News on Relevant Science: 20 Colleges With the Strongest LGBT Communities

Because colleges have always stood at the forefront of pushing progressive policies, they remain ideal candidates for initiating movements promoting social change, particularly in the realm of social justice. These days, equality for LGBTQIA persons riles up professional and armchair politicians alike, making it quite a hot topic whenever election season rolls around. One way institutes of higher learning champion the cause for embracing instead of marginalizing LGBTQIA individuals involves providing safe spaces where their needs and wants are enthusiastically addressed. For bullied high school students who want to learn firsthand that It Gets Better or undergraduates and graduates simply seeking similarly-experienced or like-minded peers for activism and good times, the following colleges with excellent LGBT communities might prove ideal.

Whitman College

Campus Pride awarded Whitman College its prestigious five-star rating (out of five!) for its commitment to creating a safe, welcoming, and loving space for LGBTQIA students. Faculty, administrators, and — perhaps most importantly — peers are often hailed as incredibly open and friendly, and events such as Dragfest, Queer Prom, National Coming Out Day, and plenty more proudly spot the campus schedule.
Indiana University

Fraternities do not boast the greatest track record when it comes to its perceptions regarding women, minorities, and the LGBTQIA community; Lambda 10 launched at Indiana University to counter issues relating to the last demographic and its desire for equal representation and treatment. Shane L. Windmeyer, the cofounder, continues serving as a wonderful advocate for LGBT students (Greek or not) and solidified his alma mater’s status as a Campus Pride five-star institution .
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The Daily Beast and Newsweek consider MIT the greatest school for LGBTQIA inclusiveness, with 100% of students considering it “very accepting” of all minorities. Nothing exemplifies this commitment to promoting diversity better than the You Are Welcome Here campaign, which reaches out across sexuality and gender identity and expression lines to create a safe, loving environment and provide resources for the questioning, closeted, or out in need of some assistance.
University of Oregon

Not only does University of Oregon boast a five-star rating from Campus Pride, it also stand as one of its premier schools because of tireless efforts to accommodate the needs of all sexualities, gender identities, and gender expressions. LGBTQIA students here can reference the official U Out blog, hosted on the school’s servers and linked above, for the latest events, opportunities, and activism in and around Eugene.
University of Pennsylvania

In an undoubtedly controversial move, this prestigious Ivy League institution specifically reached out to LGBTQIA undergraduates on its application forms, encouraging them to openly discuss their experiences and expectations. Those who do, according to The New York Times, are automatically connected with relevant campus resources, organizations, and individuals to help them with anything they could possibly need.
University of Southern California

LGBTQIA high schoolers considering USC have the option of participating in the Rainbow Floor Overnight Experience, where they learn all about the school’s outreach and awareness programs and classes and stay over at the eponymous “residential community.” As with many schools friendly to more than just heterosexuals and the cisgendered, this one hosts a dorm specifically for the LGBTQIA students and their supporters to gather together and promote equality.
Yale University

The Gay and Lesbian Guide to College Life author and LGBTQIA program coordinator Rachel Pepper referred to her former employer Yale as holding a “[reputation] as a gay school.” Numerous organizations are available catering to a wide range of interests within the community, and it plays host to one of America’s best LGBTQIA studies undergraduate and graduate programs.
City College of San Francisco

Dan Allen and Jack Collins from City College San Francisco formed the very first LGBTQIA studies department in the United States back in 1989; it began life as far back as 1972, however, as a highly popular queer theory literature class taught by the former. Beyond the classroom, faculty, staff, and students here work as ambassadors for equality, and professor Trinity Ordona has been lauded as one of the 20 Most Powerful Lesbian Academics by Curve magazine.
Stanford University

Ninety-two percent of Stanford University students reported to Newsweek and The Daily Beast that they feel their school is very accommodating of its minority population. Among other offerings, the LGBT Community Resources Center promotes the Safe and Open Spaces at Stanford (SOSAS) initiative dedicated to outreach and equality.
University of California, Los Angeles

