As political battles over DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) rage across the United States, LGBTQIA+ resource centers—long regarded as safe havens for queer students—are increasingly under threat. A wave of closures at public universities in anti-DEI states suggests that once-vital support services for LGBTQIA+ students are becoming casualties of partisan politics.
Earlier this year, the University of Iowa confirmed that it will discontinue three of its identity-based living-learning communities: All In for LGBTQIA+ students, Unidos for Latino students, and Young, Gifted and Black for Black students. The decision, the university said in a statement, aligns with state-mandated changes to DEI programs.
The University of Utah shuttered its LGBTQIA+ Resource Center, citing restructuring and compliance with recent legislative directives, and staff have been reassigned or laid off.
This trend is especially pronounced in Texas and Florida. In Texas, Senate Bill 17 bans DEI offices, training, and programming at public colleges and universities, and as such, several Texas universities have disbanded LGBTQIA+-specific initiatives. Texas A&M University canceled all identity-based graduation celebrations, including its Lavender Graduation for LGBTQIA+ students.
At the University of Houston, LGBTQIA+ programming was significantly scaled back. According to a statement from the university, the changes were made to “align with state law,” but critics argue that these decisions compromise student well-being.
Students in Florida, too, are feeling the impact. Following the passage of House Bill 999 and related laws, when the University of Florida closed its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and terminated all DEI-related positions. It also discontinued programming for LGBTQIA+ students and left them without institutionalized support on campus.
A Role Beyond Safe Spaces
LGBTQIA+ centers do more than provide a safe space. They offer mental health support, crisis referrals, mentorship, educational workshops, and advocacy training. A 2023 survey by the non-profit the Trevor Project found that LGBTQIA+ youth who had access to affirming spaces—such as school-based resource centers—were 50% less likely to consider suicide than their peers who lacked such access.
While some universities in politically progressive regions are expanding support, these efforts stand in stark contrast to what’s happening elsewhere. For example, Victor Valley College in Victorville, California, recently opened the José Sarria Pride Center, a space named after the pioneering Latino drag performer and activist. The center offers resources tailored to LGBTQIA+ students, including academic advising, mental health workshops, and peer support groups.
Campus Climate Surveys as a Tool for Support
Even in restrictive environments, institutions may have options for safeguarding student well-being—if they know where to look. Experts recommend that universities implement regular campus climate surveys as a legally safe and data-driven way to understand the impact of recent policy shifts on LGBTQIA+ students, faculty, and staff.
Surveys can collect anonymized data on students’ sense of belonging and perceptions of campus support. These findings can help institutions develop responsive policies, even when overt DEI programming is restricted.
For example, institutions may use survey insights to adjust housing policies, allocate mental health resources, or expand access to advisors with cultural competency training. Faculty and staff can also benefit from this feedback to understand how to better support LGBTQIA+ students in classrooms and research environments.
Insight’s Viewfinder Campus Climate Survey, used by hundreds of institutions nationwide, includes customizable modules that allow institutions to explore gender identity, sexual orientation, and perceptions of institutional support in a legally compliant format. The aggregated results offer both benchmarking data and a starting point for dialogue and change.
But surveys alone are not enough. With legal constraints tightening and political rhetoric escalating, the future of LGBTQIA+ support services on campuses remains uncertain. In states where legislative pressure has led to widespread program dismantling, students and allies are turning to grassroots organizing, peer networks, and mutual aid.
Still, higher education leaders are being called on to do more. For LGBTQIA+ students, the loss of these centers is more than just administrative—it’s personal.
