... in 1990 the World Health Organisation passed a resolution to remove Homosexuality from it's list of mental illnesses.
The World Health Organization's ICD-9 (1977) listed homosexuality as a mental illness, and in 1990, a resolution was adopted to remove it in the ICD-10 (1993).
Sexual orientation by itself is not to be regarded as a disorder.
Currently I'm all red, literally. I'm sunburnt. Yes, in Scotland. Yes, in April. Sometimes it does happen! I think I have 1st degree burns on both my arms. If it blisters tomorrow I'll have a real problem. I burn so easily I usually wear factor 50 but it is Scotland in April, I wasn't expecting burns.
I've also re-dyed my hair mostly so that I don't have to mess with the blog header. I was brunette for a month back there but it just wasn't me. I'm back to being a red head. My mother doesn't understand. She didn't get my need to dye my hair purple and have a crew cut years ago. And to think that NO-ONE thought I was gay! Mind you even I didn't know back then.
So I'm red from head to foot! Well not exactly my feet.... they didn't burn today.
So how many open LGBT staff do you know? How many patients are open about themselves? How many have introduced their partner?
A new report released by the University of Leeds about LGBT issues and support. A quick breakdown of the students and staff they asked showed that universities are not as open as they seem. Especially for staff. Actually, today on a similar thread CB was talking about lecturers not being open and accepting of students with mental health issues.
So why are universities, where you would think that you could be any person you wanted to be, are so closed off to the most vulnerable of students?
My last uni had a large supportive network for their LGBT students. The current one has nothing on this campus. Well nothing visible. The flip side of this is that old uni had no obvious provision for students requiring special help. Most of the learning disabled students seemed to get their provision direct from the school they studied within. Current uni has on-site counsellor and dedicated department for special needs students.
There is no standard. Aside from discrimination policies. And we've all seen how well that worked for me.
But back to relating this to health care.... How many Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual staff do you work with? How many are out?
The NHS is still institutionally homophobic. Only 2 NHS trusts made it onto the Stonewall top 100 this year. That's pretty poor considering the numbers of police squads and councils. The BBC reported that there is an extremely low level of screenings done on Lesbians for cervical cancer. Once upon a time I was told that I didn't need one... cos you're gay, you don't sleep with men (That by the way is total BS). Time to change that! It shouldn't be this way but perhaps it's not at the top where the problems lie.
While you are thinking about the staff, how many have made openly homophobic comments? How many have referred to something as 'gay'?
Is this were our problems lie? I think so. Let's take my last placement as an example. At the top the Sister and one of the Deputies knew and were supportive. 2 nurses and a CSW knew and didn't bat an eyelid. But there were at least 4 homophobic comments in my presence (none directed at me but I try to keep a low profile). How can LGBT staff feel comfortable about themselves when they know they can't really talk about it?
Don't give me that "you don't have to talk about yourself like that" nonsense. I sat through a break where 3 people talked constantly about their up coming weddings. How would they have taken it if I had talked about a civil partnership? (Not that I have anything to talk about in that respect though.)
There 15 mins of thinking and I found the root of the problem. People.
Bugger can't fix that by myself.
Today was hell.... An interesting hell but hell none the less.
So many discharges = lots of admits to fill the empty beds.
Patient going 'off' in medical, who needed surgery, and no they don't talk to each other.
Cannula going weird at the sight of a bag of FFP.
So yea..... Having a busy day.
Still got the headache that started the minute I walked through the door. Apparently I'm not the only one having an off day, Chinese Girl Gets Kiss of Deaf. Wow kissing causing deafness.... bring on the hearing aid.
On an up side tomorrow is Day Without a Gay. I would call in to placement gay but I think Sister would have a small problem with that. Not the gay bit just the calling in for a day off bit. My windows vista sidebar magic 8 ball says 'go for it' but I think I'll be getting up in 4 hours anyway.
The ward sister knows I'm gay.
Now that is a sentence I never thought I would write. Not because I was scared but because it's not all together important. I've had that moan before, that it isn't anything to do with caring for my patients. It's not worth the effort telling placements, you are only there for a few weeks after all, and dealing with staff that hate you / dealing with staff that question everything. (*So how do you know you are gay?* No, answering with *How do you know you're straight?* doesn't help.)
