Contribute to the Successful Transition of Your LGBT Students

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Contribute to the Successful Transition of (Your)
LGBT Students

• Chris Boyle
• Director of College Counseling
• North Shore Country Day School

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Your LGBT Students Are Just Like Every Other
Student With Whom You Work
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How Are They The Same?

• They face all of the same challenges and
  pressures as their straight peers.
• They want to be/feel the same as everyone else.
• They are individuals, each different from the
  rest.
• They want to be treated honestly and with respect.

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Your LGBT Students Differ From Your Other Students
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How Do They Differ?

• They may or may not receive support from their
  families and friend groups
• They face additional challenges in navigating the
  social/dating dynamic
• Their sense of belonging to broader communities
  is often limited

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Your LGBT Students are Different From Each Other
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How They Are Different From Each Other

• They have or will come out at different times and
  in different ways.
• Their levels of self-understanding and
  self-acceptance vary greatly.
• They may or may not receive support from their
  families and friend groups.

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How They Are Different From Each Other (Cont.)

• Reversing the trends of their straight peers, gay
  male teenagers tend to perform academically at
  higher levels than their lesbian peers.
• Their attitudes, personal qualities, and values
  will chart very different courses.

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Your L Students Are Different From Your G
Students Who Are Different From Your B Students
Who Are Different From Your T Students
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How Are They Different From Each Other?

• There has traditionally been tension between
  lesbians and gay men based on both facts and
  stereotyping.
• Reversing the trends of their straight peers, gay
  male teenagers tend to perform academically at
  higher levels than their lesbian peers.
• Bisexual students can find themselves without any
  community.

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How Are They Different From Each Other? (Cont.)

• Transgendered teenagers frequently come out
  twice-first based on their sexuality, second
  based on their gender identity
• Issues of race, religion and class provide
  additional complications to students in
  navigating their own journeys and connecting to
  their communities.

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Your LGBT Students and Their College Searches
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What Your LGBT Students Are Looking for in
Colleges

• Bright Lights, Big City
• Large Universities
• Bright Lights, Big City
• Large Universities
• Bright Lights, Big City

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What Your LGBT Students Should Be Looking for in
College

• Policies for Employment, Enrollment, and Services
  (such as housing) That Are Inclusive of LGBT
  Issues
• Demonstrated Administrative and Faculty Support
  of LGBT Issues on Campus
• Academic/Curricular Opportunities to
  Study/Understand LGBT Issues
• Vibrant student organization(s)

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What Your LGBT Students Should Be Looking for in
College (Cont.)

• Resources On Campus or in the External Community
  to Support LGBT Physical/Mental Health Issues
• Identifiable Mentors on the Faculty or in the
  Administration
• An Intercultural Life Office with Experienced and
  Invested Staff

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Resources for You and Your LGBT Students
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Campus Pridewww.campuspride.org
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PFLAG Parents, Families Friends of Lesbians
Gayswww.pflag.org
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GLSEN Gay, Lesbian Straight Education
Networkwww.glsen.org
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Point Foundationwww.pointfoundation.org
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The Alliance Illinois Safe Schoolswww.illinoiss
afeschools.org
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Center on Halstedwww.centeronhalsted.org
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Questions Answers
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Photography Credits

• Photography comes from the Boston University,
  Butler University, Carleton College, Colby
  College, University of Georgia, Johns Hopkins
  University, Kenyon College, Ithaca College,
  Lawrence University, Miami University, Michigan
  State University, The University of Pennsylvania,
  Pomona College, University of Richmond, Rhodes
  College, Scripps College, Union College,
  Vanderbilt University, and Whitman College web
  sites.