g0ld3n

Completely disagree with pinklemonade222. That doesn't mean I don't think you should follow your dreams. But if you're dream was jumping off a cliff I'd definitely recommend rethinking your dream. I'm not comparing Notre Dame as suicide for a gay individual, but unless there is something much more to Notre Dame besides the "I like this college" feeling, you will probably have a worse time there than other friendlier schools. Can you have the time of your life there? Yes, of course. But looking at this in a logical and non-emotional point of view unlike the above poster, it really doesn't make sense to go to Notre Dame when there are much much better options waiting for you that you have a substantially higher probability of having a healthier and extremely happy life at. Doesn't make sense at all unless there's something about Notre Dame for you besides the "this college is really cool" reason, which there might be (only you know that for sure).

DJpsu2015

Some people have already mentioned on here that you can still go to ND, but it's harder to be open about it. The most gay-friendly colleges are likely located in cities, like NYU and USC.

I'm gay, too, btw and I just transferred to USC. The best decision I've made in my life.

I wouldn't completely rule out a school though because the valedictorian of my high school, who is gay, chose Georgetown over Berkeley. It just really depends on your tolerance and the people around you.

Marsian

Attitudes are changing all over the United States. It's far more of a generational thing than a regional thing. The vast majority of people in our children's generation, no matter in which part of the country they live, don't care whether someone's gay or straight. All these laws/amendments against gay marriage (which are in states all over the country, not just the South) will be repealed in 20-30 years.

The stereotypes on here about the South are, once again, eye-rolling. I live in the South -- and not in a city. There are a number of churches (including several Baptist churches) within a 50-mile radius that perform union ceremonies for gay people. There are support groups for gay students in just about every state university, as well as in some of the religiously-affiliated schools. Our high school, in an area that leans more politically conservative, has a Gay-Straight Alliance, and although it's probably ruffled a few feathers, there has been no public outcry against it.

Just like you would ANYWHERE in the country, you have to look at the county/town rather than the whole region. While there are areas of NC where gay people would definitely not feel comfortable showing affection, there are very accepting areas as well. UNC has a very supportive environment for gay people. Chapel Hill has an openly gay mayor, and Carrboro, right next door, elected a gay mayor in 1995. Other counties that opposed the marriage amendment and that have well-known universities include Durham (Duke), Raleigh (NC State), Mecklenburg (UNC-Charlotte), Buncombe (UNC-Asheville), and Watauga (Appalachian), plus Chatham (spillover from UNC).

Gender-neutral housing has been an issue recently in some schools, and there is a lot of parental opposition. However, the opposition is TOTALLY about the possibility of heterosexual couples "shacking up" in dorms. It has nothing to do with people's opinions about gay students.

Moreover, I know a number of gay couples who live very openly near me, and none of them are clamoring to move to the North.

There is absolutely no reason to exclude Southern schools from consideration. I would contact a campus group for gay students and ask questions, maybe arrange a tour from their perspective. Good luck!

Davidabb84

I am once again completely offended by the stereotypes being propagated by people like g0ld3n. Like Marsian said, there are lots of accepting communities, churches, and people. Maybe it's not the majority, but college campuses are often the most liberal environments.

Did you know that many public and private schools in NC, including Appalachian and Wake Forest, have extended benefits to faculty and staff's same-sex partner, defying the lack of a state law on the matter?

It is possible, in fact I daresay easy, for an LGBT student to find a college that will accept them in the south. When you say things like "the south is a poor area for gays," YOU are the one stereotyping and judging people now.

zedman95

Wow, thank you guys so much for replying, I'm relieved to have you tell me what the research that I have been doing has said all along, it really has helped, since it's totally new territory for me and my family. So which schools should I drop and which schools should I add? My parent only going to pay for about eight applications max, and I already visited UNC and it was nice but nothing fantastic, I haven't visited Vanderbilt though. Since these are my only really southern schools should I switch to USC and Berkeley?

runallday4

What are you looking for in a school? Because first of all, most schools at the quality you're looking at are gay friendly. Secondly, I don't think you should choose a school only because it's the MOST gay friendly school there is, because there are others things that will affect how happy you are, and that matter more.

That said, I do think you should drop Notre Dame as it was voted one of the 12 least LGBT friendly schools. If you really like Vandy it should be fine, but if it's an "on the fence'" school, I would switch.

What other things do you want so we can make good recommendations?

zedman95

Well, I'm looking for a medium to large school, 5000+ undergrad students, and I would like there to be a graduate program at the school as well. I want a liberal school, with a campus, but in a city. I would like to major in Biology or Biochemistry. I want to be able to live on campus all four years. Also, I want a school with great undergraduate research. If there are schools with good sports then that would be a plus too. If you find anything, let me know! Thanks for your help.

