Christopher Rufo on lgbtq: what the evidence says · JRE #2113
SUBJECT: LGBTQ
The short answer
Rufo claims that before his takeover, New College of Florida's student body was more than 50% trans, queer, and non-binary. New College's official Fact Book, produced by its Office of Institutional Research & Assessment using standardized Common Data Set categories, breaks undergraduate enrollment down by "Men," "Women," and "Another Gender": the 2022-2023 Fact Book records 0 full-time undergraduates in the "Another Gender" category (208 men, 453 women), and the institution does not appear to collect or publish data on students' sexual orientation or transgender identity.
Not a true/false call. Every claim is logged with its sources; read the exhibits below.
The student population was more than 50% trans, queer, and nonbinary. More than 50%.
What the evidence says 01 / RECORD
Rufo, a New College trustee appointed by Governor DeSantis, claimed the pre-takeover student body was "more than 50%" trans, queer, and non-binary. New College's official Fact Book, produced by its Office of Institutional Research & Assessment using standardized Common Data Set categories, breaks undergraduate enrollment down by "Men," "Women," and "Another Gender": the 2022-2023 Fact Book records 0 full-time undergraduates in the "Another Gender" category (208 men, 453 women), and the institution does not appear to collect or publish data on students' sexual orientation or transgender identity. No institutional dataset supports any specific percentage for a combined trans/queer/non-binary population, let alone a majority. New College was widely reported to have an unusually large and visible LGBTQ student community, but no independent survey or institutional record found corroborates a majority-trans/queer/non-binary student body.