LGBTQ people in science are students, professionals, hobbyists, and anyone else who is LGBTQ+ and interested in science. The sexuality of many people in science is debated by historians, largely due to the unaccepting cultures in which many of these people lived. For the most part, it is not possible to know for certain how people in the past would have labelled their sexuality or gender because many individuals lived radically different private lives outside of the accepted gender and sexual norms of their time. One such example of a historical person in science that was arguably part of the LGBTQ+ community is Leonardo da Vinci, whose sexuality was later the subject of Sigmund Freud's study.
In modern times, LGBTQ+ individuals in science still navigate a landscape shaped by discrimination, social exclusion, and professional devaluation, but increased visibility and advocacy have led to growing efforts for inclusion and equity. Numerous organizations now work to support LGBTQ+ scientists, while companies and institutions are implementing policies aimed at fostering diversity and reducing barriers for underrepresented groups in STEM. Issues such as the "glass closet," where individuals feel pressure to conceal their identities for career advancement, continue to highlight the ongoing need for systemic change in the scientific community.
History of LGBTQ+ people in science Magnus Hirschfeld, a German physician and sexologist, was one of the first advocates for homosexual and transgender rights. Hirschfeld was most well known for his sexual theories and for activism. In 1897 Hirschfeld created the first sexual rights organization, the Scientific Humanitarian Community, which aimed to explore and defend the rights of homosexuals. As one of the first advocates for homosexual rights, Hirschfeld faced a great amount of backlash from newspapers claiming, for example, that "abnormal propensities" should be distanced from "mainstream medicine". Hirschfeld was attacked by Nazis for being gay and Jewish, and he was beaten, sacked, and had his books burned. He was eventually forced into exile in France.
John Maynard Keynes, an English economist, changed the ideology and practice of macroeconomics, and his ideas formed the school of thought known as Keynesian economics. Keynes's romantic relationships early in his life were only with other men. He had many sexual encounters with other men and he was open about these affairs. Several communities, in which Keynes was involved with, such as the Bloomsbury Group, and the Cambridge Apostles were accepting towards Keynes's homosexuality. People who opposed Keynes's ideas used his sexuality to attack his work. In Keynes's later years he began to pursue affairs with women. In 1925, Keynes married well-known Russian ballerina, Lydia Lopokova.
Writer, physician, tubercular radiologist, and transsexual Alan L. Hart made great strides in tuberculosis detection after earning his master's degree in radiology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1928. Hart sought psychiatric help from his professor, J. Allen Gilbert, for his "abnormal" attraction to women previous to his transition. The treatment of Hart was documented in the case study "Homosexuality and Its Treatment" in 1920. Hart requested a full hysterectomy, claiming he felt that he deserved to be sterilized for his "abnormal inversions".
Alan Turing was a mathematician, computer scientist, logician, cryptanalyst, philosopher, and theoretical biologist. A key figure in twentieth-century science, Turing led a group of cryptanalysts during World War II that successfully cracked the German Enigma machine, an achievement that significantly contributed to the Allied victory. His work not only helped shorten the war but also laid the foundation for modern computing and artificial intelligence.
Despite his monumental contributions, Turing faced persecution due to his sexuality. In 1952, Turing was charged with "gross indecency" when his homosexuality was revealed—an offense under British law at the time. Rather than face imprisonment, Turing accepted hormone therapy, a form of chemical castration, which severely impacted his health and well-being. Two years later, in 1954, Turing died from cyanide poisoning, widely believed to be suicide. Much of his wartime work remained classified under the Official Secrets Act, and his scientific achievements were largely overshadowed by his prosecution during his lifetime.
At the height of the Lavender Scare, astronomer Frank Kameny was fired by the US Army Map Service in 1957, shortly after his PhD from Harvard University. In 1958, he was barred from future employment in the federal government. Subsequently, radicalized, he became "one of the most significant figures" in the American gay rights movement. According to chemist Abhik Ghosh, the legendary porphyrin chemist Martin Gouterman, only a few years Kameny's junior, managed to escape similar persecution and was able to pursue a successful scientific career at the University of Washington.
Computer scientist Lynn Conway worked at IBM and invented a method for issuing multiple out-of-order instructions per machine cycle. She was also a pioneer of microchip design with many high-tech companies today using her work as the foundations for their technology. Conway suffered from gender dysphoria and underwent a gender transition in 1968. After Conway revealed her intent to transition to IBM, she was fired. After her transition, Conway kept her transition a secret with only a few close friends who knew. In 2000 when her story went public, she began to work in transgender activism to advocate for more transgender rights and transgender equality.
George Washington Carver was an agricultural scientist who developed several plant-based products and promoted the start of peanut farming. Although Carver did not make any comments on his sexuality a previous partner suggested that he was bisexual, and it is known that he lived the remainder of his life with Curtis Austin Jr.