She's brilliantly supportive (then again she really didn't know what she was getting when I turned up at the door!).
Being out really doesn't bother me. I really don't hide anything. If asked I will tell you a direct answer but it doesn't come up in general conversation. For some reason people don't ask me if I have a partner. Maybe I just give off those 'I'm single' vibes so no-one dares ask me. Besides I think I've heard almost everything by now. Ah just wait someone tomorrow will say something stupid.....because it's a new day after all.
O.K. I promised pictures but my camera really sucks so I searched flickr for better photographers than me.
I found the most amazing pictures from S2 B and I've borrowed a couple to post here. You should go look at the rest of them!
The pride flag flies over the city chambers for the first time. By S2 B.
The parade going down Union Street. By S2 B.
That's entertainment! Photo from alephnaught...
The day was an utter riot. We had the time of our lives. It makes you wish every day was like that!
Fortunately we've been given an extra week to finish the special project. It took me the best part of last night to finish the front page and I was too tired to get anything done this evening.
In other news it's gay pride in Glasgow tomorrow! I'll take some pictures and post them when and if I manage to come home.
I have come up with the best idea ever for one of the projects we are doing. Of course there are a few drawbacks to this plan.
Task - Educate your peers on a subject you've studied in depth. You can use Powerpoint, tutorials, written hand-outs, etc.
Method Chosen - (here's the brilliant part!) Comic. I'm thinking maybe about 2 pages, A4 portrait size on A3 pages, double-sided, folded in half... which means I would have 8 pages to play with. The back page would be the references of course.
Subject - Well this is where it goes a bit off... what I could write about - The Long Term Complications of Quadriplegia. Nice, probably what they are looking for but doesn't lend itself to comic. This is something I have studied in depth and I could write about... in fact I have written 3 pages on it so I wouldn't have to do it.
So where does this leave me on a subject? Well I've had another thought...
Pros - No-one else will have thought of this
It will educate people on an area that is rarely covered
It will look brilliant when I'm finished
Cons - Only I could do something like this so people will know it's me
It might not be what they are looking for (I do have the fall back idea at least) (they have given us free reign though)
So what is it? The Needs of LGBT Patients
Cool? Pure Utter Genius! It's unique (not a single lecturer has mentioned it) and I'm not doing it as a piggin' Powerpoint presentation!
We got out the final assignments today! Which would have been good... I put in for orthopedic trauma for my final placement. I love broken bones and the like. Stupidly thinking I'd get it.
Most people didn't get what they really wanted. This is a cracking indicator of how the day was going down the pan already. The person who got my ward rubbed salt in my wounds before I got mine. Then I got my placement...
Gynecology - I don't have a problem with gyne, it's an interesting field. If it hadn't been for the 'isn't that a lesbian's dream' - type comment I would have kept it. OK I find that offensive. Why would I think that about my patients? Would a straight female nurse (or a gay male nurse) go on to a urology ward and think something like that? No and no one would suggest it, well they might as a joke. It didn't come across to me as a joke.
I spent all afternoon shaking literally. I went to the head of the year after class and told her what was said. Can't suffer the snickering for the next 6 months. The risk of coming out while I'm working would be exceptionally harmful too, especially if someone on the ward thinks along the same line. I never actually asked to move placement but that's what happened. Stroke rehabilitation - I can do that and it isn't too far away from spinal injury rehab... well closer than gyne anyway.
Did I blow it out of proportion? I'm still hurt by that remark and still shaking inside.
Turns out we're off for another 2 weeks. Of course we didn't know this till after we all turned up at 9am. The degree students have 2 units in 2 weeks while we swan about like the lord of the manor.
We're senior students now. We have to act like it. I almost wish there was a way to reach the other gay and lesbian students on the course since we have no LGBT group here. Life would have been easier for me if there had been something like that. On a side note I was tempted to write into the Nursing Standard this week. If I do I'll let you in on it.
I don't get this.... we have a new system and we have to re register again (actually it's a bit of a regular occurrence). But because I didn't get a piece on paper in on time I can't actually do it yet. Ah beggery I'm gonna just put my feet up for a bit.
