LGBTIQ+ Resources

A message from Bill

2022/23 LBGTIQ+ Representative

To know of is different to feel and to empathise.

As the WUMSS LBGTIQ+ Representative I’ve been thinking about how we as medical students can bridge the gap between knowing about LBGTIQ+ health inequities and empathising with the lived experiences of LBGTIQ+ communities.

To expand, despite many LBGTIQ+ individuals living healthy lives, in Australia we experience far poorer health outcomes than the general population. For example, rates of mental illness are far higher when compared to the general population, as are rates of suicide attempts with LGBTIQ+ Australians aged 16-17 three times more likely to have attempted suicide in the last 12 months[1].    

That said, a deficit discourse, focusing on what’s ‘unhealthy’ or ‘wrong’ isn’t the best way to address health inequities within marginalised communities. Instead, strengths-based approaches can emphasise what’s unique about communities, and result in better outcomes. Healthcare professionals have a big role to play in addressing the ways in which health inequities are spoken about and approached at a policy and clinical level. There’s lots written in the literature about cultural competency capacity building, lack of exposure to a (relatively small) population group, and confidence in knowing what to say / do in practice.   

But that’s all a bit academic really. How can medical students get to knowing and feeling in a meaningful way? Beyond lived experience and sharing friendships with people from backgrounds different to your own, one route towards is through arts and culture. Have you ever seen something as emotionally resonant as Moonlight in capturing the pain and hope of queer and Black masculinities? Surely it’s impossible to make a TV show more pure than Heartstopper?To answer my own question – no I haven’t and yes, it’s impossible. 

With all this in mind myself and others have collated a list of films, TV shows, podcasts, influencers, art & music, novels, and non-fiction articles/books as your guide for queer cultural immersion. This is supplemented with the more practical how-tos. Definitely check out Wavelength Med’s online course on LGBTIQ+ health and Minus18’s terminology guide while you’re there as well as contact info for some local/national support services. 

See the list below - Happy reading, listening, viewing, contemplating, and welcome (or welcome back 😉) to the rich, complex, and wonderful world of queer arts and culture. 

PS. If you have any additions for the guides or you’d just like to talk about health inequalities / queer experiences please come and find me for a chat.  

[1]https://assets.nationbuilder.com/lgbtihealth/pages/549/attachments/original/1648014801/24.10.21_Snapshot_of_MHSP_Statistics_for_LGBTIQ__People_-_Revised.pdf?1648014801

Queer Cultural Guide

To know of is different to feel and to empathise. Empathy is a cornerstone of medicine so in this spirit we’ve put together a collection of media embodying a breadth of queer experiences. Some are fun and lighthearted, some are deadly serious, some queerness is the focus, while others it’s part of the milieu. 
This guide is a community project: thank you to all the contributors and please send through any recommendations you may have (wjp718@uowmail.edu.au).

Please enjoy!

TV 

  • Heartstopper (Netflix)

  • RuPaul’s Drag Race (Stan)

  • Please Like Me (Netflix)

  • Tales of the City (Netflix and Youtube)

  • It’s a Sin (Stan)

  • Queer Eye (Netflix)

  • Special (Netflix)

  • The Wire (Binge) 

  • Love, Victor (Disney+)

  • Pose (Binge)

  • Little Fires Everywhere (Amazon Prime)

  • Heartbreak High (Netflix)

  • The L Word (Stan)

  • Looking (HBO)

  • Queer as Folk UK (Stan)

  • The Last of Us (HBO)

  • I May Destroy You (Binge)

  • Butterfly (ABC)

  • Bojack Horseman (Netflix) 

  • Koisenu Futari (Japanese Drama)

  • Why Queer Art Can Learn Something From Anime 

Film

Podcasts

  • Savage Lovecast 

  • Chosen family by Ashley Gavin, Alayna Joy and Mak Ingemi

  • We’re Having Gay Sex by Ashley Gavin

  • Coming Out Pod by Nicole Pacent & Lauren Flans 

  • Busy Being Black by Josh Rivers 

Novels

  • Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi 

  • Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters

  • Holding the Man by Timothy Conigrave

  • Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin

  • Another Country by James Baldwin

  • Lost by Andrew Sean Greer

  • Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman

  • Dracula by Bram Stoker

  • A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara 

  • Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli 

  • Young Mungo by Douglas Stewart

  • Satyricon

  • The works of Patrick White

  • Honeybee by Craig Silvey 

  • Loveless by Alice Oseman 

  • The Subtweet by Vivek Shraya 

  • Polar Vortex by Shani Mootoo 

  • Crosshairs by Catherine Hernandez 

  • Zami: A New Spelling of My Name by Audre Lorde

  • The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller 

  • https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/mar/05/australias-literary-canon-doesnt-have-much-for-queer-women-but-these-are-some-of-my-favourites 

Plays

  • The High Table by Temi Wilkey 

  • Daddy by Jeremy O. Harris 

  • Slave Play by Jeremy O. Harris

  • Angels in America by Tony Kushner 

Art and Music

Non-fiction and feature articles 

Public Figures

Icons

There is a long history of (mostly straight cis women) cultivating queer (although mostly cis gay men) audiences which has been transformative and pushed boundaries in terms of public acceptance however like many cultural artefacts they can be situated in their times (or reflect changing times - we see you Madonna). There’s also a messy history of cultural appropriation - have a read of the articles to get a better sense of this if it’s not something you’re aware of already.  

Queer Support and Medical Education Resources

On a practical note, here are some local/state/national organisations and resources useful for queer health and wellbeing.

How can I upskill myself as a med student on LGBTIQ+ healthcare?

I am a queer med student at UOW, what support groups and services exist (locally)? 

Are there queer specific organisations who work in suicide prevention and health promotion?

I’m interested in queer health policy, what’s out there?

Where can I find an LGBTQIA+ allies or identifying Doctors for either student patients or community contacts?

Please get in touch if there’s anything you’d like to add to the list, or there’s a specific type of resource you’re looking to get hold of!  (wjp718@uowmail.edu.au)