Georgia colleges and public schools have earned mixed reviews from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students for their efforts to make their campuses more inclusive.
Kennesaw State University is lauded by LGBT students and organizations for creating housing specifically for LGBT students. LGBT community leaders say other positives include multicultural programs for LGBT students, along with gender-neutral bathrooms around campuses.
However, LGBT activists say some schools discourage students from starting alliance groups with the word “gay” in the name for fear of retaliation. None of the region’s six largest school districts keep data on numbers of transgender students and are not required to do so.
This fall, Christian Zsilavetz, a transgender teacher who's been an educator for about 25 years, plans this fall to open Pride School Atlanta. The private school will be the first of its kind primarily for LGBT students in Atlanta, and a place for them and their teachers to openly discuss their identities.
To read more about how transgender students navigate campus life, and the ongoing debate about their access to restrooms and locker rooms, click here.
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