I'm waiting on blood test results from my GP. She took FBC, U+Es, LFT, ESR, Glucose, Nuclear and Rheumatoid Factors. It's actually a good thing I went on holiday when I did the wait is sending me nuts. She said 2 weeks and I'll get them on Thursday. Take 3 guesses as to what she's looking for.
"I need to get away I little early today."
"Why?"
"I... uh... have to pick up some medicine."
"For yourself?"
"No,... er.... my fish."
Thank goodness my clinic wrapped up early and then I got the one I took over cleaned up fast!
Yea, one of the fish has a fungus. Black moors are notorious for being susceptible to illness. Oddly enough I get laughed at for my 'children' as they have been referred too. A sickly Black Moor (Keppamaki), a Goldfish with half a tail lost in an accident (Nemo), a 'white' Goldfish that has lost it's colour (Truffle) and a one-eyed Comet who was born (er hatched would be more exact) that way (Blinky). I have a sick sense of humour with the names; sushi, a Disney character with a damaged fin, Truffle was brown when I got him and fish don't have eyelids.
Meanwhile in the 'real' world....
This was found to be offensive. What's the worst bit? That some parents (if they caught it when it was on, like only once and no where near kids tv because of the very high fat content) might have to explain to a child why one man may kiss another man? Have we not already realised that children get advertising far more than an adult does. That's why such products cannot be shown during children's programming any more. Stonewall is asking for an ethical campaign. For a boycott of Heinz products... So anyone need a kilo of ketchup? I bought it a week ago.
After a nice restful weekend, I'm returning to my ranting. There was a study done of lesbian and bisexual women and their perception of healthcare. (oh and yea it's gonna be one of those posts)
Thing is we've already discovered that the NHS is sometimes homophobic. Towards staff and patients.
Come on, you might not notice it but when you assume that someone is being stupid when they answer that they have sex but don't use contraception, it could be discrimination. I answer questions that way and so do most of the LGBT community.
People, that sucks! Why do we not consider the alternatives? I remember multiple lectures on respecting other cultures and religions. The importance of spirituality.
What about the importance of your partner being ignored when you are ill? Them being locked out of knowing how you are doing? Of being too scared to tell your doctor in case you end up getting second rate treatment?
Remember how I call this one of 'those posts'? Heck that was me making assumptions about what people want to read about. Giving them a chance to tune out before they read anything that would offend them.
What I did like was the recommendations...
1. Understand lesbian health needs:
Yea, I think we could do with some training on that. Even I can't tell you some of the answers, aside from that ALL women need smears.
2. Train staff:
To stop saying things that would offend...
3. Don't make assumptions:
I revert to the point I made earlier.
4. Explicit policies:
So we don't discriminate but they are useless if NO one acts on them.
5. Tell lesbians what they need to know:
Some proper health promotion in this area would be a good start.
6. Improve monitoring:
One in ten lesbian and bisexual women stated that when they did come out to a healthcare worker they were either ignored, or the healthcare worker continued to assume they were heterosexual.Continued to assume? Now that scares me. By all means be offended, I'm used to it, but please I've told you already, I ain't for turning.
I smell.
Well yes a day working will do that to you, but I smell of hospital. You know? Those big buildings full of sick people? Well they are rather successful at creating a stink and mine doesn't even have an incinerator.
I remember turning up for night shift and nearly throwing up at the stench dinner was giving off. Must have been cabbage or sprouts. Anyway it was rank.
My hands smell of the soap and alcohol gels. My uniform of coffee and old paper from the loads of medical records I've been carting about for the consultants, oh and hospec and sheets too.
Worse yet I've been given my own clinic to organise and run tomorrow. God love the patients.
News stories today....
An example of why I want to go into spinal injuries.
and
A comment from the Guardian by the editor of DIVA magazine. About how sexuality is anything but simple.
These exams have me off my game at the moment. For a start I read this yesterday.
The Pink News reported on a study apparently showing that the brains of homosexuals are different to heterosexuals. Excuse me? What? Is this another part of the search for the elusive gay gene? Anyone else think that someone will use this to create a useless test for babies? Find out if your child will be gay? How many would buy into that... Say it with me now, EUGENICS!
