Most GLB students are at some phase of the coming out process when they attend the university. Males confront ongoing harassment and discrimination. Meeting other GLB students is important during the coming out process. Students report a lack of faculty role models. Students fear being disowned, cut off financially, or pulled out of college.
College offers a degree of freedom from the pressures of narrow high school norms.
At some point GLB students try to be visible because they believe this leads to greater tolerance and acceptance. Every male student had a story to tell about being harassed. Students need advocates. Too often gay students are left to educate the entire campus community about such issues. Homophobia and heterosexism are at the heart of the hostile campus climates faced by GLB students.