What about Our Lesbian/Gay Students? Results of a Survey Exploring the Experiences of Counseling Students Who Are Lesbian and Gay

ABSTRACT

The experiences of students who are nonheterosexual in educational settings have been documented in scholarly research. Less information is available regarding the experiences of graduate student populations who are nonheterosexual. Counselor education is positioned to provide an affirming environment according to ethical guidelines and professional competencies as multicultural competence is considered a requirement for the field. The authors wondered if lesbian and gay (LG) counseling education students were experiencing discrimination, harassment, or microaggressions within their educational program. They conducted an online survey to begin this inquiry. The results indicate that counseling students who are LG are not necessarily feeling safe and affirmed in their programs.

KEYWORDS:

• Counselor education
• counselors-in-training
• lesbian and gay
• microaggressions
• professional competencies