Queered Science: LGBTQ Scientists And The Legend Of The Unicorn

Quick, tell me the name of a scientist! Probably a man, huh? Maybe you picked Einstein, or maybe Newton – but odds are, you picked a man. Ok, now give me a female scientist. A little harder, right? Marie Curie, or Jane Goodall if you're really creative. But now tell me the name of a queer scientist. Nothing? Yeah, I thought so. But it's not your fault - I couldn't think of any either. And this got me to thinking: where are all the queer scientists?

I'm a scientist, and I am always on the lookout for other lesbians in my profession, just for a sense of community and company. But I never find any. Actually, I found one once, I think, but that was when I was closeted and awkward and I was always too scared to talk to her, so I just stalked her in the hallways instead. (I would not suggest you try this, by the way). It's sad, but it's true; there are hardly any out lesbians (or queer people of any shades, for that matter) in the sciences. We are nowhere to be found.

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