We welcome the College’s decision to offer students the option to self-identify as queer.

The Harvard University Health Group Plan and the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care will cover lower surgery for gender reassignment beginning on Jan. 1 for faculty and staff and Aug. 1 for students.

The College is considering adding language to its application for admission that would allow prospective students to self-identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid William R. Fitzsimmons ’67 told The Crimson.

Lee Forest, who was hired by the College in September as the first director of bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender student life has decided to turn down the position at Harvard.

Though the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA and a key document in college financial aid applications, does not recognize same-sex couples, students at Harvard with parents of the same sex have been relatively unaffected by the bureaucratic hurdle, according to Director of Financial Aid Sally C. Donahue.

The Queer Students and Allies sponsored a candlelight vigil at the John Harvard statue Wednesday evening to memorialize both the suffering of LGBTQ community and progress made toward queer equality.

Instead of sporting their team uniforms in this photo, the athletes came in gay pride attire and rainbow pins that read “Proud Ally.”

Though the BGLTQ community at large continues to struggle with homophobia and bullying, Harvard offers some students an environment where they feel safe coming out and being open about their sexuality.

The study found that, on average, men perceived as gay had to apply to 14 jobs to get called back for an interview. Men perceived as straight had to apply to fewer than nine jobs to receive a call back.