Study reveals "chilly" environment for LGBT college students

The first-ever national survey of LGBT college students, faculty, and staff revealed that many face a "chilly" environment, harassment, and discrimination. According to The 2010 State of Higher Education for LGBT People, released by LGBT advocacy organization Campus Pride, LGBT college and university students reported high rates of harassment and lack of safety, inclusiveness in policies, programs, and practices nationwide.

"National research has consistently shown that LGBT youth in kindergarten through high school encounter alarming rates of harassment, discrimination and bullying. There has never been a comprehensive national study to document what happens when these youth go to college until now," said Shane Windmeyer, Executive Director of Campus Pride.

The report also revealed that those who are gender-nonconforming experience higher rates of harassment and discrimination than those who identify as male or female. In addition, LGBT students of color reported higher rates of harassment than did white LGBT students.

The report was written by Campus Pride's Q Research Institute for Higher Education (Sue Rankin, Ph.D., Dr. Warren J. Blumenfeld, Ed.D., Genevieve N. Weber, Ph.D., LMHC and Somjen Frazer, MS, Ed.), with a foreword by George Kuh, Ph.D.

Rankin, an Associate Professor of Education at Pennsylvania State University and lead author of the report said, "Unequivocally, The 2010 State of Higher Education for LGBT People demonstrates that LGBTQQ students, faculty and staff experience a 'chilly' campus climate of harassment and far less than welcoming campus communities. This comprehensive report provides substantive research and the necessary recommendations to assist administrators, educators, advocates, activists, student leaders and elected officials in making university and college campuses safer and more accepting for all of its community members."

For more information, or to view the report, please visit www.campuspride.org/research/.