Happy LGBTQ STEM Day!
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November 18 has been selected to celebrate and highlight the work and barriers of LGBTQIA+ people in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM).
It’s #LGBTQSTEMDay
If it isn’t obvious from my glasses, I’m a STEM nerd! ???? pic.twitter.com/lIQxSmDpAG
— Krishnanand Kelkar (@KrisKelkar) November 18, 2021
Among their many struggles, we see that 28% of LGBT+ people have at some point considered leaving their jobs because of a hostile workplace or discrimination towards them.
20% of trans people had often considered leaving (2019 Exploring The Workplace For LGBT+ Physical Scientists), which is an abysmally high number.
Happy #LGBTQSTEMDay! Have some pride planets to celebrate ????️???? pic.twitter.com/mix8Mo4a1K
— miss neutrino (@MissNeutrino) November 18, 2021
One in three physicists in America has been urged to stay in the closet to progress in their career.
Half of the transgender or gender non-conforming physicists were harassed in their own departments (2015 American Physical Society survey).
Happy #LGBTQSTEMDay y’all! Representation matters, you matter, and it will take the strength of diversity to solve the problems of now and the future. Be proud. ????️????✊????????
— Derek Applewhite (@ApplewhiteDerek) November 18, 2021
Gay and bisexual students are less likely to follow an academic career (2018 Coming out in STEM: Factors affecting retention of sexual minority STEM students).
To these statistics, we need to add barriers and issues specific to other underrepresented groups, which create a much bigger challenge for people with intersectional identities.
Happy #LGBTQSTEMDay y’all!
I’m proud to be a gay geoscientist.
In addition to my hammer, GPS, and hand lens, I always try to pack a clack fan or two for the field. ????????❤️???????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/ab7dG7MjhW
— David, aka Pliny the Crafter™️ (@geodudedave) November 18, 2021
The change of date from July comes after the result of an open survey and months of discussion. The date is symbolic of the 60th anniversary of American Astronomer and gay activist Frank Kameny’s US Supreme Court fight against workplace discrimination. This is a fight that continues today, not only in the US but in so many other countries worldwide.
Happy #LGBTQSTEMDay everyone!! ????????
If you’re LGBTQ+ and you work in STEM or study a STEM subject, why not say hi below and tell us about what you do? ????#AcademicTwitter #LGBTQSTEM pic.twitter.com/VogOPe9LwP
— The STEM Village ????️????????️⚧️ (@TheSTEMvillage) November 18, 2021
We hope that November 18 comes to represent all the people who continue to make the world of STEM a better and more inclusive place.