Queer in STEM in Nature

A new article by Cameron Walker for the careers section of the journal Nature takes a look at LGBTQ experiences in scientific careers. Walker particularly cites some of our preliminary results, but she also does a great job putting them in personal context:

Scientists do not always share their personal sides in the lab. Deciding whether to be open about one’s identity can be an acute issue for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) researchers. Unlike some other minorities, LGBT people “have the ability to conform, because it’s not always a visible trait”, [chemist Benny] Chan says. But hiding something as basic as sexual orientation or gender identity can be detrimental to mental health and work. “You need to spend a lot of extra energy if you feel like you need to hide a part of your life,” says Chan.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.