SARAH NEWTON-GRAY

May 17th is The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia. In today’s climate of governmental policy changes and debate across the world, there seems to be increasing media interest around the subject, currently specifically focused on the Trans community. 

This, in turn, sparks emotive debate on social media platforms that can become instrumental in driving homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic agendas. It is ever more pertinent that we allow LGBTQ+ community voices to be heard, and not allow them to be drowned out by any noise of intolerance. It is accepted that students require an inclusive environment in order to nurture their potential, and it is the responsibility of us all, both LGBTQ+ community members and allies, to facilitate this space. 

We are developing healthcare professionals of the future, who can be inspired by positive messages, positive experiences, and discussion around individual experiences. For example, community members may feel a reluctance to seek healthcare advice, to attend screening, or there may be a sense of mistrust, and delays in treatment. 

There may also be a sense of exhaustion, with a feeling of needing to “come out” at every consultation, or there may be previous experience of poorly delivered care causing increased anxiety. As in “Making Every Contact Count” within health promotion, we also have the opportunity to open dialogue, invite conversation, and develop a core understanding of the challenges experienced by the community when accessing quality healthcare. Future practitioners will then be in a position to challenge discriminatory practices, create their own inclusive environments, provide sensitive care, and feel empowered to make the positive changes needed to transform our services for the better. 

There is no place for homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia in our practices, or in our society. In addressing homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia, we are also protecting the individuals’ basic human rights and promoting social justice. This is everyone’s business. I asked a close family member for their view and felt I should share the response:

“I think that the move against transphobia is important, due to the fact that I believe everyone, including me, you, the people around you and me, the people you are talking to right now, the people you work with, the people you look after, the people who look after you, everyone should be included and should enjoy their life as a whole. It doesn’t matter if you are gay, lesbian, trans, enby (aka non-binary), bisexual, pansexual, black, or white, you’re just as valid as anyone else on Earth, and you deserve to be accepted.” (A potential future student – aged 15).