As anti-LGBTQ legislation spreads across the United States, LGBTQ students are taking action to avoid colleges in states where such laws are being pushed. One such student, Cody Nobles, is rethinking his plans to study environmental science or marine biology in Florida, his home state. The state has passed laws that restrict discussions about gender identity or sexual orientation in primary schools, and even let the state board remove programs or activities that support gender studies or critical race theory. As a result, Cody is looking at colleges in California, where he feels safer from discrimination and physical assault.
LGBTQ students across the country are also voicing similar concerns about attending colleges in states where anti-LGBTQ legislation is being passed. For some, access to hormone therapy and all-gender housing options are at risk, while others worry about hostile rhetoric leading to a higher risk of violence. State legislators have introduced hundreds of bills this year that restrict LGBTQ rights, from banning transgender students from competing on sports teams consistent with their gender identity, to forcing teachers to tell parents about any information they learn on a student’s gender identity.
- College counselors and LGBTQ advocacy groups have noted that students are increasingly raising the issue of anti-LGBTQ legislation as a factor in their decisions on where to attend. Advocates warn that this shift could lead to diminished diversity at colleges, and some have also cautioned that such legislation could stifle academic research and harm the state economy. College admissions counseling firms have also reported a rise in concerns about state legislation among families. However, some colleges in conservative states have taken action to counter the potential influence of anti-LGBTQ legislation, emphasizing their openness to LGBTQ students.
