Campus Pride officially released its 2021 Worst List, naming 180 campuses across the country as "the absolute worst, most unsafe campuses for LGBTQ youth."
The colleges and universities included in this year's list have either received or applied for a Title IX religious exemption to openly discriminate against LGBTQ youth, or they have a demonstrated history of anti-LGBTQ policies, programs, and practices.
No Illinois campuses are on this year's list. However, schools in neighboring states are. Indiana has four campuses: Bethel University, Indiana Wesleyan University, Taylor University and the University of St. Francis. Wisconsin has one: Maranatha Baptist University, in Watertown. Iowa has two: Dordt University and Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary. And Missouri has a grand total of eight: Central Christian College of the Bible, College of the Ozarks, Evangel University, Hannibal-LaGrange University, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Missouri Baptist University, Ozark Christian College and Southwest Baptist University.
"Campus Pride was founded 20 years ago with a vision of campuses and a society free of anti-LGBTQ prejudice, bigotry, and hate," said Campus Pride Executive Director Shane Windmeyer in a statement. "And while much progress has been made since then, clearly there remains a lot more work to do as we develop and train future leaders to create safer, more inclusive communities on campuses."
The full list is at campuspride.org/WorstList.