Still now the BBC is on to it.
"As far as I'm concerned there is no argument any more - if you are gay, you are born gay,"2 more words - nae shit. I could I have saved them the radiation.
"You know we have catheters so you don't have the carry that around with you."I think I need a humour injection.
There was a comment in this week's Nursing Standard about the study into new social evils. Back in 1904 Joseph Rowntree (yep the sweet maker) found poverty, war, slavery, intemperance, the opium trade, impurity and gambling to be the social evils.
Hate to say it but they all still exist... Except the opium trade now fuels war, girls and young women are being smuggled into this country and others for sex, binge drinking is the major feature in young people's lives (and at a younger age too) and as for impurity and gambling I would love to see what he would say about most of the internet.
Today's social evils aren't all that different;
A decline of community, Individualism, Consumerism and greed, A decline of values, The decline of the family, Young people as victims or perpetrators, Drugs and alcohol, Poverty and inequality, Immigration and responses to immigration, Crime and violence. (All found here.)
Anyway apparently the state of the country hinges on the break down of 'normal' families and religion. What isn't clear about religion is whether lack of religion is the cause or the strength of some people. Clearly many wars have a base in religion. However those who believe think that atheists and agnostics are the root cause because they have no moral compass provided by religions.
Ask some and you will find that anyone that isn't white, Christian and takes no money from the state to feed them should be locked up.
I guess that makes me a social evil! Cool.... Homosexuality has already been put on a par with terrorism.
So I can cause earthquakes and now I'm a terrorist causing the break down of the country's morals too. No wonder people are scared to come out and I hide behind a screen name. Still sometimes it's funny offending people.
I made a reference over @ traumaqueen.net about a ward sister I had my eye on at one time.
"Walking down the corridor talking about a certain ward sister, when she just happened to walk by. Hey least I don’t have to go back there….. but I so want to!"
So yea. Anyway if I needed a plan of action I found one. Via astrology, based on my star sign and it's compatibility with her.
"She needs lots of affection, attention, praise, adoration. At first, you won’t mind giving this: it’s a good way to impress her. Eventually, however, you might feel as if you have to constantly tell her how much you appreciate what she does for you. But does she realise how much you do for her? You’re both ambitious, loyal and hard working. She could actually introduce you to many useful people. There is much you have in common but for this relationship to prosper you must make allowances for her strong need to be sociable, she must make allowances for your deep need to be private." Taken from here.
More from the WardBunny news network.
There was a comment on Pink News from last February about how we should take pride in our history. And why shouldn't we? Every other culture and group does. So I'm taking the time to enjoy LGBT history month! (LGBT - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual - just in case you didn't know) So as part of my fact finding here's the meaning of Black Triangles.
The lesbian equivalent of the pink triangle used by the Nazis to identify the 'asocial' inmates, which may or may not have been used in the concentration camps. What I have noticed is that over time lesbians often were missed when men were being persecuted for sodomy and overt homosexual behaviour. Maybe the close female relationships were easy to overlook because they were more likely hug or touch in public. I'm still working on that one.
Recently there was the breaking news that Gays cause earthquakes. Wow I always thought it was down to plate tectonics. My high school geography teacher lied to me! No folks, I didn't cause the earthquake in England this week, even if Suggs does believe that I did it testing out my super powers. Trust me if I had to have a super power it wouldn't be earthquakes. Invisibility. Now we might be on to something. Mind you it's usually hormonal teenage boys that want that one for sneaking into women's changing rooms. I won't make the comment that is on the tip of my tongue. Still sometimes I'd like to be invisible.
http://www.lesbiangeek.com/ and http://www.lesbiangamers.com/
Sister sites that are just the best damn things since sliced white bread with butter and Diva magazine.
I should have added to the last post but I felt this deserved a space of it's own. To put my result of 4.57 or predominantly homosexual in to perspective. Suggs scored a grand total of 0 and Dee Dee had a score of between 0 and 1. The Klein grid is an expansion on the Kinsey scale but hey as the summary said sexuality (especially in women) is fluid.
Sleep Deprivation makes you do some funny things...
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Heterosexual | Bisexual | Homosexual |
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