Gisela P. Vega Title: How sexual minority students at an Hispanic Serving Institution perceive their experiences and their sexual identity development

Purpose (WHAT) : The purpose of this phenomenological study is gather insights into the unique experiences sexual minority student encounter and their sexual identity development at a predominately Hispanic Serving Institution. Since this is a large and potentially rich area of research, the focus of this study will be to explore the experiences of current sexual minority students at FIU and gain insights into their identity development.

Problem: Sexual minority students are at higher risks for suicide, alcohol, and drug abuse than their heterosexual counterparts (Gonsiorek, 1995; Herdt & Boxer, 1992). A study of over 1,000 sexual minorities, found that one third experienced harassment on campus (Rankin, 2003). Sexual minority students experience chronic stress due to harassment and discrimination resulting in high attrition rates. (Sherrill & Hardy, 1994 and Sanlo, 2004). The unique concerns, experiences and perspectives of sexual minorities on campus remains absent from the current literature (Wall, & Evans, 2000; Rankin, 2003; Sanlo, 2004 and Tyre, 2009).

(Why) Inform future Student Affairs policies and practice in higher education. To effectively promote the health and well-being of sexual minority students on college campuses. Add to the existing body literature and on sexual minorities and add a new dimension of research focusing on sexual minorities at an HSI. Challenges institutions to evolve into affirming non- heteronormative places.

Research Questions: What are the personal narratives of sexual minority students as they described their experience on campus? How is the physical and emotional health of sexual minorities affected by their campus experience? Describe your experiences and perceptions as a sexual minority attending FIU, an HSI? Share any challenges or benefits you experienced as sexual minority attending FIU, an HIS? How would you describe your coming out process on campus, ie. interactions with faculty, students or staff?

Delimitations & Limitations: Delimitation(s) This study is delimited by focusing on the experiences of sexual minorities attending Florida International University. Limitation(s) Conducting research at the researcher‘s worksite has the potential to create limitations and biases that will be addressed. The researcher also identifies as a sexual minority, and is considered an insider. It is critical that bias be minimized and that accurate information is obtained.

Definitions: Campus Climate: The resulting behaviors and attitudes of a community’s formal and informal environment; a function of culture and based on the member’s values and beliefs. Heteronormativity: The processes through which social institutions and social policies reinforce the belief that human beings fall into two distinct sex/gender categories: male/man and female/woman. This belief (or ideology) produces a correlative belief that those two sexes/genders exist in order to fulfill complementary roles, i.e., that all intimate relationships ought to exist only between males/men and females/women. (p.3 Interrupting Heteronormativity) Heterosexism: The social/cultural, institutional, and individual beliefs and practices that assume that heterosexuality is the only natural, normal, acceptable sexual orientation. (p. 169, Toward Acceptance) Homophobia: Hostility towards or fear of sexual minorities. Negative feelings or attitudes towards non-heterosexual behaviour, identity, relationships and community, can lead to homophobic behavior and is the root of the discrimination experienced by many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. Sexual Minority: Sexual minority is defined as a subset of the population that experiences prejudice, social oppression, and discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender expression (Chung 2001). Members of the sexual minority community at-large have identified themselves as being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender relative to enduring emotional, romantic, sexual or affectionate attraction to another person of the same sex.