There and back again: LGBTQIA+ scientists then and now

“If you want to make a human being into a monster, deny them, at the cultural level, any reflection of themselves.”                               --  Junot Díaz 

As we come to the end of Pride Month and the celebrations conclude, I am reminded, as an ally, that representation in all things still matters. It still matters, in particular, in positions that inspire others to follow their dreams as a wholly realized individual. 

Science and healthcare are drastically different today than in years past. Many breakthroughs in various scientific fields were accomplished in large part thanks to members of the LGBTQIA+ community who have always been a part of STEM, even if they were never able to be authentically themselves. Below is a brief compendium of historical scientists that have helped shape how we approach scientific investigation and how we care for humans in the process. 

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626), known as the father of empiricism, was pivotal in developing the scientific method. Despite his marriage to Alice Barnham, Bacon is thought to have been predominantly attracted to men based on his and other’s writings, but his sexual orientation is still debated amongst historians. 

Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) was a pioneer in the field of nursing as well as a gifted statistician. During her lifetime, she had two relationships with women, describing her love of one partner with a great passion reserved for her alone. 

George Washington Carver (1864-1943) was an agricultural scientist best known for his work with nitrogen fixing legumes to replenish over-cropped soil. He never married and had significant relationships with both men and women. 

Alan Hart (1890-1962) was a public health expert and researcher dedicated to the fight against tuberculosis which ravaged the U.S. and Europe during his lifetime. With the help of a former professor, Hart transitioned from female to male to live his life as a man; one of the first to do so in the U.S. 

Alan Turing (1912-1954), now one of the most well-known LGBTQIA+ scientists, played a pivotal role during World War II. He and his team broke the Nazi Enigma code using a machine of his own design. The Turing machine would become the foundational basis for all computers. Unfortunately, his story ended in tragedy in 1954 when he committed suicide following his arrest for “indecency” and subsequent chemical castration. 

Sally Ride (1951-2021) became the first American woman in space in 1983. Though she did not hide her romantic relationship with her business partner from her inner circle, it wasn’t until after her death that the relationship was made public. Today her legacy is honored through the work of her nonprofit organization, Sally Ride Science. 

"In the months that follow this Pride, allies must make space for their LGBTQIA+ colleagues to be seen and heard so that they can continue to change the world."

--Jordan Hopkins, M.S.

These scientists changed their field of study, and humanity, for the better. Today, despite the advances in LGBTQIA+ acceptance, true diversity is still lacking. But there are scientists whose names you have not heard of that hope to change that. They represent the many LGBTQIA+ community members that continue to work day in and day out, to change the face of STEM. Below is a short list of contemporary scientists that striving to make STEM more diverse and inclusive. 

Lynn Conway is an American computer scientist credited with several inventions that led to many tech startups. She transitioned in 1968 and was named one of the “Stonewall 40 trans heroes” on the 40^th anniversary of the Stonewall protests. 

Lauren Esposito is an arachnologist and is the only female expert on scorpions in the world. If you want to hear her talk about her work, I highly recommend checking out the Ologies podcast on scorpiology. 

Sean Vidal Edgerton is a virologist and scientific illustrator. He is also the co-founder, with Lauren Esposito, of 500 Queer Scientists, a visibility and networking campaign for LGBTQIA+ in STEM which highlights role models at all STEM career levels. 

Throughout history, LGBTQIA+ people have worked to shape the world in which they live, often against difficult barriers to their inclusion in society. In the months that follow this Pride, allies must make space for their LGBTQIA+ colleagues to be seen and heard so that they can continue to change the world.