There are many resources in the United States that international lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTQI+) students should be aware of during their time on U.S. campuses. The below links and information are meant to provide prospective international LGBTQI+ students with a better understanding of the resources available to them at U.S. colleges and universities and through LGBTQI+ organizations in the United States. Many individual campuses also have LGBTQI+ student services and associations that maintain further information.
Campus Pride: Campus Pride is a national non-profit organization that assesses the LGBTI climate of universities and colleges.
Consortium of Higher Education Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Professionals: The combined vision and mission of the Consortium of Higher Education Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Professionals is to achieve higher education environments in which lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students, faculty, staff, administrators, and alumni have equity in every respect.
Point Foundation: Point Foundation empowers promising lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer students to achieve their full academic and leadership potential – despite the obstacles often put before them – to make a significant impact on society. Their website includes a host of resources, including scholarship information.
CenterLink: Many cities and towns in the United States have large LGBTI community centers that often work on specific LGBTI rights issues and provide a safe space for all LGBTI persons. CenterLink is a U.S. member-based organization that supports the development of strong, sustainable LGBT community centers.
LGBTI Health Resources: The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provides information on LGBTI health issues and a listing of health clinics and service providers that serve the LGBTI community in particular.
Crisis Intervention: The Trevor Project is a the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTI youth. Call, text or live chat with trained persons who can help.
Legal Status of LGBTI Issues in United States: The legal protections for LGBTI persons vary from state to state; the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has created digital maps to illustrate these.
United States Government Support for LGBTI Persons: The United States stands with people around the world in affirming the dignity and equality of all people regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics.
- White House (2022): A Proclamation on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month, 2022
- White House (2022): FACT SHEET: U.S. Agencies Are Advancing the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons Around the World
- U.S. Department of State: LGBT Rights
- U.S. Department of State: (2022): Advancing the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons Around the World
- U.S. Department of State: (2018): Facebook Live discussion on social inclusion for #LGBTI individuals hosted by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights & Labor
- U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Discrimination
Consular Questions: For more information on consular issues for LGBTI students who are planning to apply for a student visa and their spouses or partners, please check the State Department’s Consular Affairs page on student visas.
Important Notice: Same-sex spouses of U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs), along with their minor children, are now eligible for the same immigration benefits as opposite-sex spouses. Consular officers at U.S. embassies and consulates will adjudicate their immigrant visa applications upon receipt of an approved I-130 or I-140 petition from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. For further information, please see the Consular Affairs Frequently Asked Questions page.