The Lived Experiences of Gay Male Students at a Catholic Institution

This qualitative research looks into the lived experiences of gay male students at a Catholic higher education institution. The experience of these students has traditionally not been analyzed, and this study takes a close look at what it means to be gay and attend a Catholic university. These students have experienced varying degrees of acceptance and support from their peers, faculty, staff and the institution as a whole. While acknowledging that the institution does provide some support, students found them to be uncoordinated, insufficient, and not of value, when compared to supports offered to students who identify with other minority groups. These students provided their own insights on what they are looking for in terms of support from the institution as a whole. Students’ recommendations formed the basis of implications for improved practices to increase notions of acceptance and support for this student population.https://ecommons.udayton.edu/stander_posters/1690/thumbnail.jp