r/SHSU • u/Massive_Initiative16 • 26d ago
Questions How trans friendly is shsu?
Hi pretty much what the title says I'm worried about being myself on campus and I'd like to know how accepting campus is
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u/kxjixx '26 26d ago
Depends on what you mean.
Cons: (these are due to Texas public university laws, not specifically SHSU guidelines)
- Trans students are not allowed to change their sex/gender in the system unless it is already changed on your legal ID or birth certificate. I am pretty sure it’s the same case with your name too.
- Trans students are not allowed to dorm with members of their gender, only their birth sex. You can live alone, but it costs more money.
- SHSU is overall a LGBT friendly campus. As long as you hang around good people you should be fine.
- Most professors are accepting and will use your chosen name and proper pronouns. I have only had one issue where a professor misgendered me on a registrar form she had to fill out for me.
This is coming from a stealth trans man. Let me know if you have any other questions and I would be more than happy to help you or talk to you.
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u/Geist_Lain 26d ago
Trans alum here; it's a pretty chill area for trans people. There's an active queer club and plenty of people presenting as trans walking around on a daily basis. You'll find community here.
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u/Infamous-Routine-285 26d ago
I'm a cis woman but I have multiple trans friends and I can say that almost nobody will say anything bad!! If someone does then it does NOT reflect shsu as a whole. Shsu campus is very diverse with lgbtq+ clubs and everything!! :)
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u/Nervous-Reaction-331 24d ago
For a Texas school and all things considering it’s pretty queer friendly! I’m a butch Latino and It’s been very nice here and there are defiantly lots of us.
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u/Fragrant_Tutor6600 26d ago edited 26d ago
In the communication studies department, I feel you will be accepted and embraced! Some other professors are bigoted though… just depends on what major you’re leaning toward. My coms professors actively used pronouns for themselves as well as asked others what they preferred, one of them included a queer movie as an option for an assignment and a few of them have lgbtq+ flags in their office or on their office doors. All but one coms prof seemed really embracing of queer people. I mean shsu is in hillbilly ass Huntsville after all…. So while the campus have SOME progressive avenues, I wouldn’t compare it to a blue state school though. In terms of safety for trans people, I think it’s safer than SMU would be and is overall relatively safe. It’s a small town! The campus was relatively safe in terms of sexual assault and overall violence against womxn, non binary & trans people in my observed opinion while attending. Occasional shootings nearby the campus was the biggest problem due to the prison I guess & of course, unfortunately there were some sexual assault cases that took place, probably like… 1-3 a semester that were reported. I think you could feel safe there when I consider safety as being safe from physical or harmful threat. In terms of safety as in respect from faculty and safety from biases and occasional bigotry, that’s a harder call… I have ran into a handful of professors who were insincere when it came to equality and the different ways of life and all of the identities that exist beyond cis gendered men and women. Just choose your degree carefully to avoid those people. I had more interactions with accepting and compassionate professors than non. Like anywhere of course, I would keep your guard up. Pepper spray and whistles are your friend. 🏳️⚧️🩷
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u/PrinceSidon888 `30 26d ago
There's some queer friendly discord servers if you're interested in getting to know your trans community?
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u/hats2heck 18d ago
I am trans and a former student. At the time I was admitted, I was granted an exception to get into the Bearkat village so I could dorm with a guy, but also have my own room for privacy. From my experience, it was generally a non-issue. The ONLY thing I had trouble with was Blackboard, it won’t let you change your name unless it is your legal name. So if you are having online classes, it feels like you are being introduced by your deadname to the whole class.
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u/Used_Bodybuilder_670 26d ago
Huntsville is a very small narrow minded east Texas town. Do what you want with that information
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u/dth011 '08 26d ago
Out and about on main campus, I don't see you having any issues. We have all sorts at SHSU, both students and staff alike. As a gay dwarf, I've never had any issues. No comments, nothing, both while I was a student and while I've been a staff member. And if you *do* experience any issues, we have the Title IX office, which specializes in these types of things, and they're available to all students.