How many LGBTQ+ scientists do you know? A role model is someone who influences others and leads by example. Many of us are inspired by people who are similar to us, with a similar career path and personal identity. But when we think of scientists, it isn’t always possible to visualise someone we can relate to. So how do we showcase a better diversity of people to help us all find our role models?
LGBTQ+ is an acronym used to describe those with diverse sexualties and gender identities. It stands for:
L = lesbian
G = gay
B = bisexual
T = transgender
Q = queer / questioning
+ = the community includes a wide range of identities beyond those covered by the LGBTQ acronym, such as pansexual, intersex, asexual, agender, aromantic, demisexual and others.
Discrimination and harassment are disproportionally experienced by the LGBTQ+ community. A 2019 report from the Institute of Physics, Royal Astronomical Society and Royal Society of Chemistry highlighted that 28% of LGBTQ+ STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Medicine) respondents had at some point considered leaving their workplace because of the climate or discrimination towards LGBTQ+ people, and that 30% of respondents had witnessed exclusionary behaviour.
In 2021, Dr Sam Rowe (Earlham Institute) and Ro Procter (Youth STEMM Award) collaborated with Norwich Science Festival and local artist Charlie James to host a series of LGBTQ+ in STEMM events. With funding from the Royal Society of Chemistry, we hosted an exhibition to celebrate the diversity of people and roles within STEMM. It aimed to boost the LGBTQ+ voice within scientific environments.
The exhibition gave a voice to LGBTQ+ STEMM professionals that many young people do not come across until later stages of academia.
