This month, Northwestern University Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing released a report highlighting challenges and offering recommendations for improving the representation and inclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). The report coincides with the Biden administration’s 2022 Executive Order calling for workforce data on LGBTQ+ people.
The report was developed by participants in the Inclusion and Advancement of LGBTQ+ People in STEM Fields Think Tank, held in Washington, D.C., in spring 2023. The event was sponsored by the Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing (ISGMH) at Northwestern University. Nearly 30 participants, including News is Out and Windy City Times’ Tracy Baim, contributed to the report.
In the report’s introduction, Northwestern’s Dr. Brian Mustanski shared his motivations for supporting LGBTQ+ inclusion, including witnessing mentees face discrimination and his own experiences with homophobia in science.
Key Findings from the report
The report finds that LGBTQ+ individuals face significant barriers in STEM fields, including discrimination, lack of support and hostile policies. These barriers like finance, geography and a lack of safe environments, can start early in education, reducing aspirations for STEM careers.
There is also a lack of comprehensive data on LGBTQ+ individuals in STEM, which subsequently reduces efforts to address their underrepresentation. However, the National Science Foundation’s recent decision to collect data on assigned gender at birth, current gender identity and sexual orientation is a positive step, says Mustanski.
Mustanski shared how facilitating a more diverse STEM field is better for society.
“The additional benefit of addressing LGBTQ+-specific discrimination in STEM and research, as the evidence below indicates, is that a more diverse STEM workforce will lead to greater advancement of science, technology, and health, and potentially better outcomes for society as a whole,” said Mustanski.
Report Recommendations
The report recommends the expansion of data collection by federal agencies and educational institutions to include sexual orientation and gender identity data in their research to understand better and address the underrepresentation of LGBTQ+ individuals in STEM.
The report also calls for comprehensive policies and programs at all educational levels and workplaces to support LGBTQ+ individuals. This includes creating supportive environments and addressing specific challenges facing LGBTQ+ people in STEM.
Advocacy efforts are essential to ensure that LGBTQ+ individuals are included in diversity initiatives and cite the work done by organizations like Out to Innovate and 500 Queer Scientists.
“People need to ‘see us to be us’—meaning having out people as role models in educational and career settings can help LGBTQ+ young people believe they, too, can have a STEM career,” said Mustanski.