<p>willstardust, I’m attending Williams starting in September, so I am by no means the authority on LGBTQQIAA life at Williams. But when I was considering where to go, I did talk to a few people expressing your same concerns. For an openly gay man, I haven’t been picked on much, but I still wanted a place that was accepting of my sexual orientation. What they had to say was this: the administration is EXTREMELY supportive of LGBT+ issues. Also, the QSU (Queer Student Union) and MinCo (Minority Coalition) are both very active in making Williams a safe place. As far as profs go, all are tolerant, but the degree of acceptance varies based on the department. For instance, you’d be more likely to find an ally in the sociology department than in economics. However, I’d wager you’d find this at almost any school. Only one of the people I talked to has EVER felt unsafe, and that was at a “straight” dance; nothing happened. If dating a man is an issue, I’d go for a bigger school. There seems to be a fairly significant hook-up culture at Williams, so if you’re looking for a long-term relationship, it can be hard to find. But I’d again wager that you’d find this at most small schools. All in all, I think that Williams is definitely a safe place with TONS of support and many understanding people, though it does have its moments of heteronormativity. Definitely visit (the art program is amazing, I hear), so you can get a better feel. But I would not be attending if I got the feeling that I would be an unwelcome minority. Hope this helps!</p>