June holds a special place in my heart as one of my favorite months of the year. It’s not just because it’s a month filled with birthdays, including my daughter’s, my dog’s, and my own. It’s also a time when we bid farewell to the snow and welcome a vibrant celebration: Pride Month.

What is Pride Month?

Pride Month is dedicated to supporting LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual/agender, other) rights, celebrating LGBTQIA+ culture, and giving voice to those who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, who have in the past, and continue to be, oppressed by society. Pride is acknowledged and celebrated during the month of June, to coincide with the Stonewall Uprising in 1969, which was a catalyst for the Gay Liberation Movement.

Why is it important that we celebrate Pride Month in veterinary medicine?

While the percentage of veterinary professionals who self-identify as LGBTQIA+ is unknown, a survey of veterinary students at US colleges of veterinary medicine was performed 10 years ago and reported that more than 6% of respondents self-identified as LGBTQ. This percentage is higher than that reported within the general population, which suggests that the LGBTQ community is well-represented in the veterinary profession. 

Research studies also demonstrate that veterinary professionals who self-identify as LGBTQ+ have a higher risk of depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts. In fact, a study published in 2020 in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association revealed that non-heterosexual cis men, non-heterosexual cis women, and transgender and nonbinary veterinary professionals and students in the USA and UK have a higher lifetime prevalence of suicidal thoughts and attempted suicide, compared with previously the reported prevalence for male and female veterinarians in general. 

The study also highlighted that 45% of LGBTQ+ veterinary professionals (veterinarians, techs, nurses, assistants) and 27% of LGBTQ+ veterinary students have experienced difficulties related to sexual orientation or gender identity in professional settings or schools, respectively. More than 20% of LGBTQ+ veterinary students reported occasionally or frequently being exposed to homophobic remarks or negative remarks about gender expression at school, whereas the percentages were lower among LGBTQ+ professionals exposed to those remarks at work. 

Clearly there is work to be done when it comes to creating a safe and inclusive space for LGBTQIA+ care providers in the veterinary profession.

What can we do to support LGBTQIA+ veterinary professionals?

If you do not self-identify as LGBTQIA+, there is still much that you can do as an ally to help support your LGBTQIA+ colleagues and friends. Being an ally means fighting for the equality of marginalized groups that you are not a part of. It also means supporting your veterinary team by promoting a more tolerant, diverse, and inclusive workspace that allows everyone, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, to flourish.

How can I become a better ally for my LGBTQIA+ veterinary colleagues and friends?

1. Understand what it means to be an ally

It is more than posting a Pride sticker or waving a Pride flag. It means being a non-judgmental and compassionate listener; speaking up for those who are underrepresented or oppressed; using your privilege or platform to give voice to LGBTQIA+ professionals; and getting educated on topics that are outside of your wheelhouse or comfort zone. I suggest becoming a member of PrideVMC, an organization whose mission and purpose are to create a better world for the LGBTQ+ veterinary community. You might also take in AVMA resources related to diversity, inclusion, and unconscious bias including the My Veterinary Life podcast episode Diversity and Inclusion in Vet Med and the free webinar Unconscious Bias: How it affects us and our teams.

2. Familiarize yourself with LGBTQIA+ terminology

PrideVMC and other websites have resource pages to help increase awareness and understanding of the terms used to describe gender identity and sexual orientation. This topic is also covered in the AVMA Brave Spaces Certificate Program. And know that if you make a mistake and use a term incorrectly, the best thing you can do is apologize and move on. The more you make a big deal of it, the more the person impacted will feel the need to console you, when it should be the other way around.

3. Use pronouns proactively and appropriately

For someone who identifies as straight and cisgender, it might feel unnecessary to mention their pronouns. They have the privilege of society seeing them the way they see themselves. But for individuals whose pronouns don’t match society’s expectations, sharing pronouns can be a small but meaningful way to assert their true gender identity and find a sense of acceptance and comfort. For more information, please read my previous blog post How sharing personal pronouns supports LGBTQIA+ veterinary professionals.  

Let’s strive to make veterinary medicine a place where everyone is welcome – throughout the month of June and beyond.