Date Approved

2026

Degree Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department or School

Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology

Committee Member

Grigoris Argeros, PhD

Committee Member

Robert Orrange, PhD

Abstract

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other gender/sexual identities (LGBTQ+) have been subjects of research throughout history, impacting the way they are perceived socially. Experiences of LGBTQ+ people vary not only by person but also by geographic area (rural, urban, and suburban). The focus of this study is the social acceptance of LGBTQ+ identities in high schools in these geographic areas. The overall research question is as follows: How do LGBTQ+ students’ perceptions of social acceptance differ across urban, suburban, and rural high schools? It was hypothesized that students who attended rural schools will feel lower levels of social acceptance than their peers at urban and suburban schools. Participants of this study were graduates of Michigan high schools who identify as LGBTQ+. They were asked questions about perceived feelings of safety in school, rates of harassment and bullying, and characteristics of their school, including access to LGBTQ+ resources. The goal of this study is to better understand the experiences of LGBTQ+ high school students, further develop research involving this community, and provide a statistical representation of these experiences.

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