Pride Month, Being True to You

As we close out Pride Month 2022, we wanted to share some highlighted points from the Instagram Live we did a few weeks ago with Sharon, Jose-Nicolas, and Graham, all LGBTQIA+ travelers, in this blogpost to celebrate, learn, and be active in continuing to create an inclusive traveler community.

Does Location Matter?
​Where a traveler takes an assignment is usually one of the biggest factors to consider besides pay, facility, and shift. As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, one may consider a bigger city over a more remote area in hopes of being accepted and comfortable being authentically oneself............

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Representation Matters, Especially in the Clinical Setting
Being aware and personally understanding a lived experience creates another level of relatability when it comes to caring for patients who identify in the LGBTQIA+ community. Going to the hospital and seeking out care can already be a daunting and scary experience. Having LGBTQIA+ healthcare professionals in the clinical setting adds a layer of comfort, empathy, compassion, and relatability. Understanding that everyone who seeks out care just wants to know that they won’t be judged and will receive the same level of care as anybody else is important to be mindful of.
Intersectionality with ethnic and racial backgrounds: this is another layer of lived experiences. LGBTQIA+ travelers of color may want to read the room before sharing personal parts of one’s life to make sure it is an accepting place to be authentically oneself.

Prioritizing Mental Health
Getting around people who are like-minded and are bonded by a similar experience is empowering and beneficial for mental health. Taking time to go on a date, go to an LGBTQIA+ club, and finding your people can be a huge sense of comfort.
A great way to find the LGBTQIA+ community in a new place is by joining social sport teams/leagues, examples are dodgeball or kickball. They are friendly, welcoming, and fun ways to get connected. Some organizations & places to find the community are: Meetup, Varsity Gay League, Stonewall Sports, Pride Sports.

Travel nursing can help you to discover and deepen parts of yourself
Everyone’s journey to self-discovery is unique. Sometimes it takes some traveling and living in a new place where no one knows you to help you grow into different parts of one’s identity, and maybe even reinvent oneself. A new environment can be inspiring and help one to transform.

How Can Allies Show Up?
It takes the effort of allies to help in creating inclusive spaces so everyone can live freely and authentically. One of the easiest actions is to ask for pronouns instead of assuming. Having self-awareness is important when it comes to being in places where the LGBTQIA+ community feels safe and accepted. Taking the initiative to including gay bars into a night out was an example that was shared to help travelers feel included.

Being True
We are always striving to create a society and environments where individuals and communities are open, free, and happy. Respecting and appreciating one another on a community and individual level where one can express oneself without fear. As a society, we have come a long way, but still have a ways to go. Some places our travelers mentioned that they would like to see more progress to be had are: LGBTQIA+ boards in hospitals, giving blood relating to HIV+, but undetectable.

Happy Pride, today and everyday. We honor and celebrate you here at MedVenture App!
Click here to watch the entire Instagram Live!

HUGE thank you to our Pride Month Instagram Live guests, Sharon, Jose-Nicolas, and Graham, for sharing their experiences, perspectives, and hearts with the MedVenture community.