涩里番

Created by the ASBMB Maximizing Access Committee (2024)

Statistics

• Statistics on the number of people who identify as LGBTQIA+ in STEM are difficult to find, largely because most surveys have not included questions about gender or sexuality. 
• The National Science Foundation recently agreed to pilot several versions of LGTBQIA+ related questions on important surveys, including the Ph.D. graduate student survey (data available in 2026). 
• A Pew Research Center survey (2022) found that 7% of U.S. adults identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual and 1.6% as transgender or nonbinary, although these numbers double among adults ages 18–29. 
• LGBTQIA+ scientists face many barriers in STEM, leading to what studies have estimated to be 17–21% less representation in STEM fields compared with their overall presence in the U.S. population.

Best practices for allies

*The following suggestions are offered for situations and jurisdictions in which the suggested activities are not prohibited by applicable laws.

• Don’t assume gender, sex or sexuality. 
• Model sharing whatever information you can (such as your own pronouns) comfortably. 
• Use the language people use for themselves (i.e., “feminine,” “male,” “partner,” “spouse”), and default to neutral language when you don’t know. 
• Google first, ask later (or not at all): Not every queer person is comfortable or suitable to be an educator on LGBTQIA+ experiences. 
• If something’s hard, practice! Correct yourself mentally or set up a date with a friend to practice. 
• Correct others when they make language mistakes or say something harmful. 
• Seek content (movies, television, books, articles, podcasts, etc.) made my LGBTQIA+ creators to get a better understanding of the diversity of queer experiences. 
• If you create forms and surveys, be mindful about how you use and ask for information about sex, gender and sexuality:
  • What exactly do you need to know (e.g., sex to correlate with medical data)? 
  • Share why you need to know and how you’ll use the information. 
  • Offer more than two options (multiselect or write-in). 
• Advocate for gender-neutral bathrooms, the preservation of same-sex marriage, and gender-affirming medical care where relevant in your spaces. 
• You will make mistakes. When you realize you’ve messed up, apologize briefly and move on. 
• Gender identity, gender expression and sexuality are separate concepts, and you should not assume you know how people are based on current relationships or appearances. 
• Note that people may still be questioning, which means they are unsure about or exploring their own sexual orientation or gender identity. Be patient and supportive, and follow their lead.