When UI student Cody Shafer came out at 15 years old to his religious family and his small, conservative community of Wapello, Iowa, the fear was “debilitating.”

But Shafer’s teachers and peers rallied to support him. He even took his boyfriend to the prom.

Now 22, Shafer is a leader in many local lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender organizations. He said coming out at a young age, combined with the progressiveness of Iowa City, is what helps many UI students open up during their college years.

And that has been proven in recent years.

Local leaders said they are seeing a spike in participation and are beginning to have a larger presence in Iowa City.

“Involvement’s definitely higher,” said Shafer, who serves as senator for UI Student Government. “It just keeps getting bigger.”

Laurie Haag, the Women’s Resource and Action Center program developer, said she has seen more first-year students who have already come out to family and friends before entering college, a trend that encourages students to get involved.

“Where it used to be you might come to college thinking you might be different and spend a couple years figuring that out,” she said. “Now, you’ve already spent those couple of years figuring that out, and when you get here, you’re ready to be who you are.”

Several officials said they’ve seen a marked increase of participation, though no numbers were available.

Iowa City’s history as a progressive community also adds to increased participation, Haag said.

The UI’s Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, Bisexual, and Allied Union was the first officially recognized student organization of its kind at a state university, Shafer said. It’s also the longest running and most continually funded organization.

And with Iowa City, the more than 20-year-old Pride Month celebration, history of activism, and recent legislation protecting against hate crimes add to the community’s long-standing reputation, Haag said.

“People know that Iowa City and [the] UI especially are really open and affirming and have a really positive community,” Shafer said. “A lot of people feel safe here.”

That there are “resources abound” both on campus and in the community helps create an inclusive atmosphere for students, Shafer said.

These resources offer UI students the opportunity to “be the person you believe you are,” Haag said.

“I just really encourage students to step outside the box they’ve been in all their lives and explore and check new things out,” Haag said. “For someone who identifies as gay or lesbian, this may be the first time they’ve had to do that.”

But in addition to student groups and UI resources, entertainment venues across town offering drag shows showcase the community’s increased acceptance as well, Shafer said.

“It’s great to go watch a performance. It’s a lot of energy, it’s fun and it’s quirky,” Shafer said, noting that even his straight male friends enjoy the shows.

The fear of being stigmatized by attending these events is becoming “less and less,” he said.

“It’s really great to see that aspect of the community not hiding itself,” he said. “It’s great to see them be comfortable and perform and be able to have a good time in their own skin, how they feel they should be.”