On Being LGBTQIA+

The WashU community is, overall, an accepting place for people of all gender identities, gender expressions, and sexual orientations. There are people proudly representing all the letters of LGBTQ (and beyond) in the preclinical years alone. Organizations throughout the medical school, such as LGBTMed, STATS (for HIV education), and OUTMed, collaborate to offer a variety of organized events throughout the year related to LGBTQIA-relevant topics. Furthermore, students from big cities are sometimes surprised to hear that St. Louis has its own LGBT-friendly neighborhood called the Grove, a favorite spot for nightlife for students of all identities. That said, there are certainly still obstacles that come with being LGBTQIA+ in medicine, and such topics are not too frequently covered in the core curriculum. You will have the chance to learn more about these problems during orientation, through various student groups, in selective class courses, and in various lunch talks, so take advantage of these opportunities when possible. There’s plenty of work still to be done, but WUSM always seems willing to do it, and improvements are being made regularly. Feel free to reach out to individuals or student groups if you have questions or want to get involved!