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Recently, St George’s has risen in the Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index so as it is LGBT - lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender - History Month we decided to canvas opinion about the issues of equality.
The month-long event reminds people of the gay civil rights movement in the UK. Stonewall’s index measures the progress made by employers in tackling discrimination in the workplace. St George's is now ranked 213th in the table after significant rises during the past two years. SGUL hopes to continue climbing in the coming years to show the university’s commitment to being a diverse and welcoming place to work.
To mark LGBT month, George’s Weekly is interviewing staff to find out how they find working at SGUL. This week we spotlight Dr Annie Bartlett, reader in psychiatry, and Gavin Taylor, student centre manager.
Spotlight on Dr Annie Bartlett, reader in psychiatry:
What do you actually do at St George's on a day to day basis?
At the moment I do a mixture of teaching and research. So, I coordinate clinical teaching for undergraduate medics - that has been quite nice recently, as we have been filming professorial lectures. It is good to generate new materials and for the students to be taught by senior members of Faculty who have been keen to be filmed at their best!. Good to have fresh materials. I also supervise student projects for IBSc’s and the SSC’s.
Some of these projects are really good and with luck several of them will be published this year. I am particularly keen to give students opportunities to do offender care projects and to visit prisons; they get to know staff there and see people with serious and complicated health problems.
The other thing I do is research into socially excluded groups. Most recently, this has been into national service provision for women mentally disordered dis-ordered offenders. These women are often put into hospital a long way from their homes and it can make it hard for them to stay in contact with family and friends.
You are part of the LGB&T staff network group. Why did you get involved?
Someone asked me actually! I thought that might be helpful to be a visible role model, as part of the network. There do not seem to be so many here at SGUL. I recall from my days in GLADD that the number of women was rather small so for women doctors the issue of lesbian visibility seems especially important.
Is your LGB&T identity ever useful in your work?
Yes it has been, especially in relation to areas of research into the experience of LGBT folk; maybe it is easier to formulate sensible research questions if you have a personal familiarity with some of the issues. At the moment, I am supervising an undergraduate in relation to the student experience of LGBT issues at St Georges.
More broadly, I think it is helpful as a doctor dealing with marginalised groups to have part of one’s identity that resonates with social exclusion and possible discrimination.
Have you ever had to deal with homophobia or biphobia in a workplace?
Yes. I think a not uncommon experience as a junior doctor was the assumption in a work setting that no–one was gay. That might make it a bit awkward; talking about your social life became making a big statement, instead of just chatting. Clinically, this has sometimes been an issue. The world of psychotherapy is changing but in the past I have heard very offensive comments made, based on the pathologisation of gay and lesbian identity, by people who thought they were talking to like-minded heterosexuals, seemingly unaware of how they sounded. Hard to put up your hand in that context and say “Hi, I am one of the pathological entities!"
Why do you think it is important that LGB&T staff can be themselves in the workplace?
It makes it a much more relaxed working environment. Discernible diversity creates a more welcoming environment generally, there are positive spin offs for pretty much everyone. People prosper in inclusive social organisations; we don’t waste talent.
Have you any LGB&T role models? If so what do you admire about them?
No not really I’m too old for that! But a long, long time ago, a senior woman at my university college was ‘out’ at a time when it was extraordinarily unusual to be an out gay woman in the higher echelons of academia. This particular woman was splendid in lots of ways and very serious about education for women. She was particularly keen that people who might not of thought of going to the university were able to apply. She has since gone on to do extremely well.
What career advice would you give to other LGB&T staff?
Find some friends. Don’t work in an area where there aren’t any friends. Don’t be isolated. Move if necessary otherwise work will be miserable.
Name one thing St George's might do to increase support to its LGB&T staff and students.
There is a need for far more visibility in terms of materials – it is not good enough to have a couple of posters allowed on a noticeboard. In my NHS Trust the LBGT information is literally visible in all the staff spaces. We need everyone, staff and students to be culturally competent – including about LBGT issues. We live in a city of superdiversity; surely we must aim to make staff happy and confident to work in it and train students for the world they will encounter on qualification. Enormous progress has been made; improving the Stonewall’s Work Equality Index Ranking is a considerable achievement but there is still a long way to go. Everyone needs to support this, not just LGBT staff. People need to be able to say the word ‘gay’ without going pink!
Spotlight on Gavin Taylor, student centre manager:
What do you actually do at St Georges on a day to day basis?
My job title is student centre manager, which I think is probably intentionally vague! I help look after some of the advice services at George's, including finance advice, disability, accommodation as well as the Student Centre itself. On a day to day basis I help give general advice in the Student Centre, manage an amazing team of specialist advisors and get involved with projects relating to communicating with students. I also get involved in student welfare issues, especially problems arising in Halls. It's fair to say I never have the same day twice.
You are part of the LGB&T staff network group. Why did you get involved?
When the email came around, it frankly seemed like a bit of a no-brainer. I'd been involved in helping support the student LGBT Soc for some time in its various guises. Also, being bi, I think it's easy to be invisible, so it's even more important to stand up and be counted.
Is your LGB&T identity ever useful in your work?
While I'd hate to overstate, I hope that having a slightly broader perspective on life gives me a little more insight when I'm supporting others. From another standpoint, if my being out and visible helps one more student come in with an issue that they otherwise wouldn't, then it damn well has been.
Have you ever had to deal with homophobia or biphobia in a workplace?
I think I've been extraordinarily fortunate. The arts (broadly) deserve their reputation for being LGBT-friendly. For me, at least, George's has proven to be tremendously supportive as well. Occasional casual homophobia- what's with the recent resurrection of 'gay' as an adjective-- sets me off, though I'm in the position of being to call people on it when I hear it!
Why do you think it is important that LGB&T staff can be themselves in the workplace?
Can you imagine the energy expended trying to be something you're not? Never talking about your weekend or having family pictures on your desk? It strikes me as pretty miserable and I can't see people doing their best in a miserable environment. I also think, certainly for people working as advisors or giving pastoral support, that being honest and authentic really helps in difficult situations.
Have you any LGB&T role models? If so what do you admire about them?
There are a number to choose from, but I think I'd have to go with Mr Kurjack, my ninth grade English teacher. He was an incredibly straightforward, out gay man, probably one of the first I'd ever met. He was also the English teacher everyone was scared of! He had a small picture of his partner on his desk and would casually mention going to see most of the plays we'd discuss in class with him. He'd almost dare the adolescent tittering and that made a big impact on one questioning thirteen year old at the back of his class. I didn't realise until years later what a brave and massively political statement he was making in just being himself-- this was the mid eighties.
What career advice would you give to other LGB&T staff?
I'm not entirely sure I'm qualified to answer this one, especially since our careers advisor's office is immediately next door! If I were going to say anything it would be not to be afraid. Don't be afraid to use the staff networks that are in place for help and advice, whether formal or informal. And don't be afraid to pursue something you want because you're afraid you won't be accepted. I'm often surprised by how accepting the most unlikely people can be.
Name one thing St George's might do to increase support to its LGB&T staff and students.
I think visibility is incredibly important and as a staff network, we should be a bit louder. Not very George's, I know! We pride ourselves on our professionalism here-- and quite rightly. The downside of that, I think, is that we can be a bit limited in bringing much of our personal lives into the building. Not that folks are closeted, simply that as one person puts it 'it doesn't come up in conversation about enzyme receptors that often.' I think if more LGBT senior staff could find the time (and indeed be supported in finding the time) away from the day-to-day stuff, we could better demonstrate what a supportive place we really are.
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