Many minority groups in academia face unique challenges and barriers. Physicists identifying with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community are one such group. The goal of this collection of resources is to support the physics community in navigating these issues, promoting awareness, and guiding allies on how to help in respectful and meaningful ways.
General 2SLGBTQIA+ Resources
- Equaldex – an interactive map showcasing the progress of 2SLGBTQIA+ rights around the world
- GLAAD – “GLAAD works through entertainment, news, and digital media to share stories from the LGBTQ community that accelerate acceptance.” (includes various informative resources and reports)
- LGBTQ+ Terminology (ASEE) – a non-exhaustive list of common terms in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community
- A Primer On Pronouns (ASEE) – what are pronouns and how can I respectfully ask someone what their preferred pronouns are?
- 2SLGBTQ+ Terms & Concepts – a UofT Sexual & Gender Diversity Office resource with some nice definitions for many key LGBTQ2SIA+ terms
- All About Pronouns – Sexual & Gender Diversity Office (utoronto.ca) – another UofT Sexual & Gender Diversity Office resource on pronouns specifically
- Rights of LGBTI persons – Canada.ca – Canadian government document on “Rights of LGBTI persons”
Ally resources
Anyone can be an ally and support the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Here are some general resources on how you can provide support in a respectful and meaningful way.
- 49 Ways to Be an Ally (ASEE) – some suggestions on how to be a supporter of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community
- Guide to Being an Ally to Transgender and Nonbinary Young People – an educational resource covering general topics and best practices on supporting transgender and nonbinary youth
- Straight for Equality Resources – general learning resources for allies
Academic & Professional Resources
Some 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals may experience challenges in academic or professional environments. These resources aid students and working professionals in cultivating an inclusive culture in their respective workplaces.
- Proud and Prepared: A Guide for LGBT Students Navigating Graduate Training – a 2015 guide authored by graduate students from a diversity of backgrounds, including candid perspectives of students and relevant information pertaining to climate, mentorship, and more
- LGBTQ College Culture Guide – resources for incoming and current LGBTQ post-secondary students
- oSTEM (Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) – a non-profit professional association for 2SLGBTQIA+ professionals in STEM including annual conferences, professional development, and more
- Out to Innovate – an organization of STEM professionals who advocate for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights in professional and academic settings; formerly known as the National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals (NOGLSTP)
- Your Journey: A Career Guide for Trans and Nonbinary Students – Sexual & Gender Diversity Office (utoronto.ca) – note, none of the above resources from UofT are UofT-specific in their content or applicability.
Light Reading
Learn about the experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals in STEM through interviews, opinion pieces, and general discussions.
- “Why Is Science So Straight?” (2015) – an op-ed from the New York Times
- “Rewiring STEM education” (2018) – a discussion of the status and experience of 2SLGBTQIA+ and female professionals in STEM
- “What’s It Like to Be Queer in STEM?” (2018), Scientific American; interview notes with Joey Nelson about his work with the Queer in STEM project
Scientific Resources on 2SLGBTQIA+ Inclusion in STEM
These articles provide a scientific perspective on the state of inclusivity of 2SLGBTQIA+ STEM professionals in academia, the workplace, and society at large.
- “How LGBT+ scientists would like to be included and welcomed in STEM workplaces” – Nature article (2020); a collection of personal stories and lived experiences from 2SLGBTQIA+ professionals in STEM
- “Measuring and Resolving LGBTQ Disparities in STEM” (2020); an article highlighting potential factors driving 2SLGBTQIA+ disparities in STEM and possible policy recommendations
- “A conversation on building safe spaces for the LGBTQ+ community in the geosciences” – Nature Communications (2021); interview notes from three 2SLGBTQIA+ geoscientists regarding challenges they face in academia and in society at large, and how we can overcome them
- “Systemic inequalities for LGBTQ professionals in STEM” (2021) – article presenting results on five facets of 2SLGBTQIA+ inequality in STEM
- “To retain and inspire LGBT+ physicists, welcome them” (2022) – Physics Today article on actively welcoming members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in the classroom, workplace, and beyond
- LGBTQ+ professionals working in STEM face systemic inequalities: report | CTV News (2021) – CTV article discussing a research article in Scientific Advances on ‘Systemic inequalities for LGBTQ professionals in STEM’
- LGBTQ+ Identities in STEM: A Steady Leak (2021) – Physics in Canada article about the ‘leaky pipeline’ affecting observed for the 2SLGBTQIA+ population in STEM, like many other minority groups
Support
If you or a friend are in need of support, these are some resources available to help you navigate through difficult times. In life-threatening situations, please call 911/emergency services for immediate assistance.
- The Trevor Project – 2SLGBTQIA+ suicide prevention/crisis hotline
- LGBTQ – The LifeLine Canada Foundation – includes a bunch of support resources within, including the Trevor Project, but many others too