Is there/should there be a gay/lesbian nurses association?

Trauma Columnist · Jul 18, 2004

I read and then re-read this thread before deciding to answer. My opinion is that I don't feel we need to divide nurse any further. What would the purpose be? If we want to divide us all up then we would each have our own little corner of the world and we would miss the chance to meet those that are different from us - which would place us at such a disadvantage...

inquiringnurse · Jul 18, 2004

Well, I am sorry if I left the impression that I was trying to stir a pot.. I was really just curious if there was an association and what people think about that.

I am a nursing graduate student and had told the rest of my class I would see what I could find out by posting here.

Also I have been a nurse for 30 years and value other nurses thoughts/opinions. In retrospect I should have said more about why I was asking.

I have seen a lot of discrimination in my career among coworkers and patients/families.

Thank you for sharing your info and opinions, I probably won't post here again after being called a troll, though.

Trauma Columnist · Jul 18, 2004

InquiringNurse - please don't be upset. Perhaps explaining more would have helped us to answer your question better. I'm sure you can understand the divisiveness of nursing today and you weren't trying to further this.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jul 18, 2004

It's a legitimate question, so i completely and strongly disagree with it being a "pot-stirrer" and the OP being called a "troll". :rolleyes:

But no, i do not think there should be a gay/lesbian nurses association, it would only cause a bigger distance in the divide that already exists.

My namebadge doesn't say "Straight LPN" and a co-workers does not say "Gay RN". Personal lives (preferences) are just that, personal, and an association will only succeed in bringing profession and personal life together, when in fact, they should be separate.

SharonH, RN · Jul 18, 2004

I read and then re-read this thread before deciding to answer. My opinion is that I don't feel we need to divide nurse any further. What would the purpose be? If we want to divide us all up then we would each have our own little corner of the world and we would miss the chance to meet those that are different from us - which would place us at such a disadvantage...

Trauma, I don't think that it is being divisive if a group of people who share a common bond or life experience wish to join together and form a professional organization in which they can network and enhance professional knowledge or provide to a group of people who may be underserved without prejudice or animosity.

RNBSN1 · Jul 18, 2004

I don't have a problem with it, and its their own business. If we don't like the idea, we don't have to join.

mwtello · Jul 18, 2004

I really don't see how this will devide people. Sure it is just another catagory among all of the nurses out there but it may get some people who have not felt comfortable to challenge or make changes in our profession. It should not matter if you are gay or not but the fact of the matter is that it just gives another avenue for people to make change. And change is a good thing . . . right? And who says that these organizations can't work in conjunction other nursing organizations like say latino nurses organizations, public health organizatoins or hospice nursing.

Another point that these groups may or possibly do is promote good health practices among a group of our society that needs a little guideance. It is a sad fact but the percentage of HIV infectged younger gay men is on the rise. Shocking but true. And no they don't deserve it.

Just because a new group may be starting or may already exist doesn't mean that it will devide people who knows it may bring all of us closer together. Gay people have had lots to deal with in their lives already and why not provide an organization that makes them feel a part of something.

RN92 · Jul 18, 2004

inquiring rn- use a search engine and look up g/l nursing. Im suspicious, too about your motive. While we're talking about it, why would your sexual preference matter in our profession-it should not effect your pt care. Why stop there - lets have a nurses association for nemphomaniacs, or people with multiple wives, etc......Sorry, but lets keep politics out of this.

susanna · Jul 18, 2004

Oh, I have a strong opinion about this so I'm happy to post in response to the question: I think it is an EXCELLENT idea that there be an association for gay/lesbian/bisexual nurses. If I were bisexual, with all the discrimination and fear out there today, I would be so happy and relieved to join an organisation like that after I went into nursing to support me and to help me make friends who are in the similiar situation.

Todd SPN · Jul 18, 2004

Thank you for sharing your info and opinions, I probably won't post here again after being called a troll, though.

Oh, my, offended by someone questioning your motive, that you may be stirring the pot as has happened in the past? Of course, since you are a new poster you would not know that. Legitament statement I feel. But to the point of your question. In general, I dislike divisions. We have female nurses and male nurses When at work I view everyone as nurses. Gender or sexual orientation means nothing to me. If a nurse expects me to approach them in a certain way because of what they are...well, it just isn't going to happen. Do we still have a male nurse club here and is it active? I don't know as it is unimportant too me. I am interested in *nursing issues* as a whole. We have organizations, magazines, unions for LPNs and RNs. While I can appreciate the differences and the need for some of them, I find some of the views to be radical and pot stirring harming not only to the team approach to healthcare, but pitting different licensing against the other in the work place. Sometimes it is individual and often it is administration using one against the other to keep wages lower for the license with more education. But it is business. Seems like now the debate is starting up over ADN and BSN for RNs. Will those with ADN become known as glorified LPNs by those with a BSN? However, if they feel a need for such an organization, so be it. Not being gay, maybe my opinion doesn't count as I don't know what they are going through that would require such an organization.

Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP · Jul 18, 2004

It's so easy for heterosexual nurses to say "what's the point" but if you are a gay nurse then there are certain issues that effect you differently to everyone else. Also, being the only gay nurse in a unit can be quite lonely. Think of the last time you talked about your husbands, wives or children to your coworkers, or how many times you've heard them talk about theirs. Gay nurses can't always do that for fear of discrimination so it's nice to relax with other people who are like you. Nursing issues may be the same for all of us, but our perspective and experiences are varied. It's not an uprising, and it's not divisive. Everyone needs to feel part of something and supported by others like them. I'm lucky because in my job I work with 3 other gay people, but I've worked in other jobs where I was the only one and I would have loved to have had contact with other gay people.

It's so easy to say sexual orientation isn't an issue in the workplace, as long as you are part of the majority and can take so much for granted. You can be as open and relaxed as you want. When you are gay you can take nothing for granted and you have to always be guarded about who you are, and despite people saying we should just keep our private life to ourself, that's just unrealistic. People always like to talk about themselves at work. That's how you make friends and form relationships with people. I am very lucky that my coworkers have been open, honest and welcoming to me. Maybe if they hadn't I would have had a greater need for a group or organisation that I could turn to.

Trauma Columnist · Jul 18, 2004

Maybe divisive wasn't the best word to use in my response. I guess what I think at work is that I just don't care whether the nurse or tech or any other employee is gay, lesbian, bisexual, heterosexual or anything else. All I want is an intelligent, well-organized, compassionate nurse to work with. The rest just doesn't matter.