GLBT Life @ American University

Beyond the School

Washington D.C. has a very large gay community, with people from all different kinds of backgrounds.  There are also many retail establishments within a few miles of American University that cater to a GLBT audience.  In an area just north of downtown called Dupont Circle, you will find dozens of stores, restaurants, nightclubs, coffeehouses, and other hang-outs where gay people of all different backgrounds come together to shop, mingle, meet, and have a good time.  Other local areas with a large GLBT presence include Capital Hill, Takoma Park, and Alexandria. Many American University GLBT students quickly make friends and build social networks shortly after they arrive in Washington.

There is a widely available weekly newspaper, The Washington Blade, which caters to people in the area who are GLBT. The newspaper contains current events of interest to the community, listings of events, and a vast array of resources that are all in the D.C. area.  You can find The Washington Blade in the Mary Graydon Center, in many of the dorms, and the GLBTA Resource Center also keeps a stack in the office.  There are other GLBT publications in the Washington area, such as Metro Weekly, which is geared towards urban life, and Women In The Life, which is geared towards lesbians of color.  There are many other weekly or monthly publications in Washington geared towards GLBT folks.  Most of these publications are free.

Beyond places that specifically cater to the gay community, Washington D.C. offers tens of thousands of restaurants, and many large shopping malls within half an hour of American University.  There are also regular sports teams for Washington D.C., as well as large venues that serve as host to all kinds of musicians, performers and other events.  There are almost four million people that live, work, and go to school in the greater Washington, D.C. area, and the job opportunities, as well as internships, are almost endless.

Because Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States, many political interest groups have their headquarters near the government buildings on Capitol Hill.  There are several large organizations in Washington, D.C. that lobby Congress on GLBT issues, and also provide networks to various grassroots activists.  These groups include the Human Rights Campaign, The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, National Latina/o Lesbian Gay Organization, National Youth Advocacy Coalition and many other local, national, and international GLBT organizations.  Because these organizations are located within several miles of the American University campus in Northwest D.C., there are many opportunities available to AU students with these organizations, such as internships, part-time jobs, and the opportunity to witness the GLBT rights movement in action.

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Written by David Grossman, GLBTA Resource Center at American University.
©2000 GLBTA Resource Center. All Rights Reserved.

Every different college offers different resources for its students.  While some schools are big, and some are small, you should feel comfortable in knowing that the school you choose is a place where you can learn, develop, and grow in an environment that is supportive of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) students. 

American University has a history of being an inclusive community of the highest academic standards.  AU's location in Washington, D.C. gives students and faculty alike a large variety of resources for education, leadership, research, and scholarship. AU actively encourages public service, equity and access, and an appreciation of diverse cultures and viewpoints.  As a GLBT student, you will enjoy one of the largest and most diverse gay communities in the country, as well as the diverse community you will find at AU.