LGBTQ STUDENTS HRC YOUTH SURVEY KEY FINDINGS


PROFILES IN DIVERSITY 2


to other schools, such as UCLA, considering asking the same question to their prospective students. While these are momentous strides in recognizing and attempting to learn from a data set, any surveys regarding LGBTQ populations on campus only represent a fraction of the actual LGBTQ population on a campus at any given time. What we do know is that, through a study conduct- ed by the HRC, the needs, concerns and experiences of an LGBTQ student differ greatly from those of non-LGBTQ students.


SUMMARY


BECOME AN ALLY: PROVIDE RESOURCES Clearly, the concerns of LGBTQ students vary greatly from those of their non-LGBTQ counterparts. While non-LGBTQ youth listed academia in their worries, LGBTQ youth were more concerned with tolerance. How does this translate into needs? Mostly, LGBTQ students need to know that they have allies, says Gingrich-Jones. Tey need to know that their campus supports them. With an expanding resource-base, there are several ways to make both a campus and an institution LGBTQ-friendly.


CAMPUS PRIDE Campus Pride is the “only national nonprofit 501©(3) or- ganization for student leaders and campus groups working to create a safer college environment for LGBT students.”1 Campus Pride’s mission is to help with outreach and the development of programs and services to support LGBTQ students specifically on college campuses. Campus Pride offers LGBT-friendly college fairs, conferences and camps,


For those asked to describe one thing in their lives they would like to change right now:


LGBT youth identified


1 2 3


Understanding/ tolerance/hate (18%)


My parent/family situation (15%)


Where I live/ who I live with (9%) Non-LGBT youth identified


1 2 3


Money/debt/finances (20%)


Appearance/weight (9%)


Improving mental health (7%)


The responses to this survey reveal that many LGBT youth are profoundly discon- nected from their communities, in sometimes stark ways. At the same time, LGBT youth often report resilience in facing today’s challenges and a sense of optimism about tomorrow’s possibilities.


Importantly, LGBT youth believe to a greater extent than their peers that they must leave their communities to make their hopes and dreams for the future come true.


When given an opportunity to describe their most important problem or the one thing in their lives they would like to change, LGBT youth and their peers have dif- ferent experiences and priorities. LGBT youth describe the challenges they face as being directly related to their identity as LGBT.


65% 58% 20% 18% 12% 6% 8% 3% White


Black/African American


Hispanic/


Latino/Spanish American/ Chicano


Asian/Pacific Islander


all of which serve to promote a more welcoming campus for LGBTQ students. Of course other events, such as concerts, can also be helpful–even recognizing important LGBTQ calendar days, such as National Coming Out Day, Te Day of Silence or International Day Against Homophobia, serve as reminders that campuses support the LGBTQ communities.


Events aside, Campus Pride is also the first orga-


nization to “set a national standard for improving the quality of life for LGBT and Ally people on college/ university campuses and to assist campuses in becoming more LGBT-Friendly” through a campus index. Te index consists of an initial assessment for administrators (online), which then returns a confidential report of the index tool responses with results and recommendations to improve the campus for current LGBTQ students. Tere has never been a national standard for measuring LGBT-friendly programs, policies and practices at colleges and universities, making it a vital tool. Tis climate index makes it easy for administrators to see areas in which they can improve, while also promoting their campus with- in the index (which is searchable by inquiring LGBTQ students).


SURVEY DEMOGRAPHICS


THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN The HRC is “the largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgen- der Americans, and represents a force of more than one million members and supporters nationwide.”2 serves as an advocate to LGBTQ Americans, students


1% N/A


American Indian/Native American


4% 2% Te HRC Other


Among those asked to describe the most important problem facing their lives right now:


LGBT youth identified


1 2 3


Non-accepting families (26%)


School/bullying problems (21%)


Fear of being out or open (18%)


HRC.ORG/FILES/ASSETS/RESOURCES/GROWING-UP-LGBT-IN-AMERICA_REPORT.PDF JULY/AUG 2012 • TODAYSCAMPUS.COM 15 Non-LGBT youth identified


1 2 3


Classes/exams/ grades (25%)


College/career (14%)


Financial pressures related to college or job (11%)


LGBT


NON


1% 2%


Decline to Answer


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