homosexual orientation = underrepresented minority?

ryanxing
Sat, 17 Jul 2010 21:52:43 +0000

I would also like to add that I find it very ironic that the same people who complain about treated differently because of their sexual orientation have no problem being treated differently because of their sexual orientation if it results in their benefit. (I suppose this also applies to the affirmative action posts that come up everyday asking “I’m x race, do I benefit from affirmative action?”)

I’m gay and I agree with this, but only to the extent that sexuality is not an issue in that person’s life (i.e. everyone around is very accepting). For someone like me (I have not come out to my family), whose mom openly criticizes gays as unnatural and both my parents have very traditional views on marriage and children (I have a fair chance of being disowned if I come out now), there are definitely more hardships to life. In other words, I support sexual orientation consideration only if there’s discrimination involved the applicant’s life; I certainly don’t want other LGBT people to have a boost if their orientation have little negative impact on their lives. This is why I oppose affirmative action; its very definition does not involve individual evaluation. Rather, it sees race collectively. Minority applicants should only get a boost if the individual have experienced severe cases of racism.

I’ve been curious for a while: how come LGBT are so over-represented in college? I would imagine the hardships for all those who experienced discrimination or those who hasn’t come out yet (and thus experience psychological effects) would have less impressive stats and ECs than straight applicants.