SillyStokey92

Based on your last post and requirements/desires, I would definitely say look at Wake. I know we are in the south, but I have quite a number of gay friends on campus and most people are super accepting, despite the stereotype.

runallday4

Check out WUSTL, Tufts, Brandeis, NYU, UMiami, Berkeley, USC, and UMichigan. I wasn't really sure about you stats but these seem to match what you're looking for, assuming there's no maximum size limit.

bclintonk

The Advocate, a nationally respected LGBT publication, recently compiled its list of the "gayest cities in America," reflecting a combination of LGBT population and various indicators of LGBT-friendliness (openly LGBT public officials, gay and gay-friendly religious congregation, officiants for same-sex weddings, etc). Here's their 2012 list. Notice that it doesn't entirely match the usual bi-coastal stereotype that some are promoting on this thread:

1. Minneapolis
2. Santa Fe
3. Las Vegas
4. Orlando
5. Pittsburgh
6. Vancouver, WA (across the river from Portland, OR)
7. Atlanta
8. Washington, DC
9. Seattle
10. St. Louis
11. San Francisco
12. Cleveland
13. Denver
14. Oakland, CA
15. Miami

There are 3 Midwestern cities on this list, including Minneapolis at the very top of the list; 4 if you count Pittsburgh which in many ways is more Midwestern than Northeastern (P'burgh is just a 2.5 hour drive from Cleveland, 6 from Philadelphia, and its economy is much more tied into the industrial Midwest). There are also 3 cities in the interior West (Las Vegas, Santa Fe, Denver), and 4 more in the Pacific West (Vancouver WA, Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland). The Northeast has only 1 (DC), unless you give them Pittsburgh, then 2. The South has 3, but I'm not sure you can really count Orlando and Miami as Southern cities, and some might say the same about Atlanta.

NYU2013

NYU is definitely regarded as the most LGBTQ friendly school in the country. ALL of my professors have been pro-LGBTQ; I've never met a student here who isn't. In fact, I've had professors here who refused to marry their significant others (in a heterosexual relationship) until same-sex marriage was legalized. NYU also just happens to be located in the Village, a huge plus.

Other LGBT friendly schools: Columbia, Stanford, UCB, UCLA and USC are all top-of-line as well.

In my experience, other generally good schools: Brown, Yale, Northwestern, Emory, UPenn.

According to CampusClimate: Duke, UNC-CH, WUStL, etc.

As far as those of you who saying that telling individuals to avoid the South is wrong.... The South is predominantly Republican; many southern states offer little to no rights or protections to LGBTQ members; the majority of violent crimes against LGBTQ members occur in the South.

Yes, Universities in the south are usually much more liberal - they're Universities.

But, I would not recommend an LGBTQ member going to a southern university over a northern one if they did not know the differences between the ingrained sociopolitical ideologies and norms. The fact of the matter is that it's safer and generally just better to be an LGBTQ member in the Northeast or California on the whole.

For example, in North Carolina, the home of Duke and UNC-CH, discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity IS legal; LGBTQ members are NOT protected under hate crime laws; And, best of all, North Carolina's anti-sodomy laws are STILL on the books, even though they have been invalidated by Lawrence v. Texas (2003).

I apologize, but in accord with the facts, I would not recommend and LGBTQ member go to a university in the South unless they truly knew what the differences were and that's what they truly wanted. I always recommend Northeastern and California schools over those located in the South.

zobroward

nyu2013 with all due respect your data is highly questionable and your stereotyping is truly sad at best!

but, when some people choose to think that nyc is the center of the universe and never venture out of soho and the village , it is their loss not anyone elses!

ask tyler clemnti's family about tolerance for lgbt students in the "north" on college campuses. and walk threw the wrong neighborhood in new york, boston, philadelphia openly lgbt and see how that works out.
p.s. going to many schools like usc, penn, or u of chicago gay or straight can just be dangerous off campus!

NYU2013

My data is questionable? How is it questionable? If you're going to criticize something, at least make sure your criticisms are accurate -- in this case, they are not. I happen to study LGBTQ related issues, especially concerning law; this is a subject I'm very familiar with and will conducting dissertation research in.

My stereotyping is sad? I haven't stereotyped. I've stated a fact. There is, in fact, evidence which shows correlational evidence for anything I've said. Again, if you're going to criticize something, at least make sure your criticisms are accurate -- in this case, they are not.

As far as Tyler Clementi goes.... Rutgers was considered to be one of the most LGBTQ accepting Universities in the US. Everyone's concern after that was that if something such as that could happen at Rutgers, imagine what could happen at other places as well.

NYU2013

Is the South not predominantly Republican? No, it is. Is the Republican party less favorable on LGBTQ issues? Obviously. Are there less rights, privileges, laws, etc. associated with LGBTQ members in the south than other places, namely the northeast? Yes.

Does all of that collectively constitute a part of the sociopolitical body and ideology? Yes.

Care to tell me what, exactly, I've stated is incorrect?

runallday4

Why don't you try telling that to the lesbian Democrat who happens to be the mayor of Houston? I think it's fair to say that rural areas in the south may not be as progressive, but almost all of the major cities in the South actually voted Democrat.

Going down the list of crimes on The Advocate website, the last hate crimes they reported have been in Nebraska, Baltimore, and Arizona, none of which are considered "the south".

I really don't think it's fair to stereotype the whole south. Yes bad things happen in rural secluded areas, but in the areas that most colleges are in students can feel perfectly accepted. I can think of a few good colleges LGBT students should stay away from, but the majority of good colleges in the south should be perfectly welcoming, just look up reviews on CC on the LGBT life at these various schools. I know LGBT students who go to college in the south, and none of them have told me about any "hate crimes" against them.