The study was conducted under the project PULSAR – The role of LGBTQ+ professionals for inclusive health, developed at the Center for Social Studies (CES) of the University of Coimbra.
Under the coordination of researcher Mara Pieri and funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), the study involved 178 health professionals, including nurses (27%), specialist doctors (23%), intern doctors (21%), and technicians from various areas (17%).
According to CES, “the results show that discrimination remains present in the daily lives of many LGBTQ+ health professionals, with a direct impact on their well-being and the quality of their work environment.”
A primary finding of the survey was that 47% of participants “claimed to have experienced discrimination at least once in a professional context,” with reports involving threats, insults, and homo- or transphobic comments, as well as being prevented from performing certain tasks. For instance, a gay nurse “was prohibited from caring for young male patients.”
Even among those who had not personally experienced it, 49% reported having “witnessed discriminatory situations performed by other colleagues,” and 83% heard “homophobic or offensive jokes in the workplace.”
CES further noted that “even when there is no disclosure of sexual orientation or gender identity, prejudice manifests in comments directed to third parties.”
The study found that 53% of professionals “believe being LGBTQ+ is a source of stress at work” and point to “prejudice, ignorance, and lack of training on these topics as factors that exacerbate emotional strain.”
In this context, “73% advocate that it is urgent to invest in specific training on LGBTQ+ issues for all health professionals,” noting that, according to more than half of them, “their workplace is not prepared to address LGBTQ+ patients’ needs.”
“There are many obstacles for LGBTQ+ people to feel comfortable at work. In the case of health professionals, stress from discrimination significantly impacts mental health,” emphasized Mara Pieri.
According to the researcher, “the majority of participants have never disclosed their identity to patients.”
“This invisibility leads to the belief that there are no LGBTQ+ professionals in the health sector and, consequently, that no action is needed to promote inclusion—which affects both professionals and LGBTQ+ patients,” she added.
