Looking Through the Lens of LGBTQ Chemists :)

October is LGBT History Month, an annual observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history, and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements. It is intended to encourage honesty and openness about being LGBT. In recognition of the accomplishments of scientists who have fought and continue to confront challenges of discrimination, non-acceptance, and uncomfortable environments, we bring you the voices of three ACS members who shared with us their experiences and perspectives on being both chemistry professionals and members of the LGBT community.

Chris Bannochie

Can you talk about your involvement with LGBT rights at work?

In 2002, I founded my company’s GLOBE group for both federal and contractor employees at the SRS. The Department of Energy (DOE) headquarters in Washington DC was fine with it, but our local field office was not as receptive. For a number of years we had celebrated Gay Pride Month (which later became LGBT Pride Month) as part of DOE’s special emphasis program. But the feeling of inclusiveness in the organization kept changing, depending on whom was managing the various contractor and Federal Diversity Offices at the time. In fact, it took seven years of persistence before the company and field office officially recognized our group. Our request was rejected numerous times, but we kept asking — and also successfully petitioned the company to grant same sex spousal benefits.

I’ve also been active in diversity efforts, both within ACS and with the National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals (NOGLSTP), where I’m a board member. I played a role in getting ACS to host a reception for NOGLSTP’s LGBT Chemists and Allies Caucus at national meetings. Just as it happened at SRS, we were initially turned down, but eventually gained the backing of ACS’ then-President Eli Pearce. Over the last few years, the reception has become a regular part of the conference.

Have you noticed any change in attitudes toward LGBTQ employees since your group was recognized?

I can’t really say how much people or their attitudes have changed. But at least they now know that the company will not tolerate any type of harassment of LGBT employees, and it will be very aggressive in defending them.

It’s also encouraging that many LGBT students are out now, and many are active in student chapters of groups like Out in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (oSTEM), and NOGLSTP. I always advise students to look at a company’s diversity policies before taking a job. This used to be really important, when there was a major divide between companies that were supportive of LGBT rights and those that weren’t. Now most companies are on board, but it’s still a good idea to look at a company’s diversity policies before deciding to work there.

Do you have any lessons or advice you would share with young chemists?

You’ve got to live your truth and be persistent. If something is important to you at home, it has to be at work, too. It’s just too stressful to live a double life. A lot of people were standing in our way, and we just kept going around them. So don’t take ‘no’ for an answer. I’ve also found a lot of inspiration in the work and writings of Brian McNaught, a consultant on LGBTQ+ diversity.

Chris Bannochie has authored a chapter titled, “Alphabet Soup and the ACS: The History of LGBT Inclusion,” for a book ACS is producing on the topic of diversity.

Barbara Belmont

How does one do that — come out in small ways?

I use lots of approaches, like putting up “safe space” signs in my office, or even making make jokes about homogeneous, as opposed to heterogeneous, chemicals. Especially in the last few years, I’ve found that it’s much easier to be open about myself by casually mentioning my wife in conversation. It makes it a lot easier to come out without making a big deal of it.

What sort of supports have you found useful?

When I was in college, I actually worried that I might be the only person like me in the world! Believe me, there really weren’t a lot of resources that one could turn to back then. Luckily, I found a support group of like-minded women, which was a big help.

Years later I found ar support group when I joined the National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals (NOGLSTP), and these days, I am an activist within ACS on behalf of NOGLSTP.

Do you have any advice for LGBTQ students?

Even today, many young gay people are still understandably concerned about keeping their sexual orientation private, while others prefer to be totally upfront about it. Whichever approach you choose, my advice is, when you’re evaluating potential employers, check out their equal employment opportunity or LGBT policies, but also look beyond. I recommend checking out the Human Rights Campaign’s website to see the company’s Corporate Equality Index rating — and see if they not only ‘talk the talk,’ but also ‘walk the walk.’ My personal advice is that you probably don’t want to work for a company where who you are is going to be a problem.

Lee Penn

My workshops also address intersectionality, a concept explored by feminist and civil rights advocate Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw. Its central idea is that you can’t be defined by any single identity. Instead, all of your experiences and identities — including your gender identity, race, level of education, physical ability, native language, age, religion, and others — collectively inform how people perceive you, and how you perceive yourself and others. Some of these identities bring privilege, while others bring marginalization — and they all mix together to affect your experiences as you navigate life.

Do you have any advice for LGBTQ students?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, because everyone has their own situations and decisions to make. For example, I encounter international students who have very good reasons for not being out: if their family found out they were LGBTQ identified, they would lose all their support. So they can’t be visibly out to anyone, anywhere, who could possibly get word back to their family. In fact, some are from countries where it’s actually illegal to be queer.

Even in the U.S., people have different experiences — depending on where one grew up and other factors. But one thing that helps almost any student is to find a mentor they trust. They need to be able to talk openly about the issues facing them and their life in chemistry.

Can you talk about how you view ACS and its approach to members of the LGBTQ community?

It’s good that ACS is starting to address this issue. But I also feel that ACS needs to work at being more inclusive, such as choosing conference venues and hotels that have gender-neutral bathrooms where we won’t feel like we’re being policed — and that are also wheelchair accessible. In my view, ACS should be actively choosing infrastructure that doesn’t limit access.