When Reagan Gonzalez began applying to law schools, she didn’t imagine that she would have to research the laws of the states to which she was thinking about moving. But this year’s wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and proposals—the American Civil Liberties Union is currently tracking 388 bills—wound up shaping her decision in ways that she didn’t anticipate. Gonzalez, who is queer and who typically wears traditionally masculine clothing, had been excited to apply to Vanderbilt University, in Tennessee, and the University of Miami, in Florida. But now, after each state passed laws restricting LGBTQ+ rights, Gonzalez plans to cross them off her list.
“I didn’t think that things would get so scary so quickly,” she said. “You don’t feel safe when you start seeing all of these laws getting passed that are attacking the person that you are.”
Gonzalez is one of a growing number of students who has been forced to alter her college plans out of concern for her well-being.
Echo Bodell is another. Bodell, who is non-binary and wants to be a sound designer or voice actor, had planned to apply to Ringling College of Art and Design in Florida.
“A lot of the alumni are very successful; they work at Pixar and Disney” they said. “But because of the all the anti-LGBT laws that were being passed, I didn’t feel comfortable. I’ve heard all these horror stories about people getting beat up for their identity.”
Daniel Santos, CEO of Prepory, a college counseling service, has seen how the bills have shaped college searches recently.
“You’re seeing a lot of students outside the Southern region of the US really decrease their interest in exploring colleges in red states, particularly Southeastern states,” he said. “You’re also seeing students who live in these Southeastern states look more outside of their state in a way they hadn’t before.”
