Are there any gay nurses here?

Published

After this weekend's terrible act of violence against our community in Orlando Fl, it would be nice to open a dialogue for support and discussion. Feeling a little fragile today for the loss of our brothers and sisters and surprised to see no reference to it on this board today.

I am a gay nurse who attends gay bars every weekend I am off work I am a little bit scared now. Because there are a lot of people out there who might want to copy the Orlando attacker. I know that this is what terrorists probably want to make us feel scared, and I don't want to let them win but still a little scared. It is very sad really. We LGBT community need to stick together and watch each others back!

Yes, definitely watch each others backs! But please, please, please know that the rest of us have your backs as well!!!!

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Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
For me, it's simply because I am afraid by posting something, it might be seen as misappropriating emotions that, as a privileged white heterosexual, I don't want to do.

I am grieving for the LGBTQ and Orlando communities.

Ok, so this really bugs me that you feel like you would be dismissed as misappropriating if you posted something about it. I am a queer, freshly-minted new grad (as of 6/18!) and I want you to know that any mention of support, any acknowledgement of the grief you feel about this is entirely warranted and appreciated. ::hugs::

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Panromantic here. I used to go to the local scene back home when I was younger because it was the one place I felt safe from attacks on my sexuality. It gave me a place to stand while I was growing up.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Capacity/Bed Management.

As a member of the gay community, it has been difficult to deal with the shooting that occurred in Orlando, especially since it is Pride month. My mother, boyfriend and sister sat together and talked about the events and it ended with my mom asking us not to attend the NY Pride events that have been a staple of my social life since I was 17. It is disheartening that we should feel scared, that successes in civil rights are met with acts of violence and praise for the lives lost.

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As a member of the gay community, it has been difficult to deal with the shooting that occurred in Orlando, especially since it is Pride month. My mother, boyfriend and sister sat together and talked about the events and it ended with my mom asking us not to attend the NY Pride events that have been a staple of my social life since I was 17. It is disheartening that we should feel scared, that successes in civil rights are met with acts of violence and praise for the lives lost.

I'm so sorry you have to deal with so much hatred and ignorance! Only you can decide whether or not to go to NY, but if you DO go, remember.....evil loses!! Evil only wins when it can cause you terror and make you change your lifestyle. That said, do whatever you need to do to stay safe!!! Whatever you decide to do, please know there are a lot of people sending love and hugs to you!!! God bless!!

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I am still a student, so I apologize if my post seems out of place amongst the rest; I just had to interject. I am gay, and everything regarding the Orlando shooting has hit me in ways I never thought possible. No amount of schooling or life experience can truly prepare one for something like this. June 11th went from sheer happiness felt at Boston Pride, to anguish learning a few hours later that this senseless act took place. I am grieving at my core for the victims and their loved ones, as well as anyone (LGBTQIA or not) who has been or will be affected by this tragedy. In the face of fear and heartbreak, It was amazing to read so much support on this post from wonderful nurses. Love to all of you.

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I am still a student, so I apologize if my post seems out of place amongst the rest; I just had to interject.

Not at all. You are welcome.

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Queer woman here. Very heartbroken about what happened in Orlando. I've been in a constant state of mourning.

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Specializes in Med Surg/ Pedi, OR.

I'm not Gay but I know a few....

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Gay guy checking in. I didn't realize I would be as bothered by the shooting as I am. It scares the hell out of me. This guy murdered innocent people, people just like me, my fiancé and my friends, because of his hatred towards their sexual orientation and possibly his own. What's even worse to me is that no one around where I live seems to care. No one even really discusses it.

It hurts that so many people hate us just because we are different. Trust me, if I could have chosen my sexuality I would have gone the straight route, but that hand wasn't dealt to me. Instead I'm living in a world where people are actively fighting against my right to love someone in marriage, they're trying to strip away my freedoms by allowing people to openly discriminate against me, in some parts of the world they're killing people like me only because we can't control who we love or are attracted to. In the end we are all humans sharing the same world and our differences won't matter when we leave.

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Man, that other thread really went to hell, didn't it?

Instead I'm living in a world where people are actively fighting against my right to love someone in marriage, they're trying to strip away my freedoms by allowing people to openly discriminate against me

And then those same people are just horrified by the shooting. God forbid you marry, and you're going to hell if you don't change your ways, but actual murder is maybe taking it a little too far.

On another subject... do any of you all wear anything Pride-y at work? I've seen a few healthcare professionals who wore fairly subtle pride jewelry, and I've been considering that. I want to be visibly a safe person for LGBT patients, staff, whoever, because I know how much it means to me. On the other hand, I worry about bad reactions from more conservative patients as well as general professional appearance.

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I live in a city where the pride parade is the third gayest parade in the city. So no one seems more than a little surprised if I wear pride jewelry to work. Occasionally run into some conservatives. I have a boss who has repeatedly tried to tell me that I've fixed myself since she's only seen me dating men. One of my coworkers told me my new haircut made me look like a lesbian. At this point, their opinion no longer matters.

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