Objective: This study examined cisgender and transgender and gender diverse (TGD) college students' perceptions of gender-neutral bathroom availability across eight U.S. campuses, TGD students' fear of harassment related to (lack of) availability of gender-neutral bathrooms, and the relation between fear of harassment and TGD students'…

Campus climate can strongly affect the experiences of collegiate students who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. Using person-centered methodologies and thriving as methodological and conceptual lenses, we created groups of institutions based on perceptions of climate to illustrate differences in LGBTQ+ student engagement using data from…

This phenomenological study explored current perceptions of the personal safety of gender and sexual minority (GSM) college students in college campus settings through the application of queer theory. By collecting the personal experiences, perspectives, and feelings of GSM college students, the study identified coherent themes and suggested…

This research aimed to assess students' perception of the campus climate as it relates to issues of gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation at a community college in Hawai'i. Despite LGBTQ+ individuals' historical acceptance in Hawai'i, little research explores their current experiences within higher education, specifically…

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer, (LGBTQ) students experience a chillier campus climate on college and university campuses than do their heterosexual peers (Rankin et al., 2010). Colleges and universities have worked to expand resources for LGBTQ students. Campus Pride, Inc. developed the Campus Pride Index (CPI) that allows colleges…

Faculty, students, and staff--as well as institutional structures such as record systems--can provide foundational sources of support and recognition for trans students (Linley et al., 2016; Singh et al., 2014). However, limited research has addressed the perceptions of students about both the practice of sharing names/pronouns and the inclusion…

The purpose of this study was to better understand how LGBT+ college students find a safe space on college and university campuses when there is not one already provided for them. Strange and Banning's (2015) four environments served as the theoretical framework. Data were collected through individual interviews with six college students who…

Individuals who identify as LGBTQ+, particularly transgender individuals, face unique challenges on college campuses, and these challenges are further exacerbated by Greek Life, a college sub-community founded on gender. LGBTQ + training and educational materials exist on many college campuses but fail to reach the entire Greek student body due to…

While much research has examined lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ+) students' high school and college-going experiences, few studies have explored what LGBQ+ students consider during their college choice process. Utilizing Hossler and Gallagher's (1987) three-stage college choice model, this study analyzed 14 semi-structured interviews with…

In previous studies, Black gay males have shared their lived experiences at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), but the voices of outwardly presently gay Black males remain void in the literature and how they navigate such institutions. Despite their community and relationship-based environment, the foundational tenets of HBCUs…

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) persons are largely invisible in historically Black post-secondary education research and discourse. To this end, LGBTQ students attending historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are often ignored and their voices are silenced, thus impacting their feelings of marginality and…

Historically Black colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have been lauded for their ability to promote welcoming and inclusive campuses for Black students. However, recent research has demonstrated the need for HBCUs to expand their campus environments to include Black queer and trans* students whose sexual and gender identities often place them on…

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer plus (LGBTQ+) students in undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) majors are more likely to drop out than their cisgender, heterosexual peers despite having equivalent grades and research exposure. It has been demonstrated that a sense of belonging, a very strong predictor of…

The purpose of this study is to examine how LGBTQ+ resources, services, and experiences at colleges and universities shape students' sexual identity development experience. Relevant and relatable to the experience of students navigating their sexual identity development, research is conclusive in establishing positive links between students'…

Catholic campuses can be perceived to be hostile spaces for LGBTQ+ students, given the Catholic Church's stance on gender and sexuality. This qualitative study explored how being at a Catholic college--and specifically, a Mercy institution--influenced queer students' experiences. Twenty-nine emerging adults representing a range of genders and…