LGBT Students Receive a Warm Welcome at MIT

From engineering to biology and beyond, MIT—based in Cambridge, Massachusetts—has long set a global standard for academic excellence. During World War II and the Cold War, their researchers pioneered the technology behind computers and radar. Today, they operate a total of 32 award-winning departments that students come from all over the world to attend. Quick fact: 81 Nobel laureates, 45 Rhodes Scholars, 34 astronauts, and a laundry list of other noteworthy figures are associated with the institution. With all that acclaim, it’s important to recognize that MIT was also among the first colleges in the country to have an LGBT student group. This faction, known as the Student Homophile League, formed in 1969—still turbulent times for young people in the LGBT community. Read on to discover more about this school’s history with the gay community, plus the efforts the school’s making now to help undergraduates feel safe and accepted.

The Student Homophile League remained a voluntary and informal group for several decades, but something momentous happened in 1996 that forever changed the state of LGBT affairs. A sizeable donation provided by John Kellett ’47 for his 50^th reunion was used to fund official programs at MIT. Remember that only a handful of schools at that time had a legitimate program like this with paid staff members. Their first year was largely spent evaluating campus needs and getting educated on the issues at large. This led to the formation of umbrella groups, all of which worked in unison to provide support through different channels. Another leap forward came in 2001, when funding was approved to build a dedicated LGBT center—something that many schools still lack today. The Rainbow Lounge has a library, a kitchen, offices, and a lounge. These days, MIT is recognized as a gay-friendly school. This probably wouldn’t have been accomplished as quickly without a place like The Rainbow Lounge, where ideas and campaigns take shape. Some of the student group’s goals include bringing awareness to the surrounding community, working towards an equitable environment and establishing leadership at varying levels.

“You are Welcome Here” is one such campaign (running in 2015) that seeks to provide visibility and create a sense of welcome on campus. It asked MIT faculty and staff to consider posting signs with the campaign’s namesake on them in conspicuous locations. The takeaways really are simple. These signs are meant to confront homophobia, promote a student body that’s enriched by members of the LGBT community, and direct individuals towards the resources that they need. Many professors and other administrators on campus have been vocal about their support of these issues, and prospective or current students can take comfort in the fact that the university as a whole is committed to defending the rights of their scholars.

Perhaps you’re curious about what kind of social events the LGBT student groups host. The calendar changes just about every year, but there are some annual events worth mentioning. You’ll notice that undergrad orientation week is emphasized, because first impressions really are everything. How your collegiate experience starts should—positively—set the tone for things to come. Various food-centric get-togethers are hosted at the aforementioned Rainbow Lounge, giving new students an unintimidating space to socialize. Later in the year, there are happenings planned for National Coming Out Week (October), Boston Pride March (June), and many others. There’s a certain level of visibility that lends itself to an open-minded community at MIT. With so many different resources and initiatives, students won’t have to worry about whether they’ll fit in or not. They arrive on their very first day knowing that a web of supportive people is already in place to make their collegiate years some of the very best.

Ryan James is a ’13 alumnus of Ohio University’s College of Arts & Sciences with a bachelor’s degree in writing and media. He currently works as a copywriter for a Fortune 500 e-commerce corporation based in Columbus, OH.