Sara Josephine Baker was a physician known by the name Doctor Jo who developed many programs for disease prevention. She created the Federal Children's Bureau which significantly contributed to the improvement of hygiene. As a leader in public health Baker is known for tracking down and quarantining Mary Mallon aka "Typhoid Mary", helping prevent the further spread of the typhoid fever.
Baker was also an early advocate for women's leadership in medicine and was one of the first women to make significant strides in the field. She focused on the link between poverty and poor health, working to provide universal access to medical care. An openly gay woman, Baker lived with author Ida Alexa Ross Wiley for the later part of their lives. Despite the challenges she faced, her hard work saved countless lives and left a lasting legacy in public health.
Sally Ride was an astrophysicist known for being the first American woman in space. She developed a foundation in her name dedicated to improving science education, particularly for young girls. After she died, it was announced that she and Tam O'Shaughnessy, who she had lived with for 27 years, were partners. This made Ride the first LGBTQ+ astronaut as well.
Ben Barres, a neurobiologist, was one of the first openly transgender scientists and the first to be inducted into the prestigious US National Academy of Sciences. He was a passionate advocate for trans and women's rights, challenging the systemic injustices within both science and academia. Barres made significant contributions to our understanding of the brain, particularly through his research on glial cells. His life and experiences are further explored in his autobiography, The Autobiography of a Transgender Scientist.
Lauren Esposito is a prominent figure in the LGBTQ+ community and a champion for diversity in STEM. As the only woman scorpion expert in the world, Esposito has made numerous contributions to the field of arachnology while advocating for queer visibility in science. Coming from a family deeply rooted in STEM, she followed her passion for biology but faced significant challenges as an openly queer individual navigating academia. Esposito's experience with gendered harassment and microaggressions fueled her commitment to creating a more inclusive space for LGBTQ+ scientists. In 2018, she founded the initiative 500 Queer Scientists, a global visibility campaign to highlight the stories of LGBTQ+ professionals in STEM. With over 1,500 stories shared, Esposito continues to inspire others by fostering a supportive, connected community for queer scientists worldwide.
Ruth Gates was a marine biologist and a passionate advocate for coral reef conservation. As the Director of the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology, she dedicated her career to studying coral-algal symbiosis and developing strategies to help corals adapt to climate change. A proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, Gates married her wife Robin in 2018, just months before her death. Known for her groundbreaking research on heat-resistant corals, Gates aimed to safeguard coral reefs from the devastating effects of ocean warming and acidification.
Beyond her scientific achievements, Gates was deeply committed to public outreach, using documentaries like Chasing Coral to raise awareness about the urgent need for climate action. Her legacy continues through her lab, the Coral Resilience Lab, and through initiatives like the Ruth Gates Coral Restoration Innovation Grant, ensuring her mission to protect coral ecosystems lives on. Dr. Gates' work not only transformed reef studies but also inspired others to believe in the possibility of changing the narrative around climate change, making her an influential figure for both the scientific and LGBTQ+ communities.
Richard Summerbell is a leading figure in mycology, most notably for his research on fungi and their impact on human and environmental health. Summerbell was a prominent advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, actively participating in the liberation movement in the 70s and 80s. He co-hosted the Canadian show Coming Out, which talked about topics such as AIDS, sexuality, and religion.
Challenges for LGBTQ+ people in science There are traditions and expectations that LGBTQ+ people should not study or have careers in science, according to Manil Suri. In 2016 the American Physical Society published a list of ways in which LGBTQ+ physicists have a more difficult career experience than their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts. Additionally, the Institute of Physics, the Royal Astronomical Society and the Royal Society of Chemistry published a report called "Exploring the Workplace for LGBT+ Physical scientists" in 2019. This report highlights the current situation, relevant issues for academics in physical sciences as well as areas for increased action.
Studies have shown that many LGBTQ+ faculty and researchers are not out in their departments, and coming out may negatively affect retention. Additionally, the percentage of individuals being out at their workplace varies across different members of the LGBTQ+ community. For example, only 14% of bi- and pansexual individuals reported to be out, while 44% of gay individuals reported to be out according to the British study from 2019. This is of particular issue in the STEM field as the work cultures and professional environments within this field of work can often exclude or alienate the existence of the LGBTQ+ community and the individuals within it.Cech, Erin. "LGBT Professionals' Workplace Experiences in STEM-Related Federal Agencies." Association for Engineering Education - Engineering Library Division Papers. Atlanta: American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), 2015. 26.1094.1–26.1094.10.Broadfoot, Marla. "Most Gay Scientists Are Out in the Lab: Female-Dominated Fields Found to Be More welcoming.(Society)." Nature 524.7565 (2015): 275. Print.