AccessU: Queer on Campus

Reporting that amplifies the voices and centers the experiences of LGBTQ+ communities at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

Issues

Marceline Sorensen is a transfeminine student at the University of Minnesota who said she is very concerned about anti-LGBTQ+ legislative efforts across the country. “It’s terrifying,” she said. Photo by Noor Adwan.

Not here, but all around here: Queer UMN students express anxiety over anti-LGBTQ+ laws

While Minnesota has proven to be a legislative oasis for queer people, some University of Minnesota students are affected by anti-LGBTQ+ efforts elsewhere in the country.

Fourth-year student Anthony Phelps says he feels like the University of Minnesota is a generally safe place to attend college — “with an asterisk.” Photo courtesy of Phelps.

Policies can only go so far in making campus queer-affirming

Students express small discontents with campus climate despite university efforts.

Some students said the many small inconveniences of the University’s gender-neutral bathrooms add up. Photo by Hanna Van Den Einde.

UMN gender-neutral bathrooms offer relief, but not perfection

The University of Minnesota has committed to installing “all-gender” bathrooms, but some students find them too sparse and inconvenient to access.

The Equity and Access: Gender Identity, Gender Expression, Names and Pronouns policy commits faculty and staff to respect gender expression, including names and pronoun use. Illustration by Sommer Wagen.

Advocates work to instill respect for personal pronouns in classrooms

University of Minnesota students have varying experiences with faculty respecting personal pronouns and hope to find solutions.

A larger portion of queer survey respondents think professors still need to work on proper pronoun usage compared to non-queer respondents.

Survey: Students see overall accepting campus, but some areas could improve

Queer students find campus less welcoming and supportive than non-queer students.