The number of LGBT students at Brown University has more than doubled between 2010 and 2023, surpassing the national average by more than five times, according to a poll conducted by the Brown Daily Herald.
The survey revealed that approximately 38% of the student body identifies as non-straight, a significant increase from the 14% reported in 2010.
In comparison, Gallup's latest polling indicates that the national average for individuals identifying as LGBT stands at 7.2%. This suggests that Brown University's figures are significantly higher than the national average. It is worth noting, however, that national numbers have also doubled over a similar time period, from 2012 to 2022.
The data from Brown University shows a 26% increase in homosexuality over the 13-year span, while bisexuality has seen a staggering 232% increase. Other categories, such as questioning/unsure, queer, pansexual, and asexual, have also experienced substantial growth, with increases of 793%.
Bisexuality represents approximately 53% of the non-straight population at Brown University, consistent with national figures, compared to 41% in 2012. However, the percentage of individuals identifying as homosexual has decreased from over 46% to less than 23%, as more obscure identities have gained prominence. These other identities were only introduced as options in the spring of 2022.
Among these new identities, questioning/unsure accounts for 17% of the LGBT population, followed by queer at 14%, pansexual at 7%, and asexual at 4%.
It is important to note that the data presented in the poll may be subject to dispute. For instance, the inclusion of pansexuality assumes the acceptance of the existence of more than two genders. Without agreeing on this premise, pansexuality can be seen as synonymous with bisexuality. Similarly, the classification of asexuality as part of the LGBT community raises questions, as it refers to a lack of sexual attraction to anyone.
While the exact number of students surveyed for the poll was not disclosed, Brown University's undergraduate enrollment in fall 2022 was reported to be 7,222 students, with an additional 3,515 students in its graduate and medical programs.
Josephine Kovecses, a student from the graduating class of 2025, offered an explanation for the higher representation of these categories at Brown University compared to national levels. Kovecses stated, "Queer people haven't been able to be open in their identifications for that long. So it's exciting that the numbers are growing and that queer people are able to be open, in particular at Brown."
The significant increase in the number of LGBT students at Brown University reflects a growing trend of acceptance and openness on campus, providing a supportive environment for individuals to express their identities.
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