Can anyone going to Berkeley tell me how open it is, whether it's "safe" to be out there, etc? I have a high probability of going there, and in all honesty I'm sick of hiding who I am.
From what I know of it, I can't imagine a better university to be out at really. It was at the epicenter of the LGBT rights movement, and Berkeley is one of the most socially liberal cities in the US, even more so than San Francisco I believe.
Berkeley has a gay frat, a huge LGBT group, and is very, very open and welcoming. It would certainly be on the top 20 list of most LGBT friendly schools out there.
Berkeley's definitely an LGBT-friendly school; I believe we have about a dozen clubs that are solely for queer students, so you're bound to find a club that suits you. There's also the Gender & Equity Resource Center on campus that provides a space where LGBT students can find extra resources, guidance, internships, and help.