First-year LGBTQ students often tell us that the prospect of being placed with a roommate whom they don't know creates particular anxiety. We've asked some current students about some of their experiences in finding and living with roommates. Below are some of their stories:

Dave '05, practiced a variation of "don't ask, don't tell" when it came to his roommate:

"I met the guy who became my first-year roommate through my girlfriend, actually. We weren't really friends, but as we were both planning to attend UNH, we decided to room together. That summer, I came out to everybody - my family, all my friends - except my now ex-girlfriend and my new roommate. At the time, I figured it'd be really awkward for both of us if I said anything, so I didn't. However, just before we moved to Durham, I discovered that a mutual friend of ours had 'outed' me to him. To be honest, I was more relieved than anything else, but I remember being a bit nervous, and anxious as move-in day approached. The year turned out to be a good one; he was a great roommate and we got along well, although the subject of my being gay never came up even once!"

In retrospect, Dave thinks it was all for the best. "Now that I'm a senior and I've been out a few years, it's hard for me to imagine handling it like this now, but as a freshman, that's where I was at. No regrets!"

For Lee '06, the prospect of finding a roommate didn't faze her:

"I wasn't really worried about it. Besides, I was still 'dabbling' in heterosexuality at the time, and wasn't really sure how I identified my sexuality! On hall opening day, the other person assigned to my room didn't show up, so I had the room to myself. Meanwhile, down the hall, three students were sharing a built-up triple room. I hung out with one of them a few times, and once it was clear my roommate wasn't coming, we petitioned Housing to allow her to move in to my room. I hadn't planned on saying anything, but it came up in conversation. We were talking and she joked about liking girls. On impulse, I played off her joke by responding that I really did like girls. She was actually the first person I'd ever come out to, other than myself. She was absolutely OK with it, and it ended up being a great year, so much so that we decided to room together again the following year."