1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Is UIUC LGBT friendly?

Discussion in 'Chit Chat' started by ruralteen, May 30, 2012.

  1. ruralteen

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2012
    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Gender:
    Male
    Out Status:
    All but family
    Now before you jump down my throat about going to college in the Midwest, I've lived on a farm in rural Illinois for my entire life and actually enjoy it. Kids in my high school are pretty nonjudgmental, and the ones who are keep them to themselves.

    I'm starting to look at colleges, and I can't really decide where I want to go. My dream school is the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where i'll get my bachelors in Social Work with a PhD in Social Change and Advocacy- maybe a minor in queer studies.

    Can anyone give me some more information about how LGBT students fit in at UIUC? I was also considering University of Chicago, New York University, or a liberal arts institution but Illinois can give me a tuition wavier.
     
  2. BudderMC

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2010
    Messages:
    3,148
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Ontario, Canada
    Honestly, if they have a queer studies program, I'm sure it can't be all that bad.

    Also, I'm sure there's a chance someone here goes/knows someone who goes to that school, but I think your best bet would be to actually just call up the school and ask. Maybe get a tour? I'm sure they have a website too... maybe one for clubs and organizations. :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:
     
  3. FJ Cruiser

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2011
    Messages:
    1,004
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Deep in the Heart
    I believe there is someone here who goes there. Really though, universities in the US can generally be thought of as liberal/non-judgmental unless otherwise noted.
     
  4. Kirakishou

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2009
    Messages:
    551
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Illinois
    I go there. And yes, it is. :slight_smile:
    We have a LGBT resource center and multiple LGBT focused student organizations. We even have a gay bar on campus.
     
  5. midwestgirl89

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2011
    Messages:
    1,101
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Indiana
    Gender:
    Female
    Gender Pronoun:
    She
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Some people
  6. sguyc

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2011
    Messages:
    684
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Chicago
    I go there. They had a big banner wrapped across the union, which is in the center of the quad, advertising the LGBT center. I would say its pretty gay friendly. There's a lot of people, which is a plus and its pretty selective so there aren't very many ignorant people.

    Sadly I haven't joined any of the lgbt orgs yet, I need to do that next year. They have a Pride club, an lgbt center which holds some events and lunches and such, and a queer newsletter (email) which advertises events. I did go to the gay bar a few times in Champaign and it was a blast.

    It has a reputation for Greek life which it lives up to but 2/3's of the undergrad students aren't Greek so its not hard at all to find other niches.