NHS/GP That Doesn’t Promote Stonewall or Similar

[NorthernLights2023]

I’m a lesbian in NW England.

Does anyone know of any suggestions about where to find a GP that doesn’t promote Stonewall UK or similar organisations that make derogatory statements about lesbians? I am concerned about the attitude of staff when treating me as the CEO of Stonewall has repeatedly made inflammatory comments towards lesbians and if the organisation has been trained by Stonewall or an allied organisation, I don’t feel like I would receive impartial treatment. Not used a GP for several years as I can’t find one to use.

I work in a GP surgery and I'm not aware of surgeries having had any input from Stonewall or anyone similar.
I hope the attitude of most GPs would just be to approach you as a person, there are a lot of health issues totally unrelated to sexuality. We have some patients who have told us of their sexuality over the years but, for most, we would not know for definite and that doesn't matter
What are you afraid of?

None of the GPs in my area have anything at all about stonewall on their websites. I’m assuming they’d have to be open about it.

I’m gay and never had any kind of treatment other than the one I’ve received at my gp. And have never needed to disclose my sexuality except when talking about contraception. My views of tw have never come into it. Obviously you may have had different experiences but not sure why it would affect your care in anyway?

Well it’s the bit where I have to discuss contraception or similar that worries me. Like if I say ‘I am not pregnant as I am a lesbian’, I don’t want the staff to start chastising me about how I am a ‘sexual racist’ or something because I won’t have sex with an autogynephilic male. Or even refusing to treat me because I am a lesbian who isn’t going to be bullied about not sleeping with males. I have seen some of the materials sent out to schools and elsewhere demonising lesbians for refusing to accept males as sexual partners and so I assume that GPs and the NHS receive the same

I cannot imagine anyone in a GP surgery doing or saying any of this.

I honestly think you're overthinking this.

All the GPs I've ever seen have never asked me my sexuality, they haven't got time in the appointment to chat usually.

I wish I was. Going to a hospital with an ex-girlfriend, I was questioned over and over as to what her relationship to me was. They're not particularly understanding if you are a lesbian. Obviously I didn't want to shout 'I'M A LESBIAN' in front of some potentially hostile doctor. I've had a lot of negative experiences with the NHS. A lot of their older clinicians were still active when homosexuality was still classed as a 'mental health condition' in 1992. Old attitudes die hard.

I think most GPs would be sensitive and caring, and not be thinking that stuff. Try not to worry, healthcare is important.

I think you’re overthinking it. I’m bi but married to another woman. When I’m asked about pregnancy/contraception I just say “no thank you, I’m in a same-sex relationship” and I have never had any further questioning or derogatory comments. I also don’t feel like I get asked about it all that often, unless it’s particularly relevant.

To add, I’ve also not had any issues with recognition of my relationship when I have said “this is my partner” or “this is my wife”.

I don't routinely ask about contraception out of the blue and if you said you were a lesbian so didn't need it I would just acknowledge it and move on. I have several lesbian patients and neither I nor my staff would bat and eyelid at this.

This doesn't match up with my experiences at all. My ex is also a nurse and I know that she has received Stonewall training telling her that some men are lesbians.

Like if I say ‘I am not pregnant as I am a lesbian’, I don’t want the staff to start chastising me about how I am a ‘sexual racist’ or something because I won’t have sex with an autogynephilic male. Or even refusing to treat me because I am a lesbian who isn’t going to be bullied about not sleeping with males.

I think if any of the above occurred you would be within your rights to raise a complaint.
Obviously.

I have raised a complaint currently as my current GP is trained by LGBT Foundation and I have seen their staff (LGBT Foundation’s) sending abuse to lesbians on social media. No response or acknowledgement of my complaint as yet, so I sent it on to NHS England and the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.

You could send an email to all surgeries asking them if they've participated in the specific training to which you object.

From their responses you could then decide on a surgery that meets your particular requirements and request to register with that surgery.

Retired GP here.
Sorry that you have had a bad experience with your GP but I'm fairly sure 99% of GPs do not have an agenda or know anything of Stonewall.

Most will treat you without their opinions on sexual identity mattering.

Been thinking a bit more about this. Given you've already started communication with NHS England, you could perhaps get them to do the donkey work to identify surgeries meeting your particular requirements?

Then all you have to do is apply to register with them.

You are completely missing the point that medical health workers do not give a toss about your sexuality and would never ever lecture you on the issues concerning you