PSU makes “Best of the Best” list as LGBTQ-friendly campus

Campus Pride today named Portland State University among the Top 30 LGBTQ-friendly college campuses in the country on its 2016 “Best of the Best” list.

For eight years, the list has highlighted the most LGBTQ-inclusive colleges and universities when it comes to policy, program and practice in higher education. Campus Pride chose 30 campuses to highlight this year based on their overall ratings on the Campus Pride Index and specific LGBTQ-inclusive measures. 

“Prospective students and their families today expect colleges to be LGBTQ-friendly,” said Shane Windmeyer, executive director of Campus Pride and creator of the Campus Pride Index. “They want to know what LGBTQ programs, services and resources are available on the campus — and which are the ‘Best of the Best.’”

"Being recognized on this list is a great honor because it brings national attention to the work that PSU is doing across campus to provide a welcoming, inclusive university for our LGBTQ students,” said Craig Leets, director of PSU’s Queer Resource Center. “This recognition is not an endpoint but encouragement to continue doing more and better to make LGBTQ students a priority on our campus.”

PSU regularly updates campus systems to increase access for trans students; provides support to LGBTQ students of color, including an annual two-day Queer Students of Color Conference; and recently began asking sexual orientation and expanded gender demographic questions in campus records and on admissions applications, Leets said.

The Queer Resource Center is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a banquet Oct. 1 to raise money for scholarships and emergency aid. Tickets and details are on the PSU Foundation website.