Participation Type
Paper
Presentation #1 Title
We Are... LGBT: Assessing Campus Climate for LGBT People
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people have a long history of facing discrimination and harassment in U.S. culture and under U.S. law. That discrimination and harassment often translate to a climate of fear and isolation on college campuses. In the past two years, culture and law have changed dramatically for sexual minorities, but has this change translated to better conditions for college students? This study aims to assess the campus climate for LGBT people at a regional university in Appalachia. The researchers created an online survey and invited the entire university population—students, faculty, staff, and administration—to participate through a group email to all users on the university’s exchange. Through a mixed-methods analysis, the preliminary conclusion is that the LGBT experience at the university is significantly different from that of the general population, and that difference is not for the better. Examples of illustrative survey responses are provided.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Casie McGee is a doctoral student in education at Marshall University. You might recognize her name from the recent same-sex marriage lawsuit McGee v. Cole which brought marriage equality to West Virginia.
We Are... LGBT: Assessing Campus Climate for LGBT People
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people have a long history of facing discrimination and harassment in U.S. culture and under U.S. law. That discrimination and harassment often translate to a climate of fear and isolation on college campuses. In the past two years, culture and law have changed dramatically for sexual minorities, but has this change translated to better conditions for college students? This study aims to assess the campus climate for LGBT people at a regional university in Appalachia. The researchers created an online survey and invited the entire university population—students, faculty, staff, and administration—to participate through a group email to all users on the university’s exchange. Through a mixed-methods analysis, the preliminary conclusion is that the LGBT experience at the university is significantly different from that of the general population, and that difference is not for the better. Examples of illustrative survey responses are provided.