The Advocate lauded UCLA in particular as one of the most LGBTQIA-friendly campuses in the United States, and the five stars from Campus Pride agree. Alongside its relevant studies programming and resource department, the school is unique in hosting the LGBT Leadership Institute, which blends business and activism together into some effective, evocative conferences and courses.
University of Maine, Farmington

Like UCLA, The Advocate praised University of Maine at Farmington for its five-star Campus Pride rating, which it happily hangs alongside honors and awards regarding its eco-friendly commitments. Students here can take part in a broad selection of LGBTQIA interest groups, including the Wilde Stein Alliance for Sexual Diversity, which some reports state hosts around 200 participants.
Ithaca College

Campus Pride, The Advocate, and The Daily Beast/Newsweek all cite this small New York school as amongst the best American colleges for LGBTQIA students. Curiously, Center for LGBT Education Center Director Lisa Maurer notes the prominent role heterosexual and cisgendered students played in establishing the organization.
University of Colorado at Boulder

Off-campus, the Proposition Gay movement — originally spearheaded by buffalo Mat Sommers — addresses Boulder’s lack of LGBTQIA-centric bars by “taking over” predetermined local establishments on the last Friday of every month. These events tend to draw some generous crowds, particularly from the Campus Pride five-star school nearby.
Tufts University

According to Newsweek and The Daily Beast, 100% of the surveyed students here consider the school a safe, welcoming environment for minorities, particularly of the LGBTQIA variety. Tufts’ Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Center, among a cornucopia of other offerings, notably seeks to cobble together a vast array of documents for its Queer History Project.
San Diego State University

San Diego State University earned some excellent accolades from organizations and activists when it became the second American college to let undergraduates major in LGBTQIA studies starting in 2012, following the lead of Hobart and William Smith, after offering the minor since 2009. Campus Pride considers it a five-star Premier Campus, and it’s easy to see why when one considers how students absolutely clamored toward classes hosted by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies department.
University of California, Berkeley

Considering Berkeley’s history as a politically, socially advice campus devoted to furthering progressive causes, it probably comes as no shock to anyone whatsoever that the school holds bragging rights as an immensely LGBTQIA-friendly setting. Among its contributions to the community — and they are legion — sits the Gay Bears’ Hidden History of the Berkeley Campus project, which peels back the roles LGBTQIA individuals played during the college’s most notable (even volatile) moments; moments which, in turn, sparked national and international movements.
Pennsylvania State University

With a sexual diversity-focused fraternity and a gay bar on campus (along with another hosting a gay night), LGBTQIA students at Penn State undoubtedly feel safer and far more accepted than they would at most other colleges. Obviously, Campus Pride holds it up as a Premier Campus whose five stars reflect an inspiring commitment to equality and furthering the academic study of LGBTQIA contributions and perspectives.
Princeton University

Visitors to Princeton University’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center can download a convenient map of the school’s revolutionary approach towards sensitively addressing gender identity and expression — neutral and single-stall, sex-specific bathrooms. The department also makes it easy for students and faculty to report hate crimes targeting LGBTQIA victims, connect with one another on- and off-campus, receive support, and plenty of other valuable offerings.
New York University

New York City stands as one of America’s most LGBTQIA-friendly regions, meaning NYU students have plenty to occupy their precious free time both on campus and off. With so much diverse programming and resources immediately available, it comes as something of a surprise that Campus Pride only awarded it four stars; though Newsweek considers it the fourth most sexually tolerant campus in America.
American University

Every year, this oft-lauded university dispenses the Schlegel National Legion of Honor Award, which “individuals living in the United States who have exhibited outstanding leadership and significantly contributed to the dignity and freedom of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.” Like many other schools possessing a progressive outlook promoting diversity, tolerance, and safety, American provides “open gender housing options” allowing students to pick roommates of any gender, gender identity, gender expression, and sexuality for maximum comfort.