College of Charleston Promotes a Safer Campus

The College of Charleston in Charleston, S.C., is in the process of creating a more LGBT friendly campus.

John Bello-Ogunu, chief diversity officer of the university, told The Post and Courier that the college recently completed a draft of a strategic plan that would help increase campus diversity.

Shane Windmeyer, executive director, of Campus Pride spoke at the university's Office of Institutional Diversity's Signature Speaker Series as an expert on sexual orientation. Windmeyer told The Courier, "Every campus wants to be called gay-friendly. But most haven't looked at institutionalizing safety and support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students."

Melissa Moore, executive director of We Are Family, provided her support in helping the campus become safer for LGBT students. She says the harassment of transgender students happens mostly in bathrooms. According to The Courier, Moore recommended "gender-neutral" bathrooms be built in addition to other measures being employed by the university. These bathrooms would be placed around campus and the location would be disclosed to transgender students.