"Put the Jesuit Out Front": How a Catholic, Jesuit University Addresses LGBQ Issues. (August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hughes, Bryce E.
• Is Part Of: American educational research journal. Volume 57:Number 4(2020)
• Page Start: 1592
• Page End: 1624
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Subjects: grassroots leadership -- activism -- Catholic higher education -- LGBTQ -- power dynamics; Education -- United States -- Periodicals; Education -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; 370.97305
• DOI: 10.3102/0002831219878681
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-8312

Abstract

The campus climate for LGBQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer) communities in higher education has improved, but not necessarily at religiously affiliated institutions. This case study explores how faculty, staff, and students at a Jesuit, Catholic university address LGBQ issues through interviews, participant observation, and document review. Findings revealed that participants employed a variety of tactics adapted for the Catholic higher education context like Safe Space programming, opportunities for intellectual discourse, and leveraging the curriculum. To navigate institutional power dynamics, participants utilized framing issues as congruent with the university's mission and engaged influential allies like Jesuit priests. This study holds implications for navigating organizational power dynamics in higher education and addressing the tension posed by addressing LGBQ issues on religiously affiliated campuses.