One-third of the approximately 2,000 four-year undergraduate institutions in America are religiously affiliated. Of those, more than 200 Christian colleges and universities, with a combined student population of over one million, explicitly discriminate against their LGBTQ+ students. This discrimination directly affects hundreds of thousands of LGBTQ+ students at these Christian colleges and universities.
The Religious Exemption Accountability Project (REAP) commissioned College Pulse to undertake a national poll of college students attending Christian colleges and universities to better understand the experiences of LGBTQ+ students on these campuses. Findings from this report represent a sample of 3,000 full-time students currently enrolled in four-year degree programs at taxpayer-funded Christian colleges and universities, most of which are members of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).
Key Highlights Include
- More than 1 in 10 students self-identify as a sexual minority.
- Two percent of students identify as a gender minority.
- Sexual and gender minority students are 15 times more likely to report that their sexual or gender identity has prevented them from feeling accepted by others on their campus.
- Gender minority students are nearly five times more likely to experience bullying or harassment compared to their cisgender peers.
To gain access to more insights, download the report.
This report was featured in: NBC News, Inside Higher Education, University Business
Methodology
The survey was designed and conducted by College Pulse and commissioned by The Religious Exemption Accountability Project (REAP). The survey was fielded from January 28 to February 6, 2021, and the findings represent a sample of 3,000 full-time students currently enrolled in four-year degree programs at taxpayer-funded Christian colleges and universities. The final dataset was weighted to be nationally representative of the target population.
