Reimagining Rural LGBTQ+ Students’ Sense of Belonging In The Bible Belt

Abstract: This reflexive essay examines the unique challenges facing LGBTQ+ students at higher education institutions in the rural Bible Belt, where Traditionalistic culture and evangelical religiosity intersect to create barriers to belonging. Using Strayhorn’s framework of belonging, the authors analyze current support systems and advocate for systemic transformation beyond passive acceptance. The essay calls for active institutional change that centers LGBTQ+ experiences, addresses othering bureaucratic systems, and challenges traditional power structures to create truly inclusive campus environments.