Gay engineers

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In 2004, 19 women made history as they graduated from the first-ever ABET-accredited program at a women’s college. That’s why we are committed to ensuring that STEM is a space where everyone belongs, through initiatives like LGBTQ+ student societies, inclusive teaching practices, and an open, supportive learning environment.

By embracing different perspectives and experiences, we help shape a future where all engineers, regardless of identity, have the opportunity to thrive and contribute to a better world.

Find out more about NMITE, here.

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There’s no better way to lead than by example.

In its exceptional civil and environmental engineering (CEE) department, there are five master’s programs: atmosphere & energy; sustainable design & construction; environmental engineering; structural engineering & mechanics and computation; and sustainable engineered systems. She was fired from IBM in 1968 after transitioning but went on to work at Xerox PARC, where her work shaped modern computing.

She was also a strong advocate for women’s rights, immigrant healthcare, and poverty alleviation, and lived out her later years with her partner, novelist Ida Wylie.

Alan L. Hart (1890-1962)

A physician and radiologist, Alan L. Hart was a transgender pioneer in medicine. Diversity drives innovation, and inclusive spaces create better solutions for the world’s biggest challenges.

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    With five offices across the state, BGE has the resources and capabilities for building lasting connections—supporting local communities through active leadership, dynamic partnerships, and multidisciplinary collaboration. While she kept her bisexual identity private during her lifetime, her legacy was later honoured when her life partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy, received Ride’s Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously on her behalf.

    Allan Hellman (1904-1982)

    A Swedish engineer and activist, Allan Hellman was the first man to openly come out as gay in Sweden.

    Beyond her technical achievements, she became a leading advocate for transgender rights, using her platform to push for workplace protections and equality in STEM.

    Sally Ride (1951-2012)

    An aviation hero and physicist, Sally Ride became the first American woman in space in 1983. Tactics such as passing as heterosexual and “covering” (i.e., downplaying traits associated with the LGBTQ+ community) require tremendous amounts of energy.

    Today, his contributions are commemorated on the National LGBTQ Wall of Honour at the Stonewall National Monument.

    Agnes E. Wells (1876-1959)

    A professor of Mathematics and Astronomy, Agnes E. Wells was also the Dean of Women at Indiana University and later became chair of the National Woman’s Party, advocating for women’s rights.

    Finally, Duke University is also the alma mater of outstanding UC San Diego professor and LGBTQ+ advocate Dr. Michael Todd.

    His advocacy paved the way for greater acceptance and equality in Sweden and beyond.

    • Celebrating Visibility in STEM

    The achievements of these engineers and scientists remind us that diversity strengthens innovation.

    Other departments available at Georgia Tech include aerospace, biomedical, civil & environmental, electrical & computer, industrial & systems, materials science, mechanical, and nuclear & radiological engineering.

    Smith College

    Smith College of Northampton, Massachusetts, has a long history of being queer-friendly.

    But their stories also highlight the challenges that LGBTQ+ individuals have faced—and in some cases, still do—in their careers.

    At NMITE, we believe that engineering is for everyone. Her legal challenge led to the landmark 2013 Supreme Court ruling that struck down the Defence of Marriage Act, paving the way for marriage equality in the U.S.

    Lynn Conway (1938-2024)

    A computer scientist and electrical engineer, Lynn Conway made major contributions to microchip design and computer architecture.

    In addition to having the fourth largest LGBT center in the US, Duke has a gender-neutral housing policy and unisex bathrooms, a strong stand against Governor Pat McCrory’s discriminatory laws (TIME May 2016).

    This school has 17 distinct master’s emphases in engineering.

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    With 22 offices across six states, BGE stays busy building connections and making a lasting impact.

    Finally, Stanford University ranked second among US News & World Report’s (2025) best graduate engineering schools.

    University of Michigan—Ann Arbor

    The University of Michigan—Ann Arbor not only counts some of the world’s greatest queer academics (e.g., David Halperin, Gayle Rubin), but it also hosts one of the most thriving campuses for LGBTQ+ organizations.

    UMich also boasts one of the most prominent engineers and transgender advocates in the world: Dr. Lynn Conway, professor emerita of electrical engineering and computer science.

    The vast array of master’s programs at UMich includes aerospace (AERO), biomedical (BME), chemical (ChE), civil, environmental, computer science & engineering, electrical & computer (ECE), industrial & operations (IOE), systems engineering design, macromolecular science, materials science (MSE), mechanical (ME), naval architecture & marine (NAME), and nuclear & radiological sciences (NERS).

    Duke University

    Duke University of Durham, North Carolina, founded its first gay student organization in the fall of 1972.

    This school boasts an abundance of top-ranked engineering programs across fields such as aeronautics & astronautics, bioengineering, chemical, and mechanical engineering, to name a few.

    gay engineers

    Luckily, several college campuses have made strides to combat the historical prejudice and discrimination in engineering, thereby creating a more encouraging environment for aspiring LGBTQ+ engineers.

    Here is an overview of six stellar universities with exceptional LGBTQ+ support and outreach, which provide degrees across various engineering subfields.

    Bachelor’s Programs in Engineering

    University of California—Berkeley

    The University of California—Berkeley — a school with an entrenched tradition of fighting for underrepresented groups—also happens to boast some of the best engineering programs in the country.

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    With two locations in Arkansas, BGE serves local communities through active leadership, dynamic partnerships, and multidisciplinary expertise building lasting connections.

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    Actively involved in local projects, BGE energizes thriving communities through hands-on leadership and dynamic partnerships.

    As proof of this point, Georgia Tech created organizations such as the Gay and Lesbian Alliance, the Pride Alliance, and Safe Space to disabuse campus members of prejudice.

    Also of note is Georgia Tech’s Open Chemistry Collaborative in Diversity Equity (OCCIDE), a five-year National Science Foundation-funded initiative to increase the inclusivity of the chemistry and chemical engineering departments.

    In Georgia Tech’s outstanding BS program in chemical and biomolecular engineering, students take courses such as chemical engineering thermodynamics, transport phenomena, and separation processes.

    Students also have the option of completing a five-year dual BS and master of science (MS) in this subfield of engineering.

    Ranking third among US News & World Report’s (2025) best undergraduate engineering programs, UC Berkeley provides bachelor of science (BS) degrees across several subfields of the discipline, including bioengineering, civil & environmental, electrical & computer science, energy engineering, environmental engineering science, industrial & operations research, materials science, mechanical, and nuclear, among others.

    The school has numerous LGBTQ+ groups, including Queer Alliance Resource Center and a thriving chapter of oSTEM, a national organization committed to increasing the representation of LGBT communities in engineering and related fields.

    Their contributions have reshaped industries, saved lives, and paved the way for future generations in STEM.