A little over two weeks ago, MIT's news office released a statement on LGBQT life here. The short story: MIT has renewed their You Are Welcome Here campaign.
For those of you who don't know what this is, the You Are Welcome Here campaign aims to increase the visibility of LGBQT facilities and programs with small cards to denote an LGBQT student's first port of call - namely, the offices or dorm rooms of anyone willing to guide curious students to available services.
As Laura, a blogger alum, noted in her own post on LGBQT life (and more specifically, The Rainbow Lounge), these cards aren't hard to find.
Abigail Francis, MIT's Director of LGBT Services and a strong advocate of the campaign, talked to me about how campaigns like these honor MIT's commitment to diversity by drawing together a closely-knit, conscientious community in which nobody feels left out. "We need every member of MIT to feel welcome, not just tolerated," she said, "Everyone should be on an equal playing field here."
As we talked more, I was surprised to find that Abigail's position, once a temporary offering, had only been around at MIT for five years. Over the two years that she pioneered her role at MIT, "It was important to justify the position," she said, "But the need for it was very high."
Perhaps one testament to this need comes from a story that Val, a freshman here who's actively involved in G@MIT (GLBT at MIT), a Trans Task Force, and MIT's Dramashop, told about her friend. Val's friend came out while at MIT and wanted to check out some of the Rainbow Lounge's resources.
"One of the workers greeted [my friend] and showed her around a little bit," she said, "She was very happy that everyone was so at ease and friendly. It was really easy for her to get what she needed."
Such a need has been around for nearly 40 years. The mission to advocate for LGBQT members of MIT began with the Student Homophile League in 1969, which exists today as G@MIT. Their efforts, along with the efforts of other groups, aim to promote a positive environment for LGBQT students and to raise awareness of related issues in the student body through workshops and a variety of lectures geared toward LGBQT students and their allies.
"It's been really cool to go from there not being much of a [queer women's] community two years ago, and thinking, 'Oh, what can we do about this?' - to now, having events that are attended by 30 or so people," said Cal, a junior at MIT and G@MIT's vice president, on her work on queer women's issues on campus.
They've been doing a heck of a job. Abigail told me that attendance at LGBQT events has risen over 60% in the past five years. Cory, a freshman at MIT, a member of G@MIT, and a prospective political science / math major, believes this is because there's still a lot to do.
"Even within the last couple of years, all of these student groups just began doing more," he said, "It's getting past the point of saying it's okay to be gay - we're just trying to spread awareness about every single issue."
So certainly, there's student activism, but that's not to say that talk about LGBQT issues pervades every aspect of every conversation of every LGBQT student's life. There's more that goes on in day-to-day conversation, according to Piper, a junior majoring in course 6-2.
"In my experience, people simply don't focus on sexuality," she said, "We'll have conversations about it if it comes up, if it's relevant [...] But it's not constantly looming on our minds."
Lindsey, another junior majoring in chemical engineering, says he likes it that way: "Everyone, even if they don’t necessarily understand or even agree with certain aspects of my life, is accepting of who I am."
As I pulled all of these insights together, I got some firsthand experience of how well everyone at the Rainbow Lounge got along with non-LGBQT members of the MIT community, as well as with people whom one might not initially consider to be allies. Not only was Abigail incredibly easy to talk to, but after I visited her in her office, several of her friends - ministers and representatives of various religious groups, no less - also had a discussion with me. One of them even offered me a delicious, chocolate-frosted cupcake.
It just goes to show you that MIT endorses a brand of diversity that isn't about isolating communities because of our differences, but about generating positive discussion about those differences, and then growing closer because of them. When you do it right, it leads to understanding, support, and quite possibly, cupcakes.
Comments (Closed after 30 days to reduce spam)
Your entries are always so beautiful,congratulations for this post as well.It is great to know mit has such a welcoming environment for all communities.
