Examples from local learning:

  • Taboo subjects: For some people, sexual orientation and gender identity are still taboo subjects, and they might not feel comfortable talking about them. For example, they might have strong views passed on through their religious or cultural background.
  • Indifference/thoughtlessness: For some people, it’s not that they have negative opinions, they just don’t think about LGBT+ people at all. They might say things like, “I would never discriminate”.
  • Lack of familiarity with terminology: If people don’t know what terms mean, or have a “woolly” understanding, it’s harder to engage in conversations. For example, delivery staff might worry that they’ll slip up and appear unconfident or incompetent and so avoid conversations.
  • Lack of identification with terminology: People who we might consider LGBT+ might not themselves identify with those terms. For example, a man might not identify with the word “gay” even if he has sex with men – “It’s only gay if we’re kissing”!
  • Fear of causing offense: Question-askers might worry that if they ask about someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity, they might trigger a negative response. For example, if they ask a feminine man if he’s gay, he might accuse them of applying stereotypes to him.
  • Fear of talking about private/personal matters: Asking about someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity can lead to very personal questions, such as their sexual partners or behaviour, or whether they’ve had gender reassignment surgery. Even if it’s part of their job, a healthcare worker might want to avoid these questions.
  • Fear of outing themselves: If an employee is LGBT+ but they’re not out to their colleagues, they might worry that talking about sexual orientation or gender identity – even if it’s about someone else – might lead to them being outed.
  • Inappropriate environment: If a survey or interview that includes EDI questions is conducted in a public space, such as a waiting room, the subject might be reluctant to answer honestly or at all.
  • Concerns around confidentiality: The patient or service user might have concerns about how the information will later be used. For example, could it end up on the internet, or could the completed survey get lost in the rest of the mess on someone’s desk?
  • Concerns around relevance: The patient or service user might not know why the questions are being asked, especially if there’s no obvious reason that relates to the service they’re using. For example, if someone goes to an advice service about the benefits they’re entitled to, it might not be obvious what bearing their sexual orientation or gender identity has.
  • Concern about service deliverer’s personal opinions: A patient or service user might make assumptions about the question-asker’s personal opinions. For example, “I’m not telling him – he looks like he’d probably beat me up!”