I will however agree with the initial author’s sentiment that there is a certain degree of invisibility for lgbt people. I don’t necessarily think this is a bad thing. I have wondered about the propriety of mentioned my sexual orientation with regard to grant and fellowship applications (@Excimer). I don’t think as a white male that a minority status would be taken seriously (except of course by a lgbt advocacy group like the Point Foundation). Those fellowships/scholarships that are available seemed geared towards people involved more with activism and political movements than the natural sciences. As such, I wonder I am part of their intended demographic when I have considered applying.

In any case, I think the natural sciences are for the most part lgbt friendly based on my personal experience. Sexual orientation should in theory be a non-issue, right?

Did you honestly think anyone in your lab (or your fellow peers) would care enough to out you to a fellowship committee? In fact, do you think the committee would even care if you were gay, especially if they already awarded you based on your scientific and academic merits?

Your attempt to “re-closet” yourself after arriving at graduate school was a life poor decision, and the dishonesty eventually cost you not only your position here, but it tainted your reputation amongst your former peers.

I earnestly hope you make better decisions in the future, especially when being honest with your friends, coworkers, and yourself.

I’ve known several successful gay scientists, but in all cases, they never made a big deal of their orientation, neither denying it or rubbing it in others’ faces. Come to think of it, none were in academia. All were in business or in government.

Good luck with your future endeavors away from Chemistry. I’m considering a similar path but for different reasons…

Mitch

Lighten. the fuck. up.

First, if you’re not out already, the science community is a horrible place to do it. The supposed conservativism, or “heterohegemony” as you so disingenuously call it, of chemistry faculty is not the reason why. Science is Asperger’s central, full of people who are indifferent to emotion and unable to deal with irrational changes. Science draws these people. Coming out is a rather emotionally taxing process, and the people who make up the scientific establishment generally lack the empathy needed to help you through the process. It is much easier to be a GLBT chemist if they already are able to deal with one’s own sexuality before starting their post-bac career. Go find a support group- most Unis have the necessary resources. You don’t do that shit at work. It doesn’t matter if you’re a scientist or not. In my experience, it’s better to talk to people who aren’t scientists about these things anyway.

Second, you’re projecting. You do not speak for me. Now I’m sorry if you had a shitty experience with a conservative advisor and “drama,” but given the egregious lack of detail in your story, I can only imagine what happened. Now, I’ve had to deal with gay-related bullshit every so often. This happens when you’ve spent your entire collegiate life in conservative public institutions. My approach to it is simply “fuck you.” It’s amazing what happens when you simply confront people about their raging intolerance. It’s pretty clear you’re too passive for this approach. Too bad. It would have helped. Chemists need things spelled out for them.

Third, I DID mention my gay-ness in my NSF-GFRP application, how it allowed me to understand what it was like to be a minority in science, and how I wanted to act as a mentor for other GLBT students in science so they knew how best to approach this in the scientific community, as I believe I have with success. The responses I got for the section made it clear that the NSF had no interest in promoting GLBT scientists.

Honestly, this is the first time I have ever heard of someone GLBT being discriminated against in a chemistry lab by their advisor. Do not think you are in the majority, though… nor the minority. There are people out there who want to know, who give a shit about things like this. That it forced you out of science is very unfortunate. If you want to talk, you have my email. Don’t hesitate. Ψ*Ψ is writing a post about this now. There will be dialogue. Your voice will be heard, but it will also be challenged.

But leave my commenters alone. Their intentions are good. And everyone should get a good laugh out of a backside attack joke now and then.

Either way, I feel for you Steve. If you have any questions, feel free to email me and I will try to answer them as best as I can. G’luck and keepon truckin!