How do you deal with the whole roommate thing?

[Berger]

I'm at that stage in life where eventually I'll be moving out of my parents house either to some sort of housing/apartment or dorm situation (erm, hopefully...)
How do you deal with the whole finding a roommate thing while being trans? It's much more complicated than being cisgendered in regards to safety and comfort. Is there a way to find other LGBT roommates or LGBT friendly housing/apartments for rent?

[Middle East Beast]

Have you tried asking any of your friends if they'd be able to move in with you? This seems like a better idea than living with a stranger and having to explain everything. If none of your friends are able you could look though local lgbt newspapers for people needing roommates. A lot of large cities have lgbt friendly parts of town. The realtors there are more likely to lgbt friendly.

[tekla]

Craigs list?  LGBT center?

[Felix]

If you can consistently pay rent on time, you can often get past whatever the obstacles are.

[Mr.Rainey]

You could find a house someone has rented out where each person gets their own room and the doors all have keys.

If you are getting a dorm talk to whom ever is in charge of housing and ask them (You could call anonymously) about having your own room.

Plan ahead If you do get stuck having to have a female roomate. Choose a friend that respects you for who you are. It might suck being on the female floor but at least your roomate will treat you how you want to be treated.

[wheat thins are delicious]

When I was living in the dorms me and a friend decided to room together.  So I requested her on my application as my roommate, but she ended up living off campus and I ended up with a single room.  This worked a few semesters so you could try requesting someone you know isn't going to be living on campus.

[Paul]

When I was living in the dorms me and a friend decided to room together.  So I requested her on my application as my roommate, but she ended up living off campus and I ended up with a single room.  This worked a few semesters so you could try requesting someone you know isn't going to be living on campus.

This only works for some colleges.  At my college if the person ended up living off campus they would match you up with a different roommate that met the criteria that you put on your application. 

[Jeh]

See if your school has an LGBT centre and get in touch with them to see if anyone is looking for housemates.

My first year I lived in a bachelor apartment on my own, but it was expensive and far from campus. My second year, which I'm currently in, I live in a student house close to campus where each room is rented separately and each door locks and the person who lives there has a key, but we still share the kitchen and bathroom. I dislike this, since I have no control over who I live with. I'm not out to my housemates, I'm too scared to do that.

For next year, I've gotten in touch with several people in the LGBT centre who are looking for a house next year, and we're all going to look together and rent a house together. I'm looking forward to living with friendly people next year.

[Sharky]

My friend mentioned he wanted to move out of his family's house. I said I did too and asked if he wanted to be roommates. He thought that would be awesome. I told him I was trans. He couldn't care less.

[wheat thins are delicious]

This only works for some colleges.  At my college if the person ended up living off campus they would match you up with a different roommate that met the criteria that you put on your application.

Yeah it only worked a few semesters and then they put me on with someone else.  I think it worked depending on how many were going to be in that dorm. 

[KamTheMan]

Your first step should be any LGBT center near where you want to live and then CRAIGSLIST!!! Risk of psychopaths aside, this really is the best resource you can use. I found a room in an amazing queer friendly house by responding to an ad. I also got a bunch of replies from an ad that I posted asking for an LGBT friendly room. Honestly, considering this will be the place you live and therefore want to be open and not feel like you have to hide in your own home. So I suggest full disclosure on your part in order to find the most accepting space. I live with 3 gay guys, 1 straight, and a bi girl and it has been outstanding. They understand that I'm genderqueer and I know they'd go along with it should I decide pursue a name and/or pronoun change. Good luck, bro.

[rosetyler]

Not sure what country you're in but if it's the US, you could also ask around at PFLAG.  Here's the chapter lookup page:  http://community.pflag.org/page.aspx?pid=803