queer studies growing

Via Queerty, this AP story on WHEC-TV about the growing number of queer studies courses at American colleges and universities. Excerpt:

ears after creating a smattering of gay-related classes, more than two dozen American universities are now offering full-fledged minors in gay studies and expanding the field to include disciplines across the college curriculum.
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At least 30 public and private colleges now offer multidiscipline minors in gay studies, the majority of them started in the last three years. Another 16 schools let undergraduates earn certificates or pursue concentrated studies in gay topics.
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The rise of specialized degree programs has been driven by endowments from gay alumni, the research of openly gay professors, and demands from students who are coming out of the closet at younger ages, experts say.

Here at OSU, there isn’t the funding, support, or demand for many queer studies courses. In the English Department, there is a course for minority literature, which can be taught as a literature course focusing on a specific minority group, such as African American Literature, or LGBT American Literature, but the department lacks the staff to even offer the course (at least over the last few years). The only LGBT course offered at OSU is the History of Gay and Lesbian Movements in Modern America. The class is offered every other year, I think, and is always full. I imagine, though, that if a queer literature course or a intro to queer studies course was offered, it would fill up pretty quickly.