N.C. State is not unlike many other colleges and universities across the country when it comes to dealing with issues related to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. For many years the discussion regarding sexual orientation and gender identity have been topics only discussed on the periphery of this intellectual environment we call a university. N.C. State has made positive efforts toward responding to the needs of the LGBT community, but the next critical component has to be a dedicated staff and a center to make an impact.

Everyone is confronted with a variety of issues in their lifetime. Each issue is dealt with differently based on the person’s maturity and experiences. As a result, a person may be struggling with his or her sexual or gender identity and have a more difficult task as the issues appear. For the gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender person answering the question “Who am I?” can be very difficult.

The climate on most campuses for the LGBT community is probably stormy at best. Assessment data related to the community done nationally and at N.C. State indicates that students typically do not feel comfortable in our residence halls or classrooms. Research has shown that individuals dealing with coming-out issues are at a much higher risk of suicide and other self-destructive behaviors.

It needs to become a priority on our campus to help create a place that is a safe, nonjudgmental environment for all people, including members of the LGBT community. As a place of higher learning we need to become more knowledgeable about the issues that face the LGBT community, trends, the climate and strategies for creating these safe places in our educational setting. The overarching goal is to strategize ways to develop our campus into a “safe” place for all people.