Healthcare providers should be as diverse as their patients

Healthcare providers should be as diverse as their patients (by James in Kentucky)

This is the first in a series of posts from James about LGBTQ issues in health care.

Sexuality and gender-identity is such a miniscule thing compared to the many great – and not so great – aspects of the people that surround you. While I may consider them the least a person needs to evaluate me with, they are very much important aspects in my thoughts, actions, and life itself.

It’s not easy deviating from the norm, especially as a gay male in nursing school.

“Oh, he can be my shopping buddy!” No, I tried that one with another homosexual friend: Apparently I’m not very good at it.

“The three and a half men” was once used to describe our class. While I wasn’t bothered at all about the utterance of those words, it certainly disappointed me when I learned of the individual that said those words and those that supported the statement.

Oh, and don’t forget the iconic statement: “I’ve got a question, but I don’t want to ask you it now. And you aren’t allowed to be offended. You know….”

The years of public school have hardened me, and as I finally came to terms with my sexuality when I started college and still developing my identity, there is very little someone can say to me that can elicit a reaction from me. When I’m in school, in the hospital, doctor’s office, or anywhere for the matter, I’m an “individual”, not just a gay, gender queer male nursing student/graduate; the constant need to categorize and file people away upsets me, even though I have to stop myself from doing the very same thing.

However, I want people to know that there are LGBT individuals in healthcare, both as patients AND healthcare providers. Healthcare providers should be as diverse as their patients.

 

 

 

About the Author:

James is a graduate nurse from Kentucky who enjoys foreign languages, playing etudes on his clarinet, and pushing his cat off of his bed when trying to sleep.