By Dani Alexander-Burk, Lambda Legal Regional Program Coordinator/Office Manager, and Michael D. Shutt, Ph.D., Lambda Legal Southern Regional Director
Prior to working for Lambda Legal, we spent our careers working on college campuses. This makes this time of year a little weird for us now because we are not experiencing the energy and excitement of move-in, orientation, and the hopes and dreams of new and returning students. That said, we fully understand how the experiences on campuses shape the lives of all LGBTQ+ students, no matter if they are first year undergraduates or returning graduate students.
For generations, college campuses created the perfect environment for cisgender, gay, lesbian, and bisexual people, to find one another. From single sex institutions and residence halls to single sex student organizations and gym facilities, the systems were set up for these students to explore their identities. This did not necessarily mean students could be out, or would be supported by their fellow students or campus administrators. This began to change after the Stonewall Riots with the proliferation of LGBTQ+ student organizations and the founding of the first LGBTQ+ center at the University of Michigan in 1971.
Since then, over the last 50 years, there has been a proliferation of campus LGBTQ+ centers and student organizations. Support, community, and advocacy have always grounded them; but campus administrators have not always responded affirmatively. Even on the most progressive campuses, students, faculty, staff, and alumni had to engage in creative and strategic advocacy to change policies, secure resources, and create a positive culture.
Sometimes it even took a lawsuit to demand access, which is what happened in 1972, when the Committee on Gay Education sued the University of Georgia to host a dance on campus. The university believed by allowing a dance it would be “aiding and abetting sodomy,” which remained illegal in Georgia until 1998. In this case, the students won.
Many campuses now work to provide a welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ students by providing community, education, professional development, financial support, health and wellness, and a place to return to, even after graduation. It is a fact that LGBTQ+ centers and organizations serve to fully support college and university missions in the most comprehensive and affirming ways. Many campuses are even engaged in recruitment efforts to reach the best and brightest LGBTQ+ students.
Today, there are students who still need support coming out and navigating all the complexities of this process. While some have an easier journey coming out, there are still students who are cut off from their families, financial support, faith communities, and more. Resources are therefore still critical to support students as they explore their identities.
In addition, many campuses have not worked to create inclusive and affirming policies and procedures for transgender and nonbinary students. They continue to struggle with the implementation of policies and procedures related to housing assignments, bathrooms, affirming health insurance and health care, name changes, and basic education for employees on the experiences of transgender and nonbinary students. There is still a lot of work that needs to be done.
Campus administrators need to know that LGBTQ+ students are choosing campuses because of their affirming campus climates; academic, research and professional development opportunities; identity-based scholarships; gender affirming health care and insurance; and opportunities to get involved in LGBTQ+ leadership and advocacy. And they must continue to assess and respond to the diverse needs of LGBTQ+ students.
At the same time, undergraduate, graduate, and professional students should do their part. Our advice for them as they go back to school is:
- Know your resources. You never know when you may need resources on campus, so familiarize yourself with LGBTQ+ student support services.
- Find and introduce yourself to undergraduate and professional school LGBTQ+ student groups.
- Introduce yourself to school leaders, such as the institution’s president, academic and student affairs deans, and faculty.
- Connect with support services such as student health services, counseling center, residence life, recreational sports and others. Your college experience can take a lot out of you, so take advantage of these helpful resources.
- Get connected in the community. There are often LGBTQ+ organizations that can use volunteers and provide internships to support your academic and professional growth.
- Know campus policies. You have more rights than administrators realize. If you know your campuses policies and procedures, you are most likely a step ahead of any administrator who is a barrier to you.
- Advocate for change. There is ALWAYS more to be done. It is also critical to advocate for change as an ally to other communities as well.
- Incorporate your LGBTQ+ advocacy into your academic and professional work.
- Be creative in your advocacy!
- Know that you have many legal rights that protect and serve you while on campus. You may always seek help from the Lambda Legal Help Desk.
While campuses should not be a place where you must advocate for basic policies and procedures to ensure they can fully live out institutions’ missions, this advocacy can be an extraordinary learning experience for you. There is a balance that is sometimes hard to find. The late gay civil rights leader, Bayard Rustin stated, “When an individual is protesting society’s refusal to acknowledge his dignity as a human being, his very act of protest confers dignity on him.”
As LGBTQ+ and allied students head back to campus, we wish you an excellent academic year and hope you make memories, friends, and change wherever you go. Best of luck!
Dani Alexander-Burk (they/he) was the Former Coordinator of the LGBTQ Resource Center at Kennesaw State University.
Michael D. Shutt, Ph.D. (he/him) was the Founding Director of the Pride Center at The University of Georgia, Former Director of the Office of LGBT Life at Emory University, and Former Co-Chair of the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals.