West virginia university gay friendly

West Virginia University LGBTQ+ Commission

What does LGBTQ+ mean? 

• LGBTQ is an acronym for womxn loving womxn, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, pansexual, and other gender and sexual identities. These terms are used to describe a person’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity. 

What are gender pronouns and why execute they matter? 

• Gender pronouns indicate a person’s gender persona. These pronouns may incorporate they/them, he/him, she/her, or other gender inclusive pronouns. Recognizing an individual for their identity and respecting that identity is key for nurturing inclusion and making them feel admired and supported. 

How welcoming is WVU for LGTBQ+ students? 

• According to the Campus Self-acceptance Index, WVU is currently rated 4.5 out of 5.0 stars. Since 2007, the Campus Pride Index has given prospective students and their families an opportunity to review a database of campuses from around the country with detailed information of their LGBTQ-inclusive policies, programs and practices. 
• WVU is by far the most welcoming institution in the state for LGBTQ+ students, according to Campus Pride and scores at least a 4 out of 5 in every cate

  Students who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community may encounter different social, political, and legal climates in other countries.  Recent years have seen huge and rapid progress for LGBTQ+ rights around the nature, and there are countless opportunities for students of all sexual orientations and gender identities.  Nevertheless, students who identify as LGBTQ+ are encouraged to examine their own sexuality and/or gender expression alongside the cultural norms in the countries they plan to visit.   

  Reading about and listening to LGBTQ+ travelers’ experiences can be insightful when determining how to adjust to new cultural environments.  Bear in consciousness that attitudes towards LGBTQ+ folks and issues abroad can be as varied and nuanced as they are in the US.  The best preparation when entering any fresh environment is to determine what you need to ensure your own mental and physical well-being and to familiarize yourself with the aid services available to you both at home and in your host country. 

  As you research, consider these questions: 

  • What laws and cultural attitudes exist relating to the LGBTQ+ community?  Does this vary depending on context (e.g. on campus vs.
    
    

    WVU research finds LGBTQ people face barriers to health care, especially in rural areas

    During Pride Month, it’s easy to find rainbow-colored health and wellness products—from bandages, to mouthwash, to fitness trackers—in stores or online. But actual health care that meets the needs of members of the LGBTQ community can be harder to get.

    A new qualitative study by Zachary Ramsey—a doctoral candidate in the West Virginia UniversitySchool of Public Health—suggests sexual and gender minorities may face unique barriers to health care, most particularly in rural areas.

    His findings appear in the Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services.

    “Research into sexual and gender minorities is growing quickly, but mainly in large urban centers,” he said. “There are a lot of differences between urban and rural populations for a general population, so it stands to reason that there would be a lot of differences between urban and rural LGBTQ individuals. Without more studies of LGBTQ rural individuals specifically, these differences will not be known, and policies and rural LGBTQ Center programming can only use an urban population for guidance.”

    Ramsey’s study is the first-of-its-kind to e
    

    The Impact of Stigma and Discrimination Against LGBT People in West Virginia

    Economic impacts of stigma and discrimination

    Discrimination against LGBT people in employment and other settings has economic consequences for employers and the declare government.

    • Productivity. Unsupportive work environments can mean that LGBT employees are less likely to be open about their sexual orientation or gender identity at function, and more likely to be distracted, disengaged, or absent, and to be less productive. These outcomes could lead to economic losses for state and local governments, as employers, as well as for private sector employers in the state. Given that an estimated 40,000 workers in West Virginia spot as LGBT,the loss in productivity from a discriminatory environment could be significant.
    • Retention. LGBT employees in less supportive work environments perceive less loyal to their employers and are more likely to plan to leave their jobs. Given the average replacement costs of an employee, universal and private employers peril losing $8,474, on average, for each employee who leaves the state or changes jobs because of an unsupportive environment in West Virginia.
    • Recruitment. Many