The Difference Safe Spaces Make: The Obstacles and Rewards of Fostering Support for the LGBT Community at HBCUs

SAGE Open

Kendric Coleman¹ 

关键词: education;    social sciences;    higher education;    sex;    gender;    sociology;    Black studies;    sociology of race;    ethnicity;    educational administration;    leadership;    policy;    sexuality;    religious studies;    humanities;   

DOI  :  10.1177/2158244016647423

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Sage Journals

【 摘 要 】

In the last decade, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students have become very visible at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), but this visibility is not reflected in some colleges’ student programs and activities. Only a few notable HBCUs, such as Howard University and Spelman College, have made a concerted effort. Acknowledging that the LGBT community is significant and exists, and fostering such support, comes up against a steep wall of religious tradition and doctrines, and conservative administrations. It is imperative that HBCUs address LGBT issues and create and support a safe space for students to articulate their identity. Meanwhile, many LGBT students on these campuses find voice and understanding in Black scholars and writers such as Audre Lorde’s Zami: A New Spelling of My Name and Charles Michael Smith’s Fighting Words: Personal Essays by Black Gay Men.

【 授权许可】

CC BY