On an unrelated note,I am an international applicant and just recieved my sat subject test scores.They arent up to my expectations,as were my sat scores.Due to some reasons I cant take the january test,and now I am just helpless with these scores in my hands,knowing they dont reflect my actual potential.
What do I do?I know fretting wont lead me anywhere but cant help it.
Posted by: anonymous on December 22, 2010
Posted by: anonymous on December 22, 2010
Posted by: MG '15 on December 22, 2010
Posted by: MG '15 on December 22, 2010
Posted by: MG '15 on December 22, 2010
Although the QWiLTS website is way out of date, there is a great community of queer women at MIT. It's gotten even more well-organized this year and there are all sorts of social and support type events going on all the time. In general we're friendly and welcoming and it's great to have more people in our community.
Posted by: 2012 on December 22, 2010
Posted by: anonymous on December 25, 2010
Posted by: Piper '12 on December 25, 2010
queer is definitely more succinct and beats lgbtlmnop (ok made that one up jeje)
Posted by: MG '15 on December 26, 2010
Posted by: Shruthi on December 26, 2010
Posted by: Austin on December 27, 2010
My suggestion is,talk to MIT Admissions because you need to take SAT reasoning/TOEFL + 2 SAT subject ATLEAST for the application.And even if you try to register without talking to Admissions,(deadline for late registration for January 22 test is January 7) it will not be possible to take both categories on the same day.
So talk to them,if things turn favorable register
by 7th;dont bother if it is in another city;I had to travel some 1000 kms twice for the tests.
But first talk to the Admissions.And good luck.
OH YES: MOST IMPORTANT: If you register,list MIT as the top recipient of your scores.
Posted by: anonymous on December 27, 2010
I dunno what your teachers are doing with those forms.Send them as fast as possible.Only your scores and your mid year report is received after Jan 1.Good luck again.
Posted by: anonymous on December 27, 2010
"LGBTQ" still leaves out quite a few people. I don't see how "queer" leaves anyone out. (I also don't see how "LGBTQ" is short. It's the same letter length as queer and 5x the syllables.)
Posted by: Piper '12 on December 27, 2010
To quickly clear up what's already been asked, the admissions office will still take anything postmarked by January 1st, as well as test scores from January test periods.
Also even if you don't think your scores are that good, your personality and drive to succeed at MIT might make up for it, so give it a shot anyway! You'll never know about your chances here unless you try to get in.
Posted by: Emad '14 on December 27, 2010
Also, has anybody read The Idea Factory by Pepper White and has the attitude towards women exponentially improved? (I'm somewhat apprehensive about discrimination as I am a woman, queer, and disabled)
Posted by: MG '15 on December 27, 2010
Posted by: Piper '12 on December 28, 2010
Well, I'm just thinking that the word "queer" would leave out people who are questioning and maybe even bisexual students. They may not feel like they are REALLY that different enough to be called queer. After all, they haven't really plunged into that world yet. LGBTQ (whatever the order) seems a bit more neutral.
Personally, I feel like the word "queer" can feel somewhat derogatory and have negative connotations.
Posted by: Austin on December 28, 2010
Posted by: MG '15 on December 28, 2010
Posted by: MG '15 on December 28, 2010
@MG '15 - I'm going to point you at Matt's blog with respect to the suicide rate, which will hopefully clear up a lot of common misconceptions.
I've never felt stopped by my gender at MIT. I guess I can't say more than that, unless you have specific worries
Posted by: Piper '12 on December 28, 2010
Thanks! I can't wait til CPW!
Posted by: MG '15 on December 28, 2010
What does the A stand for anyway?
In addition, if I get accepted to MIT, I'll be sure to check The Rainbow Longe out at CPW.
Posted by: Austin on December 29, 2010
Hope I see you both there!
Posted by: Piper '12 on December 29, 2010
"A" is for "ace" or asexual
Also best of luck!
Posted by: MG '15 on December 29, 2010
Posted by: Austin on December 29, 2010
Posted by: Albert on December 30, 2010
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