Lets talk about sex.... - Auckland District Health Board

3 of these 8 participants who self identified at the beginning of contact with services said they
received a negative response after disclosing their identity. Participants commented:
“This was not the prime importance to the Doctor, or psychologist [being gay]... none of the staff would
go near the issue” (gay male)
“Not when accessing XXX service. When I first went there I came out straight away, but they were not
interested in that sort of thing. It was a total shut down” (gay male)
A few of these 8 participants commented on helpful or positive situations or responses by the
clinician/health professional when talking about S.O. or G.I. These were:
• Knowing the health professional was gay themselves
• Being asked about sexual orientation or gender identity directly as part of the assessment
process
• Other residents being ‘out’ or visible within services (made it easier to talk about S.O. or G.I.)
Most participants (16/19) indicated that they would like to, or thought it was important for them
to see a Rainbow clinician. Of these 16 people 9 said they definitely would like to see one, 7 said
that being a Rainbow clinician and being skilled was equally important, 5 said they would like the
choice to see a Rainbow clinician and 2 thought it would be a “bonus”.
Many participants commented that they felt a clinician from the Rainbow community themselves,
was more likely to have an understanding of LGBT specific issues and be accepting. The service
users also reported that they would feel much more comfortable and at ease.
“I would love that you know! Seeing an LGBT person would feel more comfortable, and would have
a better understanding of the issues [being gay] and have a better awareness. Also, it would feel like an
acknowledgement” (gay male)
“Yes, I would want to know that they have some personal connection to what I am talking about. For
example, knowing that they have experience working on the issues of gender and sexual diversity” (trans
male)
“The last place I’d like to be is with someone who is homophobic, though if it wasn’t an issue that I was
gay, then I wouldn’t need to see a Rainbow person” (lesbian female)
“Yes, but it depends on their approach. I would like it if they were skilled on those issues [sexuality]”
(bisexual female)
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