Prof. speaks on LGBT discrimination
She said that her sexuality did not impact her job placement opportunities, but it did impact her day-to-day mental well-being and her sense of self.
Hayashi spend significant time in the speech discussing the studies on sexual awareness in the medical field which have been undertaken in the last two decades. Many studies confirm the fact that medical students are afraid to tell others that they are gay, in part because of perceived risks of negative effects on their grades or their residencies. In the most "touchy" specialty, family medicine, 25 percent of directors said they would be hesitant to accept openly gay students into their programs.
She mentioned a study of internal medicine residents reported half of them had heard or witnessed homophobic events or remarks in the workplace.
According to Hayashi, support groups are not necessarily a good place for LGBT individuals to come out due to the focus of coping with the arduous training of such groups. Because of this, LGBT physicians run an increased risk of losing referrals and employment.
For patients, the wear and tear of coming out to new people is an often overlooked aspect of the LGBT doctor-patient relationship. Homophobia and heterosexism harm both patients and caregivers. For patients, it is hard to make a difference. In such cases, Hayashi encouraged active intervention when even minimal discrimination is present. To illustrate this concept, she suggested that a form asking for marital status simply include the options single, married or divorced.
"You can say it doesn't have to be like that. It can be more inclusive. This does not make me feel welcome. This does not make me want to come to [this hospital]. When people fill in that blank with something that is not an M or an F it gives the doctor an opportunity to talk to that person," Professor Hayashi said.
The reception of students in attendance, the majority of whom were LGBT individuals interested in the issues that they will have to deal with in their future careers, was unabashedly positive.
"I viewed it as an accurate portrayal of LGBT patients and physicians. It highlights the discrimination the community does have to face out there in the world. We're still waiting for that one day when you can just be respected for being human regardless of your sex orientation," said Keshav Khanijow, president of the JHU Diverse Sexuality and Gender Alliance.
Hayashi's speech instilled in students a sense of the importance of LGBT issues in health care.
"I felt that a lot needs to be done and that it's an issue that people don't know about and don't necessarily think is an important issue. I thought the presentation was really cool because a lot of people showed up and they got to hear about this issue that matters to a lot of people," said sophomore Karen Chen, who attended the speech.
Hayashi spend significant time in the speech discussing the studies on sexual awareness in the medical field which have been undertaken in the last two decades. Many studies confirm the fact that medical students are afraid to tell others that they are gay, in part because of perceived risks of negative effects on their grades or their residencies. In the most "touchy" specialty, family medicine, 25 percent of directors said they would be hesitant to accept openly gay students into their programs.
She mentioned a study of internal medicine residents reported half of them had heard or witnessed homophobic events or remarks in the workplace.
According to Hayashi, support groups are not necessarily a good place for LGBT individuals to come out due to the focus of coping with the arduous training of such groups. Because of this, LGBT physicians run an increased risk of losing referrals and employment.
For patients, the wear and tear of coming out to new people is an often overlooked aspect of the LGBT doctor-patient relationship. Homophobia and heterosexism harm both patients and caregivers. For patients, it is hard to make a difference. In such cases, Hayashi encouraged active intervention when even minimal discrimination is present. To illustrate this concept, she suggested that a form asking for marital status simply include the options single, married or divorced.
"You can say it doesn't have to be like that. It can be more inclusive. This does not make me feel welcome. This does not make me want to come to [this hospital]. When people fill in that blank with something that is not an M or an F it gives the doctor an opportunity to talk to that person," Professor Hayashi said.
The reception of students in attendance, the majority of whom were LGBT individuals interested in the issues that they will have to deal with in their future careers, was unabashedly positive.
"I viewed it as an accurate portrayal of LGBT patients and physicians. It highlights the discrimination the community does have to face out there in the world. We're still waiting for that one day when you can just be respected for being human regardless of your sex orientation," said Keshav Khanijow, president of the JHU Diverse Sexuality and Gender Alliance.
Hayashi's speech instilled in students a sense of the importance of LGBT issues in health care.
"I felt that a lot needs to be done and that it's an issue that people don't know about and don't necessarily think is an important issue. I thought the presentation was really cool because a lot of people showed up and they got to hear about this issue that matters to a lot of people," said sophomore Karen Chen, who attended the speech.
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Karen Chen
posted 4/30/08 @ 4:42 AM EST
Dr. Hayashi actually said this was harmful: "To illustrate this concept, she suggested that a form asking for marital status simply include the options single, married or divorced," because not all people in committed relationships are necessarily married. (Continued…)
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