Posted on Advocate.com August 24, 2011 04:00:00 PM ET

College to Ask Applicants: Are You LGBT?

By Trudy Ring

http://www.advocate.com/Society/Education/College_to_Ask_Applicants_Are_You_LGBT/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Advocatec

Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Ill., has become the first college or university to ask about sexual orientation and gender identity on its undergraduate application.

http://public.elmhurst.edu/

While it appears they are trying to be supportive, I do not agree with putting this kind of question on the admissions application. It could just as easily be used to deny admission to groups that the school doesn't want. I can see a place for it on a separate form that is not associated with the application. Businesses have been used to doing things that way for decades.

I know in Ontario there was a scolarship for those who identify as LGBT (there really is a scholarship for everything these days), so maybe it's similar, or they wants statistics to improve facilities and services. (The university in my city has a Trans support group that requires a letter from one of the school's councellors, who works with LGBT students in order to join, weeding out anyone who wants to go just to cause trouble.)

I highly doubt they would use it to eliminate applicants. It seems unnecessary to put those questions on the application unless it relates to residence housing. But I wouldn't be so quick to assume they just don't want gays, lesbians, bisexuals and trans people. These days that kind of discrimination could get them in a lot of sh*t.

5% of Elmhurst College applicants identify with LGBT community

By Brian Slodysko TribLocal reporter Yesterday (01/17/11) at 3:15 p.m.

http://triblocal.com/elmhurst/2012/01/17/5-of-elmhurst-college-applicants-identify-with-lgbt-community/

About 5 percent of prospective Elmhurst College students identified themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender on the first set of applications received after the suburban college drew national attention as the first in the United States to ask about sexual orientation.

"We didn't know what to expect, which is why we asked the question," Gary Rold, dean of admission, said Tuesday.