The Direct Effects of Prejudice: How Anti-Lgbtqia2s+ Legislation Affects Student Success and Support Networks

As a vulnerable community, LGBTQIA2S+ college students face many forms of discrimination. This is especially true in Texas, which has passed trans legislation targeting trans youth in the last few years. In 2023, Texas set a record for the number of anti-LGBTQIA2S+ laws introduced and passed at the state level compared to previous legislative sessions. This thesis investigates how the anti-LGBTQIA2S+ climate in Texas is affecting queer students’ success rates, and mental, emotional, and physical well-being and the role of support networks and resources in mitigating these challenges. While there exists literature that discusses the difficulties faced by trans and queer college students and the impact of legislation on LGBTQIA2S+ adults, there is limited research that studies how legislation directly affects trans and queer collegiate success. This research was conducted on behalf of the UNT Pride Alliance, a fully staffed organization that had been serving the LGBTQIA2S+ community on campus since 2013, providing support, advocacy, and student services. However, during this research, the state legislature passed and implemented SB 17, a law prohibiting public universities from providing DEI programs to students. This led to the closure of the Pride Alliance organization and the loss of critical resources and services for LGBTQIA2S+ students. This research explores how SB 17 has impacted queer students’ success and access to necessary services, utilizing data collected both before and after the closure.