LGBTQ+ History Month takes place every February to recognise lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning and ace (LGBTQ+) people, their history, and promote equality and diversity.

Last year, we shared five ways to support LGBTQ+ people in science. These included diversifying your social feed, listening to LGBTQ+ perspectives, sharing pronouns, finding role models, and taking part in LGBTQ+ community events. 

People from our LGBTQ+ science community still remain at a disadvantage. In early 2021, researchers found that science professionals who are lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, queer are more likely to experience career limitations, harassment, and professional devaluation than their peers. And, estimates suggest that LGBTQ+ people are around 20% less represented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics than expected.

Studies have also shown that Covid-19 has had a disproportionate effect on LGBTQ+ people, where the restrictions placed on our normal day to day lives are likely to have a different and disproportionate impact on members of our LGBTQ+ community.

It’s important we are all aware of ways to make a more inclusive research environment, and continue to support each other. 

If you would like to be a LGBTQ+ role model or ally for staff and students across the National for Centre for Atmospheric Science, please let us know by contacting edi@ncas.ac.uk. We would welcome any other ideas about supporting our LGBTQ+ community via email too.