One university in Ohio has been named to the “2023 Best of the Best LGBTQ+-Friendly Colleges and Universities” list.
The list is compiled by Campus Pride, the leading national nonprofit organization for student leaders and campus groups working to create a safer college environment for LGBTQ+ students. In order to make the “Best of the Best” listing, the 30 institutions selected had to score the highest percentage in the LGBTQ-friendly benchmarks for policies, programs and practices.
“In today’s climate, which finds LGBTQ+ identities being used as political talking points and laws being weaponized against LGBTQ+ people, the commitment to creating campuses that welcome and protect LGBTQ+ students can not be taken for granted,” said Campus Pride Founder, CEO and Executive Director Shane Mendez Windmeyer.
Buckeye Pride
For the second year in a row, The Ohio State University was selected for the “Best of the Best” list.
According to their website, OSU offers a wide range of LGBTQ+ services and support including health and wellness programs on campus, mental health support, crisis support, and LGBTQ-specific sexual health info.
Although there are more than 15 different LGBTQ+ student groups currently on the roster at The Ohio State University, in the beginning, there was just one. In 1971, the OSU Gay Liberation Front was founded, but was denied official University recognition.
Under a new administration, the Gay Activists Alliance was officially approved, and they were granted office space in 1973. They created a speakers bureau in 1974, sponsored the first gay rights rally ever held in central Ohio in 1976, changed their name to Gay Alliance in 1978, and sponsored a “Gay Student Orientation” in 1980. In 1985, they changed their name to Gay and Lesbian Alliance and hosted the first Ohio State “Coming Out Day” in 1989.
Numerous other Ohio Colleges received a high ranking in the Campus Pride Index, including Antioch College (4 stars), Baldwin Wallace University (4 stars), Case Western Reserve University (4 ½ stars), Cleveland State University (4 stars), Kent State University (5 stars), Kenyon College (4 stars), Miami University (4 1/2 stars) and University of Toledo (4 stars).
Intentional omissions
For the first time, no Florida or Texas universities were named to the “Best of the Best” list, an intentional choice by organizers.
Although four campuses — the University of North Florida, the University of Central Florida, the University of Texas at Dallas and Texas Tech University — were previously honored as “Best of the Best,” due to the recent passage of state laws in Florida and Texas that effectively ban LGBTQ+ inclusive policies, programs and practices on college and university campuses, this year Campus Pride decided to exclude Florida and Texas campuses.
“New laws in Texas and Florida effectively require colleges and universities in those states to cease LGBTQ+ inclusive programs, services and policies. Students and families must exercise caution in choosing to go to college on any public Florida or Texas campus,” said Windmeyer. “New state laws endanger and harm LGBTQ+ people, particularly transgender students, and create hostile and unwelcoming learning environments for all students.” 🔥
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- Check out the full Campus Pride Index here.
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