FOLLOW-UP SURVEY OF SUPPORT SERVICES FOR LESBIAN, GAY, AND BISEXUAL MEDICAL-STUDENTS

Purpose. To replicate and extend a pilot study conducted in 1990 regar ding support services for lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) medical stu dents. Method. In 1994 the authors surveyed all 320 members of Lesbian , Gay, and Bisexual People in Medicine, a standing committee of the Am erican Medical Student Association, Chi-square analyses were used to c ompare responses by subgroups. Results. Responses were received from 1 85 students (58%) at 92 medical schools. Students who had access to sc hool or community support groups were significantly more likely to dis close their sexual orientation and to know faculty with whom to discus s LGB issues. Non-white students were significantly less likely to kno w faculty with whom to discuss gay-related concerns, to disclose their orientation, and to know of support services. No difference between t he academic experiences of lesbians and gay men was reported. Addition ally, 115 (62%) of the students reported exposure to anti-gay comments , and 28 (15%) indicated they would not choose to enter the medical fi eld if they were in college today. Conclusion. Although the needs of L GB medical students appear to be receiving increased attention (albeit with great variability from school to school), the survey results sug gest that more student-faculty liaisons and more support groups are ne eded, that LGB patient care should be taught more widely, and that all medical students have too little exposure to non-pejorative descripti ons of LGB patients.