The Experiences of Belonging in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Questioning College Students

Abstract

The ability to provide welcoming college environments for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Questioning (LGBQ) students is hindered by the limited amount of research on the topic of belongingness and LGBQ college students. Extant research has focused primarily on survey data with little attention to the lived experiences of LGBQ students. The purpose of this study was to: (1) highlight differences in LGBQ and heterosexual students’ perceptions of the campus climate based on a quantitative survey conducted over the past three years, (2) capture more detailed accounts of LGBQ students’ experiences with belongingness using qualitative interviews, and (3) provide a forum for LGBQ students to collectively discuss their perceptions of the campus climate and provide suggestions for positive change. Overall, the quantitative survey findings suggest that LGBQ students experience the campus as less accepting than heterosexual students. Findings from the interviews illustrate that LGBQ students have complicated and diverse experiences on campus which are influenced by the mixed responses they receive from peer and non-peer members of the college community. Finally, findings from the focus group demonstrate that LGBQ students have suggestions for positive campus climate change, and support the use of future focus groups with this population. This project corroborates the use of multiple methodological approaches to investigate unique experiences of marginalized groups of students as a means of stimulating new empowerment research and identifying ways to promote positive social change.