of gender designation change, Central Ohio LGBT community organizations, and LGBTQ counseling groups.

• University of Maryland

The LGBTQ Equity Centre, University of Maryland, envisages Maryland as a prejudice-free university. The center strives to emancipate LGBTQ people from inequality and social injustice. It assists the students, faculty, and staff members of all gender identities without any discrimination. There exists a lot of LGBT-related student groups such One Project (for first-year students), The Pride alliance, and Hamsa—Jewish and LGBTQQIA. LGBT Equity library, resources, and programs are few other initiatives taken by the university to support and promote gender equity in the campus.

• University of Michigan

The Spectrum Centre at the University of Michigan deals with the betterment of LGBTQ community in the university. The center envisions imparting an enriching campus experience and student development irrespective of any gender or sexual biasness. It encompasses plenty of resources, training programs, and health facilities for the LGBTQ students. It also has a library, meeting space, and gender-inclusive restrooms & on-campus housing facilities.

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• Augsburg College

The college initiated Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA) Student Services to create an environment of acceptance among students, teachers, and staff members. It visions to develop gender inclusive education system in the college with the help of counseling, events, mentorship, policies, practices, and advocacy. Also, it conducts training programs at a regular interval for the staff and students over the topics like gender identity and equality.

• San Diego State University

The university provides a variety of minor, major, and graduate courses in LGBTQ studies. It is among the top universities in the US that offer degree in LGBT studies. The Pride Centre of the college is the one responsible for maintaining the safety and development of LGBTQ students. The center intends to create an atmosphere conducive to the growth and development of individuals irrespective of their gender identities. It advocates for gender equality and highly condemns sexual prejudice and oppression.

• University of Vermont

The LGBTQA Center at the University deals with equality and safety of LGBTQ students. The center promotes gender inclusive education at the campus. It provides physical space at the Student Lounge Centre and free access to library and the internet to the students. Besides, a number of programs, services, events, and activities are frequently conducted on the campus.

• University of Oregon

The LGBTQIA Centre of the University of Oregon asserts gender-free support and education to its students. Its service programs cater multiple ways to create a favorable environment for all the students. The university has a number of Student Leadership Organizations. These organizations take actions on the behalf of LGBTQ members of the campus. There’s also a provision for gender inclusive housing where students can have a roommate of any gender. Apart from this, the university’s Department of Women’s and Gender Studies is currently offering a minor course in Queer Studies.

• University of California, Riverside

The University of California established its LGBT Resource Centre in the year 1993. Since its inception, the center is focused at equipping its students with support, advocacy, and education to its LGBTQ community students. It was the first campus in California to offer minor courses in LGBT education, three years later after its establishment. It is also a pioneering university to provide gender-neutral housing facility in the country. Its Resource Center assists the students with leadership scholarships and financial aids from time to time.

• Washington State University

The university established its first LGBTQ support center in the year 1995. Whereas, at present, the Gender Identity, Expression, and Sexual Orientation Resource Center (GIESORC) is leaving no stone unturned to impart quality and unbiased educational facilities to its LGBTQ students. Events, programs, scholarships, and resources are among the little assistances, supplied by the center. Through Student OUTreach, GIESORC offers a social hour every Tuesday, a variety of educational brochures, a mentor program, and gender-inclusive housing. It also has a provision for workshops and awareness campaigns for the upliftment of its LGBTQ community.

• Oberlin College, Oberlin

Extremely Diverse and accepting student body is a wow factor of this college. In fact, since 1950, the college has been attributed as queer because of its openness to homosexuality, effeminacy, and black and white students studying together. Its Multicultural Resource Center hosts various organizations. From LGBTQ students to staff members, it caters to all of them with its resources and information repositories. Besides, it conducts a plethora of LGBT-related workshops and events on regular intervals.

• Harvard University, Cambridge

Harvard University has hyperactive LGBTQ community of students, teacher, and staff members. Harvard College Office of BGLTQ student life supports and binds the community members in a multitude of ways such as events, activities, programs, and training programs. It bestows tons of easily accessible resources to its members. It contributes to develop a protected and diverse campus for the students with the multiplicity of sexuality and gender identities.

• Indiana University, Bloomington

The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (GLBT) Support Service Office, Indiana University caters to the needs of LGBT community members. GLBT Support Service commits for a welcoming environment for the LGBT students. It permits the students to use GLBT library, ingress a local resource guide, sign-up for a weekly newsletter, get updates about the upcoming events, and access the counseling services. Through the Service Support Centre, the university puts in every possible effort to create a favorable environment for its LGBT members.

• University of Central Florida, Orlando

Social Justice and Advocacy (SJA) visions to provide an egalitarian campus environment to its students. LGBTQ+ services are a part of SJA that toil to support and promote the well being of its LGBTQ members. It enhances student’s abilities with the help of its diverse educational opportunities, events, and educational & cultural programs.

• Stanford University, Stanford

Like many other universities, Stanford, too, has its name listed in the category of “Top LGBT-Friendly Universities.” Its LGBTQ Community Resources Center is open for all students. It allows free access to computers, printing, library, magazines, and other study material to the students. At present, the center is working as a part of Student Affairs that deals in student’s learning and development. Further, it inculcates the qualities of respect and affection towards the people irrespective of their gender and sexual identities.

• Pomona College, Claremont

The Queer Resource Centre (QRC) of Claremont Colleges caters to the Pomona College as well. The QRC’s remark, “It has something for everyone” elucidates that ORC has something to offer to each and everyone, irrespective of their gender identities. It houses a whopping stock of books, textbooks, movies, and other LGBTQIA related resource material. The center also has a lobby/lounge that can be used for organizational meetings. QRC actively supports in education, provides advocacy, and enrichment of LGBTQ students.

• Dartmouth College, Hanover

The Dartmouth’s Center for Gender and Student Engagement (CGSE) is a part of the Office of Pluralism and Leadership (OPAL). The center endeavors to build a campus community that welcomes and respects the individuals with different gender identities. It strives to obliterate gender inequality by the means of several programs and events.

• Bowdoin College

The Resource Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity (RCSGD) at Bowdoin is tailored to accord support and recognition to the LGBTQ group. It is committed to provide a helping hand to all its students regardless of their gender individualities. The center works in compliance with college administration to make Bowdoin’s atmosphere more LGBTQ-friendly with each passing day.