Homophobia rife in medicine

Fewer than half of doctors feel they can be open about their sexuality at work, while only a third are comfortable revealing their gender identity, according to a report from doctors’ union the British Medical Association (BMA).

Its survey of nearly 2,500 medics found that just 46% of lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer respondents felt comfortable being open about their sexual orientation and 34% about their gender identity.

Nearly all those surveyed had heard homophobic or biphobic jokes or banter in the workplace, and two-fifths had experienced homophobia directly. More than four-fifths of trans respondents had encountered transphobic jokes, while almost half had direct experience of transphobia. More than 70% of incidents go unreported, the survey found, while one in eight LGBTQ+ and one-third of trans doctors had considered leaving the profession due to discrimination.

Dr Emma Runswick, BMA deputy chair of council, said the findings were confirmation of what many LGBTQ+ doctors knew from their own careers.

“It is unacceptable that any of our LGBTQ+ colleagues feel that responses to their sexuality or gender identity makes them want to quit the profession, especially at a time when we can’t afford to lose a single doctor.”