Not located in the downtown area, Charleston Southern University was voted one of America’s best Christian Colleges. Even better, in 2010 the Women’s and Gender Studies department officially became a major at the College of Charleston! As a result, a lot of the College’s LGBTQ community have found an outlet in the Women’s and Gender Studies department, which offers numerous opportunities for queer studies. In 2006/2007 the faculty and students tried to establish a LGBTQ minor, but the public school system in Charleston is very conservative and so the whole project fell through.
The “Cougars” who attend the school are given a choice of 53 majors and 73 minors to pursue. Although it’s a southern university, CofC has a very liberal student body and is fairly accepting of its LGBTQ students. Downtown Charleston is home to the College of Charleston, The Citadel, and MUSC – the Medical University of South Carolina. Beyond the Peninsula you can find Charleston Southern University and Trident Technical College.Ĭollege of Charleston is public liberal arts college located right in the middle of the city, so it’s pretty hard to avoid the 10,000 students that attend the school from August to May. While Charleston isn’t considered a “college” town, there are a handful of colleges and universities in the area. Enjoy bingo night on Wednesdays or karaoke on Sundays. While the bar has attempted to incorporate a lesbian night on Mondays, you can find members of the queer community there any night of the week. In the 2012 Charleston City Paper “Best Of” issue, Upper Deck was named the bar where you’re most likely to see two women making out.
Market Street is full of sorority girls and tourists and we would recommend avoiding the area at night… unless you’re into that sort of thing! East Bay has some upscale bars and restaurants, and draws a mixed crowd. King Street, one of the best shopping streets in the country, is also where you’ll find a majority of the locals and college students after the sun goes down. There are three main areas of downtown Charleston when it comes to eating and drinking. Like any coastal city, Charleston is a hub for tourists, especially during the summer months when the beaches and warm weather draw the crowds. In my spare time, I like to draw, pick flowers, and cut queer hair. I’m usually found cuddling with my cat Mao, but when I’m not being a crazy cat lady I’m hanging out with friends, discussing the finer things in life.īeck Schillizzi – I’m a southern raised femmey transboy who makes his money as a boirista and his well being as an organizer of Girls Rock Charleston and Southerners on New Ground. Charleston isn’t the easiest place to live for a gay lady, but after 5 years I’ve managed to make a home out this beautiful city. Moving to the South was definitely a culture shock, especially since I’d been living in Asia for the last 18 years, but it grew on me and soon enough I was saying y’all with the rest of the locals. Paige Anderson – Raised overseas in Singapore and Beijing, I moved to Charleston to go to college at the College of Charleston. On a Friday night, you’ll typically find me sipping on a PBR outside of The Recovery Room. My interests include drinking tea, writing, traveling, brunch, and playing tourist in Charleston. I earned my BA from the University of South Carolina and recently finished my MBA at The Citadel. Jennifer Stevens – I’ve lived in the Charleston area for the last 14 years.