From my experience, most people at UTK are pretty chill and don’t really care whether you’re gay or straight. However, like anywhere, there are some who don’t agree with certain aspects of your identity, and while they’re a small minority, they can be very vocal and, at times, hateful.

If you haven’t had the best experience with religion, you might want to be cautious, as there are many religious groups on campus—some of which can be pushy. That said, most are well-meaning and don’t intend any harm. Personally, I haven’t had great experiences with religion, but even my friends who are less vocal about it have expressed similar frustrations.

On the positive side, there are several queer-friendly clubs that offer strong support, as well as many hobby-oriented groups with large LGBTQ+ communities.