LGBTQ RESOURCES

for new and returning students

LGBTQ Legal Aid Organizations

Here are a few organizations that may provide legal support for LGBTQ students:

LAMBA LEGAL

This is the country’s oldest legal organization that has a goal of achieving full recognition of civil rights for LGBTQ people.

National LGBT Bar Association

This is an association of judges, lawyers, and legal professionals, and they maintain a great list of affiliates at state and municipal levels throughout the USA.

APLA HEALTH

APLA is a non-profit organization working on promoting health care equity and equality for LGBTQ people.

EQUALITY CALIFORNIA

This is one of the largest organizations in California, promoting dignity, safety, and equality for LGBTQ individuals.

APLA HEALTH

APLA is a non-profit organization working on promoting health care equity and equality for LGBTQ people.

GLAAD

GLAAD is a media organization with a powerful voice on all matters that also impact LGBTQ students.

LGBTQ Victory Fund

The main focus of this organization is to increase the number and profile of LGBTQ individuals in all levels of municipal, state, and federal government.

Helpful Resources for LGBTQ Students

National LGBTQ Task Force

While this organization isn’t just for LGBTQ students, its goal is very much aligned with what students are looking for.

“We are building a future where everyone can be free to be their entire selves in every aspect of their lives.” – National LGBTQ Task Force

Trans Student Educational Resources

It is an LGBTQ student-run organization primarily focused on the needs and requirements to make college facilities LGBTQ-friendly. It’s a great sign when you see very young people get together like this to work towards a big change.

Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network

GLSEN primarily works with college administrators, teachers, lecturers, and students to make educational environments safer for the LGBT community, and they closely work with local groups to create more awareness in communities.

The Gay-Straight Alliance

GSA has taken a unique approach to creating more inclusive campuses around the country. They train student leaders to set up and promote campus organizations where straight and LGBTQ students get together to collectively create a more inclusive campus.

Safety Net

One of the most daunting situations LGBTQ students can face is heading to a religious school that might have certain exemptions from legal protections. Safety Net primarily works with LGBTQ people, teachers, and administrative staff at such colleges to foster inclusive attitudes and rules.

Out For Work

This is a great support group that connects LGBTQ-friendly companies to hire LGBTQ students for internships and post-graduate employment. This levels the playing field so that students can achieve maximum educational and career success no matter what their LGBTQ status is.

Campus Pride

Campus Pride is one of the largest and most active campus organizations that work directly with LGBTQ centers all over the country on hate crime prevention and establishing frameworks for colleges to compete on.

This has also allowed them to create an index of the most LGBT-friendly colleges, which is an excellent way for students to make better school choices.

The Trevor Project

The Trevor Project is another non-profit organization that provides crisis support and a national suicide prevention helpline. They have expanded their services to text and chat to give people the greatest flexibility to seek help in a way they are most comfortable with at the time.

Transitioning from high school to college is a difficult, challenging, and often daunting experience for all students. But for anyone identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer students (LGBTQ), there are added levels of stress that can make this experience even more challenging.And while some colleges have created a very welcoming environment for their LGBTQ students, faculty, and staff, there are still many issues that need to be resolved.By collecting the personal experiences of many LGBTQ college students, this guide will help you make a better decision so you enjoy and thrive in your college years.

The Problems LGBTQ Students Face

While college life should be about fun, friendship, learning, and growing as a person, it’s important that you understand the real challenges LGBTQ college students face. It doesn’t mean that you’ll experience these issues if you don’t choose the right college.

But I want to make sure all of our readers are aware of what still is an all too common reality.

Defining a safe and welcoming experience

The next thing I want to highlight in this LGBTQ college guide before I get to some actionable advice on how LGBTQ youth could choose the right college is to explain what a safe environment would look like.

Defining a safe and welcoming experience

As an LGBTQ student, no matter how inclusive college campuses might be, discrimination and harassment can still happen.

But lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer college students theoretically enjoy certain protections under state and federal laws.

The reason I say “theoretically” is because dealing with such issues through legal means is complex.

It’s not quite as simple as waving a statute in front of college officials to demand justice.

It’s important the students of any sexual orientation and trans students fully understand what kind of laws they have on their side.

Take Steps to Ensure a Safe College Experience

Stepping into college life doesn’t have to be as daunting as you might think.

Yes, we are far from living in a society where LGBTQ students face the same issues of entering a new chapter in life as straight and non-transgender individuals encounter.

But the number and power of LGBTQ college student groups, legal organizations, and college rules have started to tip in favor of LGBTQ students.

If you follow the steps and recommendations above, you should find a safe environment where you can thrive as a student and human being.