Changes in LGBTQ+ Students’ Sexual and Gender Identity Expression Since the Transition to College

The transition to college is a time of developmental and contextual changes, particularly for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, or other non-heterosexual or non-cisgender (LGBTQ+) emerging adults, for whom the LGBTQ+-inclusiveness of their social environment may also change. We coded open-ended survey responses from LGBTQ+ college students in the United States ( N = 140, M age = 19.7) who described interpersonal and institutional factors that facilitated or hindered changes in sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) expression since starting college. Many participants described the transition away from less LGBTQ+-affirming environments into more affirming environments as enabling more open SOGI expression. LGBTQ+-affirming peer relationships, access to inclusive campus resources, and perceiving an accepting campus and town climate also facilitated SOGI expression. However, anticipated and enacted stigma limited some participants’ SOGI expression. These findings suggest ways that universities could develop LGBTQ+-affirming resources for LGBTQ+ students during the transition to college.