People in the LGBTQ+ community are disrespected daily for who they love. Professionals in the medical community are no different. Those who treat us medically are supposed to help those needing medical assistance. A lot of the members of the LGBTQ+ community have gone through this, and that is because it is brought up in the conversation because it does pertain to health. Sometimes people don't know if how they love until they are older and that is normal. Discrimination can be shown in a multitude of ways and its in no way better or worse as one ages.

Statistics show that medical professionals have sexually assaulted those in the LGBTQ community and even in the “straight” community. It happens more toward those who are considered gay. The older generation of doctors sometimes unprofessional questions about why sometimes we “switch teams.” No matter what, it’s not okay to disrespect anyone in the medical practice, patients and medical professionals alike. When we have conversations that are touchy subjects, both subjects need to be calm with the aim to educate or to learn.

When I was younger, no one asked me who I loved because I didn’t know who I loved minus my family and friends. As I got older, they asked me if I had any boyfriends. I wasn’t ready to come out that I like both but I tended to like girls more. It wasn’t thought of back then and that’s okay. As we get this conversation going, there are some things no one should ask in a professional setting. I moved to Orlando and went to the doctor for the first time by myself (yay Adulting!) and the doctor who saw me asked me about why I “switched” teams when I told her when I told her I had a boyfriend, then a girlfriend. The tone of her voice had judging tone that made me uncomfortable. I was almost in tears when I left that doctors office.

The doctor may have disagreed with my lifestyle, but she made an attempt to learn about my “lifestyle.” Sometimes people don’t control their emotions when confronted with something they don’t like. We can’t control other people’s reactions, but we can control our own. There are stories of people being taken advantage of at a medical professional’s office.People dislike what they don't understand, and the reaction I got is the one of the less violent ones. There have been other stories of those who have been touched inappropriately and escalating further.

There are people in the LGBTQ+ community that don’t go to the doctor for the fear of being discriminated according to American Progress Organization. The percentage may be small, but those people can be those who you love and cherish. To not get the proper medical treatment needed for those with a history of medical problems, shows that we need to change as humans. Imagine losing someone to something that is curable, but that person wasn’t able to get the help they needed.