For this pride month post we look at information published a little over a year ago at science.org. This article, and related research, indicates that undergraduate students who are LGBTQ have lower retention in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

However, for scientists who need references and citations in order to grow and advance their career, being out may be beneficial; being out may lead to higher citation rates. These findings suggest that being open about your identity is best for your career (at least in academia - if not in other fields too). Here's what you need to know.

A recent study found that LGBQ academic scientists who do not disclose their sexual orientation in the workplace publish fewer papers than other out or non-LGBQ peers. The study raises a lot of questions, chief among them: Is the act of disclosure itself what frees LGBQ scientists to publish more? Or is it a reflection of workplace culture; a safe, welcoming environment that encourages disclosure may also foster productivity?

There are a few possible explanations for these findings. It could be that the act of disclosure itself frees LGBQ scientists to publish more. Alternatively, the results could reflect workplace culture; a safe, welcoming environment that encourages disclosure may also foster productivity. It is also possible that this is simply a coincidence and the two factors are unrelated.

The next step, as it is with many research studies, is to figure out why this is the case. Understanding these results more fully may help create workplaces that are more inclusive of all employees, regardless of sexual orientation.

Conclusion

This study provides valuable insight into the experiences of LGBQ scientists in the workplace. The findings suggest that there is a correlation between disclosure and productivity in this group, though more research is needed to determine why this is the case. In the meantime, we can use this information to create workplaces that are more inclusive and supportive of all employees, regardless of sexual orientation.