Am I missing something?

I think I am!

I am missing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender role models in modern science.

Of the 653 Nobel prize winners in the STEM categories awarded between 1901 and 2024, a grand total of 3 were / are open about their LGBTQIA+ identities representing a frequency of approximately 0.004%. With even the most conservative estimates of LGBTQIA+ individuals representing at least 10% of the general population, this is by any stretch of the imagination a vast discrepancy and likely driven by an inability of laureates to live openly LGBTQIA+ lives in homophobic times and places. Left-handedness, another biological trait which also occurs in about 10% of the general population is in contrast over-represented in the prestigious list of Nobel laureates with well over 10% of prize winners coming out (or being outed) as left-handed. Notwithstanding associations between left-handedness and increased academic achievement, I do not believe that even the most proud southpaw would consider this to be an accurate reflection of the reality of the history of human scientific achievement.

There has been a general and notable lack of attention paid to celebrating LGBTQIA+ scientists, their scientific contributions and their achievements. This major gap in highlighting the contributions of LGBTQIA+ individuals is an important issue in the fight for social justice, societal progress and ultimately the global fight for acceptance and equality for LGBTQIA+ individuals.

LGBTQIA+ scientists lack successful and positive role models who show them that they can and will be welcomed as members of the STEM community and treated with dignity and respect regardless of sexual orientation and/or gender identity. This often keeps both young and established LGBTQIA+ scientists in the closet for fear of it hurting their career progress. Indeed, multiple recent studies (see Further Reading) have identified that the STEM area is a hostile place for many LGBTQIA+ researchers.

In the global north there have been progressive steps in recognising LGBTQIA+ equality ranging from the decriminalisation of homosexuality to increasing acceptance of marriage equality which creates a sense that we are living in a “post equality” and “post homophobia” era and LGBTQIA+ individuals are increasingly welcome and celebrated in work environments. However, in many jurisdictions, simply being found out to be LGBTQIA+ can lead to imprisonment and in some cases death. Therefore, coming out is still a difficult path for many.

This serious impediment to mental health, career progression, social justice and scientific progress in the STEM subjects has brought me to my central question.

Why do we not celebrate our LGBTQIA+ scientists?

LGBTQIA+ scientists are rarely celebrated within the LGBTQIA+ community or in wider society. This is despite the fact that many LGBTQIA+ scientists have been and continue to be at the forefront of some of the greatest scientific frontiers. For example, Otto Warburg was a German cancer biologist who revolutionised our understanding of cancer cell metabolism. Warburg, remarkably and exceptionally lived as an open gay man in Berlin during the 1920s and 1930s while the Nazi’s came to power. Alan Turing, a computer scientist who in no small way saved hundreds of thousands of lives by decoding the German enigma machine and breaking its ciphers contributing to the ending of World War II. Upon the discovery of his homosexuality, Turing was rewarded by being forced to choose between prison and chemical castration, which ultimately led to his death at the young age of 41. Sally Ride, the world’s first female astronaut was professor of physics at the University of California, San Diego. Her being a lesbian was only announced in her obituary, reflecting the difficulties she faced in coming out during her lifetime. There is no question that many of our great scientists, past and present have lived and continue to live closeted lives and rarely have or had the support to be out and proud.

As well as promoting a global society based on equality, dignity and respect, increasing the representation and visibility of LGBTQIA+ scientists in our academic and research communities will elevate our chances of retaining young LGBTQIA+ researchers who feel safe and valued in their working lives in STEM. Recently the 500 Queer Scientist initiative has been an effective visibility campaign for LGBTQIA+ scientists. Allies, particularly those in senior academic roles also have a key role to play in creating the safe, respectful and inclusive environment for all researchers. From personal experience as a supervisor of well over 20 PhD students and a similar number of postdoctoral fellows, I can confirm that diversity in a lab setting is one of the key ways to drive a successful research program.

In summary, I believe it is high time that we celebrated our great LGBTQIA+ scientists, past and present with pride and provide more positive and successful role models for our younger LGBTQIA+ researchers in STEM.

Unfortunately, many of our great LGBTQIA+ scientists lived in times and places where coming out was not an option.

However, I would like in my own way to be a role model for other LGBTQIA+ scientists…. So here goes… Consider me out!

Professor Cormac T. Taylor
Professor of Cellular Physiology,
University College Dublin.
[email protected]

Further Reading:

• Barres, Ben et al. “Coming out: the experience of LGBT+ people in STEM.” Genome biology vol. 18,1 62. 4 Apr. 2017, doi:10.1186/s13059-017-1198-y
• Cech, E A, and T J Waidzunas. “Systemic inequalities for LGBTQ professionals in STEM.” Science advances vol. 7,3 eabe0933. 15 Jan. 2021, doi:10.1126/sciadv.abe0933
• Hughes, Bryce E. “Coming out in STEM: Factors affecting retention of sexual minority STEM students.” Science advances vol. 4,3 eaao6373. 14 Mar. 2018, doi:10.1126/sciadv.aao6373
• Langin, Katie (14 March 2018). "STEM is losing male LGBQ undergrads". Science.
• Ruiz, Rebecca (14 March 2018). "The culture of STEM may sideline aspiring queer scientists". Mashable.

Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash.