LGBTQ incoming students- let's make this a welcoming community

There’s been a lot going on at Rutgers this year regarding LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) people on campus.  The campus community can be a very welcoming place, but prejudicial attitudes are still present and can lead to tragedy.  Also, as the average age of coming out has decreased dramatically over the past decade, some incoming freshman might be coming from environments where they felt rejected due to their gender identity or sexual orientation, or may be in the process of adjusting to a part of their identity that they’ve just started to share with other people. 

As an orientation leader, you want to make every incoming Scarlet Knight feel welcome and enthusiastic about starting here in the fall, but sometimes it’s difficult to know how to act or what to say.  Students or parents may have questions about university policies and events, or you could be dealing with uncomfortable situations that arise during orientation. 

During your intensive training, you’ll have a workshop providing you with information to help you approach LGBT issues when they arise over the summer.  We’ll talk about some basic concepts to help you understand the different ways LGBT people identify and why, as well as specific information about LGBT life at Rutgers. 

There are some articles on the training site that you should read as a foundation for this workshop.  (I know, I know, your brain is on break from school.  Don’t worry, they’re short and sweet.)