Chapter 9: TRANSFORMING CAMPUS CULTURES FOR LGBTQ+ STUDENTS: Moving From Places of Trauma to Places of Affirmation and Healing

Although population approximations vary widely, an estimated 2-11% of adolescents and adults identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning/Queer (LGBTQ+)¹ (Gates, 2011). Estimates of LGBTQ+ identified students on college campuses are significantly higher on campuses that have LGBTQ+ centers and those institutions that have targeted recruitment of the community. Kennesaw State University had seen the annual number of visits rise from 158 in 2012, when the center opened, to 494 in 2016 (Kennesaw State University, 2017). Unfortunately, research continues to be limited on the actual number of students who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. Researchers who investigate sexuality have differing opinions on the overall sensitivity of the issue they intend to study as do the funding agents and approval boards. How-ever, perceptions of sensitivity are influenced by societal and cultural norms and are highly subjective to each experience at any given point in time (Noland, 2012).