STARTING NEW
For many students, college represents a fresh start and a place to reinvent themselves. It’s a brand new world – a new school, new people, a different town, and new opportunities. This opportunity can be especially important for LGBTQ students, many of whom have never been open about who they are or allowed to explore their sexualities. Although every person’s experience is different, dating in college is a roller coaster, but possibly more so for LGBTQ students who are dating for the first time. Scroll down to hear interviews with LGBTQ students at the University of Texas who are navigating the dating scene in college.
22, Senior, English and Rhetoric and Writing
Nathan
"I feel like what dating for me in college is like is what dating for straight people in high school is like."
20, Junior, Mathematics
Hector
"You’ve seen Austin, like everyone here is very attractive and when you’re not it’s just sort of like… 'sorry, you’ve got to work for it a little bit harder.'”
Ava
18, Freshman, Radio Television Film
"I know that UT kinda does have its issues but it’s definitely more of a freeing place. I’ve felt more free here than I’ve ever felt in my entire life in the city of Austin and I’ve lived in Austin my entire life.”
Ralph & Joey
20, Junior, Chemical Engineering
20, Junior, Business
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“We were each others first boyfriends, like actual boyfriends… we’re learning a lot. It’s a new experience, and I guess it’s good that we are having this experience so we learn it together."
Nathaniel
20, Junior, Public Relations
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“I felt like I was missing out so much by not dating people or not sleeping with people and I finally broke out of that because I’m just tired of it and I see how tiring it is, and it kinda makes me not want to date anymore.”