Advisor
Rodriguez, Katrina L.
Committee Member
Birnbaum, Matthew
Committee Member
Serna, Gabriel R.
Department
Higher Education and Student Affairs Leadership
Institution
University of Northern Colorado
Type of Resources
Text
Place of Publication
Greeley (Colo.)
Publisher
University of Northern Colorado
Date Created
8-1-2015
Genre
Thesis
Extent
259 pages
Digital Origin
Born digital
Description
Twelve gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender college students participated in this study, which explored the influence of identity politics surrounding gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) civil rights in the early 21st century. Aspects of student participants’ personal stories are explored in reference to rhetoric surrounding legislation of various GLBT Civil Rights. This study revisits GLBT history from Ancient Greece through the oppressive turning point of the 1700s and on to the current period in order to explain the long history of oppression of GLBT lives in society. Using interviews, artifact elicitation, and reflection the students who participated in this study shared their individual narratives. The students expressed how the politicization of same-sex marriage and employment rights influenced their experiences. Interview data were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using Crystallization to explore themes through various perspectives. Findings discussed include how students experienced frustration as well as a desire to create change in their communities in relation to political and religious rhetoric surrounding GLBT civil rights legislation. Implications of this study include a need for expanded support for campus GLBT Resource Centers, avoiding gender bias, gender neutrality and the gender binary, as well as the need for greater understanding of GLBT employment non-discrimination. Potential areas for future research included the need for more research on non-binary sexual identities as well as the need for better understanding the transgender experience. Also addressed is the influence of a lack of full inclusion of transgender rights in GLBT legislation.
Degree type
PhD
Degree Name
Doctoral
Language
English
Local Identifiers
Smith_unco_0161D_10426
Rights Statement
Copyright is held by author.
