The Influence of Campus Experiences on the Level of Outness Among Trans-Spectrum and Queer-Spectrum Students

Abstract

This study utilized MANOVA and hierarchical multiple regression to examine the relationships between campus experiences and coming-out decisions among trans- and queer-spectrum undergraduates. Findings revealed higher levels of outness/disclosure for cisgender LGBQ women, and more negative perceptions of campus climate, classroom climate, and curriculum inclusivity and higher use of campus resources for trans-spectrum students. Results also revealed that higher levels of outness significantly related to poorer perceptions of campus responses and campus resources. Implications address the need to foster an encouraging and supportive campus and classroom climate and to improve the relationships with LGBTQ resource centers for trans- and queer-spectrum students.

KEYWORDS:

• outness
• disclosure
• campus experiences
• gender identity
• trans-spectrum
• queer-spectrum

Notes

1. The authors have consciously chosen to use the terms trans-spectrum and queer-spectrum to describe gender and sexual minority individuals, and will justify their reasoning in later sections of the article.

2. A cisgender person is someone who by nature or by choice conforms to gender/sex based societal expectations (UC Berkeley Gender Equity Resource Center, 2012).