School to Have Special Housing for Gay Students

School to Have Special Housing for Gay Students

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Dallas News: Texas Christian University offers special housing for students interested in world affairs. The environment. Foreign languages. And, starting this fall, gay and lesbian issues.

TCU is apparently the first campus in the state to reserve housing for gay students and straight students who support them. And that's earning kudos from advocates for gay students.

"It just basically says that TCU wants their campus to be safe for all students and wants everyone to feel welcomed," said Shane Windmeyer, executive director and founder of Campus Pride. The nonprofit group supports gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender college students.

Like many colleges, TCU offers themed housing, called "learning communities," in addition to traditional dorms or apartments. For instance, there's the Green House, for students who care about the environment. The Language and International Living House, for those who want to master another language.

Some students proposed a community with a gay and lesbian theme, and so the "DiversCity Q" community opens this fall in some on-campus apartments. Also opening: themed housing for patriotism, fine arts, marine biology and Christianity.

The idea is that students "are able to live with and near other students who have similar interests," TCU spokeswoman Lisa Albert said.

Windmeyer said TCU appears to be the only campus in Texas that offers housing with a gay and lesbian theme.

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5 comments so far | Post a comment now >>

I find it disturbing that it is a “Christian” university that has done this. Isn’t it condoning something that is deemed immoral by its own faith?!

- Renee

Posted 04/10/09 08:30 AM

The church is not against gay people themselves. The church doesn’t support the way gay people do..certain things.

- Saphire

Posted 04/26/09 03:26 PM

If you want to foster a safe and welcoming environment for gays on your campus, why not foster that environment campus-wide, instead of sending them off to their ‘special building.’

- kate

Posted 05/28/09 11:30 AM

thats like have housing just for straight students. I have nothing against gays but i dont think that being gay defines a person. I have a friend who was offended after being referred to as Gay Tom because being gay is not something that defines him. no one refers to me as Straight Amanda. and what about student who havent come out of the closet yet?

- tylerkiss

Posted 05/28/09 09:57 PM

lHGPm0 comment5 ,

- Cuhjdjpm

Posted 06/23/09 05:34 PM