Abstract
The presence of queer student centres (QSCs) across Canadian universities and colleges is largely unknown. It is an important area of investigation since queer-identified students have previously identified several benefits of these services, including receiving support from other queer individuals. The focus of the current study was to determine (a) the number of QSCs in Canadian universities and colleges; (b) factors predicting their existence; (c) types of support they receive; and (d) future directions. A national online survey of 156 institutions and two in-person focus groups (n = 5; n = 2) were conducted. Descriptive analyses and a logistic regression were completed, and qualitative responses of the survey and the focus groups were thematically coded. Results demonstrate that universities and institutions with larger student populations are more likely to have a centre and that institutional support is crucial for their operations. Implications for the sustainability and creation of centres are discussed.
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Notes
Queer is an umbrella term for individuals who do not identify within the binaries of sexual identity and gender identity (Abramovich 2013). It can include, but is not limited to, individuals identifying as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and/or transgender.
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Ecker, J., Rae, J. & Bassi, A. Showing your pride: a national survey of queer student centres in Canadian colleges and universities. High Educ 70, 881–898 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-015-9874-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-015-9874-x