For years, little rainbow stickers adorned the doors of offices and laboratories at the University of Alabama (UA). The emblems indicated the space was a Safe Zone, run by a professor who had been trained that year to support students experiencing discrimination, harassment, or other challenges because of their gender identity or sexual orientation.

One UA biologist had displayed the emblem proudly since their lab colleague first took the training in 2009, refreshing their knowledge annually. But this fall, the biologist says, their door and others are notably more barren. After a 2024 Alabama state law banned diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at public entities including universities, UA stopped offering Safe Zone training—meaning no new stickers, and the removal of the old ones.

As academic researchers around the country reel from President Donald Trump’s administration’s attacks on universities, researchers in Republican-led states like Alabama are being hit with a one-two punch, navigating both federal pressures and state actions. A number of these actions extend beyond academics into the culture and inclusivity of schools, affecting many researchers who feel out of step with local politics. Scientists across these red states tell Science they are fearful, disheartened, and less able to focus on their research. All have had to balance personal and professional risks with staying true to their values and identities. Some are fighting back in small ways; others are looking to leave.

Source https://www.science.org/content/article/red-states-many-academic-researchers-feel-fear-and-resolve

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