The State of LGBTQ Issues at Historically Black Colleges & Universities

LGBTQ students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities face many different challenges than those at other colleges and universities. This resource highlights efforts involving HBCUs and concerns regarding the LGBTQ climate.

Current Climate

The current climate for LGBTQ students at HBCUs is not ideal. Progress is shown through the presence of 7 HBCUs on the Campus Pride Index.  Kevin Booker, Assistant Director of Student Life at Morehouse College says that his college has “still a ways to go”. Ronald Myles, Director of Student Activities at Tennessee State University stated that they had an LGBTQ group in the past, “but as leaders graduated, the group dissolved.” Currently of the 106 HBCUs, only 21% have active LGBTQ-specific organizations.  Only three HBCUs have gender identity/expression in their nondiscrimination statements.

Overall, the general climate received from these interviews was one of tolerance and welcome. Sandra Carter, Acting Associate VP of Student Affairs at the University of the District of Columbia stated that the university “celebrates diversity.” Booker stated that the general climate is “open [with a] high level of tolerance for LGBTQ population.” He stated that they have an organization called SafeSpace that is over 5 years old.

A Look to the Future

As we look to the future, Campus Pride is committed to having hopefully more HBCU’s with active LGBTQ organizations, more LGBTQ events, and to have greater involvement with tools like the Campus Pride Index to benchmark LGBTQ-inclusive policies, programs, and practices.

Below is a listing of HBCUs and their respective LGBTQ organization. If you know of a college or university that has an LGBTQ organization that is not on this list, please add the information to the Campus Pride Map and also e-mail info@campuspride.org.

Further Resources

• Every summer Campus Pride has scholarships for HBCU student leaders to attend the Camp Pride Summer Leadership Academy. The 5 days/night camp mobilizes LGBTQ youth as leaders, creates action to make campuses more LGBTQ-friendly, and instills values of social justice.
• The Campus Pride Index details nearly 400  colleges and universities that are making efforts to become more LGBTQ-Friendly across the United States. Any college or university can become part of the index and come out for LGBTQ students.
• Check out the LGBTQ student groups, Safe Zone programs, and support services across the country on the Campus Pride Map. You may add your campus LGBTQ support services to the map and search hundreds of LGBTQ student organizations.
• Campus Pride’s HBCU Clearinghouse is an up-to-date resource reviewung a checklist of LGBTQ-inclusive policies, programs and practices at HBCUs across the country.

HBCU LGBT and Ally Organizations