Serving the LGBT Student

Presenters: Ally Vertigan, Class of 2012Christine Grenier, Associate Director of Admission

The LGBT Alphabet?

• L• G• B• T• Q• Q• I• A• P

LesbianGayBi-SexualTransgenderQueerQuestioningIntersexAsexualPansexual

Resources on Your Campus

• GSA• Faculty Group—SAFE • Key Players on Your Campus

– Out LGBT faculty, administrators, and staff– Allies– Intercultural Affairs Office and Personnel

Know Your Campus

• Climate On-Campus and Off

• Don’t project your view (rural perspective vs. city)

• GSA leadership and events

• Training for student leaders and staff

• Housing Policies

• Community Resources

Your Potential Impact

“I just read the news about your decision to ask applicants to your institution about their sexual

orientation.  I just sat at my desk and cried a little bit -- tears of joy.”

“My years at the University of Virginia could have been so much more fulfilling if I had been there during a

different time.  A social revolution is happening before our eyes.  Thank you for bringing down another barrier.”

Advice

• Use inclusive terminology when asking students about their personal lives. Use “partner” instead of “boyfriend” or “girlfriend”.

• Be visible! Whether you are an ally or LGBT yourself, displaying rainbow flags, safe symbols or pictures of your partner are subtleties that can make a student feel comfortable even if they don’t want to ask you anything specific.

• However, your students should know more about your institution than you after meeting with you.

Advice, cont’d

• Be careful not to hesitate or hiccup over mentioning LGBT or sexual orientation in your conversations and presentations. Remember, you are the “they”.

• If you get flustered by a parent/student, always revert back to the mission of your institution and policies.

• Most importantly, remember that the student is first and foremost human. Not all members of the LGBT community wear their identity on their sleeve or want that to be the first thing that you or anyone else knows about them. (Texan first )

Check Out

Campus Pride.org

LGBT Campus.org

Questions and Discussion