Nondisclosure of queer identities is associated with reduced scholarly publication rates

PLoS One. 2022 Mar 2;17(3):e0263728. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263728. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Nondisclosure of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, asexual, or otherwise queer (LGBTQA) identities in the workplace is both common and stressful to those who do not disclose. However, we lack direct evidence that nondisclosure of LGBTQA identity affects worker productivity. In two surveys of LGBTQA-identified scientists, we found that those who did not disclose LGBTQA identities in professional settings authored fewer peer-reviewed publications-a concrete productivity cost. In the second survey, which included straight and cisgender participants as a comparison group, we found that LGBTQA participants who disclosed their sexual orientation had publication counts more like non-LGBTQA participants than those who did not disclose, and that all three groups had similar time since first publication given their academic career stage. These results are most consistent with a productivity cost to nondisclosure of LGBTQA identity in professional settings, and suggest a concrete need to improve scientific workplace climates for sexual and gender minorities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Gender Identity*

Grants and funding

JBY was supported by startup funding from California State University Northridge and a grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (DEB, 2001108). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.