Being LGBTQ+ in Medical School

Being a student under the LGBTQ+ umbrella can sometimes be difficult under normal circumstances but being LGBTQ+ in Medical School can present a unique set of challenges for some.

Going to university for the first time may lead to a period of reflection, self-discovery and ultimately newfound freedom and joy. For others, it may be a time of confusion, fear, ostracization and sadness. Most students will realistically experience these lows and highs in an unpredictable mixture. No two students will have the same journey, and it is important to remember that LGBTQ+ students (while sometimes being referred to as a single group) are not a monolith, and every student will have different challenges, needs and experiences.

So what might be different for an LGBTQ+ Medical student, compared with a student studying another course?

The combination of the increased risk in LGBTQ+ populations of developing mental disorders and substance abuse issues (usually attributed to societal views, discrimination and lack of support), mixed with the documented increase of mental distress in Medical students can be a real recipe for trouble for some people, and the stigma of seeking support for mental health issues in Medical School can compound the distress and isolation felt.

There is also unfortunately still discrimination including homophobia, biphobia and transphobia among some Medical students, teaching staff and NHS staff, as well as from members of the public including patients. Students may not feel comfortable or empowered to challenge a member of staff or a patient who says something discriminatory, and they may feel isolated if their friends or colleagues do not step up and call out discrimination either.

Even subtle or seemingly innocuous things can contribute to a general sense of being “othered”, for example every PBL case during the year involving straight couples, or lecturers referring to groups of students as “ladies and gentlemen”. Medical curricula are also very binary when it comes to sex and gender, and in a lot of way Medical students are taught to categorise patients into two groups (Male and Female) without being taught the nuance of this, or how to accommodate people who do not fit the binary as it is taught. While many students may not notice things like this, feeling unrepresented or like you don’t really belong can have a serious negative impact on enjoyment of the course and mental health.

Coming out as trans or non-binary at medical school can be a particularly stressful and anxiety-inducing time. Many trans students will change their names, the pronouns they use, and may change their appearance and clothing too. They might be communicating this to friends and family, hoping for a supportive reaction and fearing potential negative reactions too. The usual medical school bureaucracy (we have all experienced it!) is amplified when trying to get every system to update new names, email addresses, and ID photos, and communicate to staff that your name and pronouns have changed.

It thankfully isn’t all doom and gloom, but it is important for every student to have an understanding of the experiences their colleagues may be having, and what can be done to support them as individuals, and to make the system better and more accommodating for everyone.