Is your new college in a state with “Don’t Say Gay” Laws? Here’s what you can do
By Sassafras Lowrey
You’ve just decided where you will go to college when suddenly there is a whole tidal wave of anti-LGBTQ laws sweeping many states across the country. Is your new college going to be impacted and does that change where you decide to go to school?
In states like Florida, the governor has required that universities report on the age and number of students who have requested information about or are receiving any kind of gender-affirming care, including accessing hormones. This is on top of limiting what topics can even be taught in university settings.
Discovering your dream school is in a state that is rapidly passing bills attacking your rights and compromising your safety is a scary reality for many college-bound LGBTQ+ young adults this year. Unfortunately, in some cases, the location of your college might be less safe than your hometown when it comes to LGBTQ+ protections.
If you’re in this situation, looking at a college acceptance letter and the news of “Don’t Say Gay” laws being passed where your new college is located, here are some things to keep in mind for how to move forward.
Know What to Expect
Before relocating and moving into your dorm, do your research into the specifics of the laws that have been passed in whatever state your college is in. In many cases, these situations are dynamic and changing quickly, so you may need to continue to try and stay up to date on news in that area. Try to understand how laws might directly impact you while you’re living in that area for school, and what you will need to do to make sure you have access to gender-affirming medical care (if that’s relevant for you), and anything else you might need while at college. Local LGBTQ+ nonprofit organizations especially statewide LGBTQ+ advocacy groups may be a great source of insight about what it will be like for you to attend school in that state. These groups are usually more than happy to answer questions from people in the community who contact them. These local organizations will best be able to answer questions you might have about the specifics of being an LGBTQ+ person and student in that area.
Educational Impact
Some of these laws suggest what can and can’t be taught in schools, including college-level courses. For example, Florida may be removing Gender Studies minors and majors from University offerings in the state. Other diversity-related studies programs will likely also be eliminated. Depending on what you intend to study this could be very problematic. In addition to thinking about your overall safety as an LGBTQ person on campus, if you’re planning to major in the humanities which could include majors or minors like Sociology, Gender Studies, Queer Studies etc. your coursework and degree could be completely impacted by some of these laws. In some cases, the major you plan might not even exist when you get to campus, or your future professors might not legally be able to teach what you plan to study. If this is the case you may want to consider if the education you’re going to be getting at a college, in that state will be worth how much you are spending on tuition. Or, if you will need to look at universities in a different state where you’ll be able to study freely in the subject area of your choosing.
Talk To the School
Know your college’s policies. This Campus Pride Index offers a useful measure of a college’s ranking on LGBTQ+ issues. If you’re concerned about what your experience as an LGBTQ+ person is going to be like on campus, it’s a good idea to speak directly with the admissions department at the university. Talk with school representatives directly about how new laws in the state are going to impact students, and what the campus is doing to protect the LGBTQ+ student community. It might feel awkward to ask these questions, but it’s very unlikely you are the first prospective student to ask, and the admissions department should be prepared to address your concerns. If the school can’t answer questions about what it will be like for LGBTQ+ students on campus that’s a red flag and might tell you everything you need to know about that school. If the first person you ask doesn’t have an answer and you’re still committed to the college, keep asking until they find someone who can answer your questions. If you have any direct contact with faculty on campus like if you were recruited for athletics, talk with that recruiter/contact person as well and express your concerns.
It can also be useful to ask school officials if there is an LGBTQ+ student center or another official group on campus who you can be connected directly with. Staff of that department should be able to answer questions and give you information about what it’s like to be an LGBTQ+ student on campus and give perspectives on changes in state-level laws and how that is impacting the campus community. It’s ok for school officials to know that you as an LGBTQ+ prospective student are concerned and are questioning if their school is still the right fit for you. These are also people who may be able to be a support system if you do decide to attend this college despite the shift in state-wide laws.
Get Support Deciding What to Do
If you have supportive friends or family, talk with them about your concerns about your prospective school and the culture for LGBTQ+ people in that state. If you have an LGBTQ+ affirming guidance counselor or support system at a local LGBTQ center this is also a good place to talk about your concerns. These supportive people may be able to help you parse out your feelings and the news of what is going on in that state. Guidance counselors and other professionals may also have networks and contacts with educators and other professionals in the area of your prospective college who might be able to provide some perspective of what it will be like for you on that campus.
Research Other Schools
If you’re questioning your first-choice college in a state that is passing anti-LGBTQ policies you aren’t alone. Many LGBTQ+ college students are looking to change to a different university in light of these new state laws. Even if you’ve committed to a college, it’s not too late to change your mind. Students change colleges before starting or transfer to a new college all the time. If you have committed to a college in a state that isn’t going to be safe for you as an LGBTQ+ person, that’s a completely responsible reason to explore other college options in states that have protections for LGBTQ+ people that aren’t being undermined. Ultimately what matters most is for you to find the right college for you where you will be safe, comfortable, and supported in your studies.
About the Author:
Sassafras Lowrey’s novels and nonfiction books have been honored by organizations ranging from the American Library Association to the Lambda Literary Foundation and the Dog Writers Association of America. Sassafras’ work has appeared in The New York Times, Wired, and numerous other newspapers and magazines. Sassafras has taught queer writing courses and workshops at LitReactor, the NYC Center For Fiction and at colleges, conferences, and LGBTQ youth centers across the country. You can find more of Sassafaras’ written works, including an edited collection exploring LGBTQ+ youth homelessness entitled Kicked Out, at www.SassafrasLowrey.com.
