Unapologetically queer in unapologetically black spaces: Creating an inclusive HBCU campus

Abstract

Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are notoriously perceived as unwelcoming towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) students, and are considerably behind predominantly white institutions (PWIs) in regards to providing supportive and affirming environments. Fewer than 25 percent of the 105 HBCUs in the United States have LGBTQ student organizations, and only three have established LGBTQ resource centers. This article, written by the co-founder of one of these centers, is a reflexive exercise that describes the history, successes, and challenges of developing and sustaining an LGBTQ resource center on one HBCU campus. Establishing LGBTQ initiatives at HBCUs is absolutely imperative to the retention of LGBTQ students, student success, and sustainability and the purpose of this article is to guide other HBCUs as they work to become more inclusive institutions.