Homosexuality interview question

[SJDOG]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I regularly post on SDN, but I don't want to post under my normal name since I have not completely come out of the closet (I am a homosexual).

I was at an interview, and we some how got on the subject of doctors treating homosexuality. I said I didn't believe that homosexuality should be looked at as a disorder since it may be genetic. He asked me "how homosexuality would evolve if it was genetic". I gave a pretty good answer (I think), but he asked it in a really condescending way. Overall, I think his attitude towards me was hostile. I'm worried now that I won't get in because I mentioned I was gay in my personal statement. Should I call the school and complain? I have very good STATS and got positive feedback on my personal statement from other schools.

 

[Maxprime]

I was at an interview, and we some how got on the subject of doctors treating homosexuality. I said I didn't believe that homosexuality should be looked at as a disorder since it may be genetic. He asked me "how homosexuality would evolve if it was genetic". I gave a pretty good answer (I think), but he asked it in a really condescending way. Overall, I think his attitude towards me was hostile.

I was initially shocked at how much discrimination I was told occurred in the med school admissions process towards gays. I am sorry that you guys/gals face this, one more thing you can help fix once you're higher up on the totem pole.

I'm worried now that I won't get in because I mentioned I was gay in my personal statement. Should I call the school and complain? I have very good STATS and got positive feedback on my personal statement from other schools.

It's too late, these things have to be handled quickly. For future reference, don't mention things like your homosexuality in your PS. Discrimination towards gays is supposedly worse than any other group in this process, mum's the word until you get in. It's not right, but you can't help fix things until you're on the inside.

Whether or not you get in, once a decision has been made I STRONGLY encourage you to call the dean (or visit if the school is close). Don't call the press, don't get angry - tell the dean what happened and don't ask for any change in admissions status. That is the way to approach this problem and actually have the guy get what's coming to him. The dean may know that the interviewer is gay and was trying to give you a hard time b/c he has been given a hard time, etc. You just never know where people are coming from.

For what it's worth, I look at older homosexual physicians like I view older female surgeons. They both put up with a TON of crap during residency and had to be that much better than everyone else. In reference to a 50 year old surgeon, I'll take a female over a male because all the ones I've met had to be that much more on top of their game.

 

[166035]

x

 

[Maxprime]

Whatever happens, fight all the harder.

 

[Concubine]

Just another perspective:

Sometimes the interviewers are hostile on purpose to see how you react. I wasn't there, but it's possible he was trying to see how you think and was not being discriminatory. If you gave a good answer to his question, then I think you will be alright.

On another note (just curious I was having this discussion with my friend the other day), what is the evidence that homosexuality is genetic?

 

[Maxprime]

Just another perspective:

Sometimes the interviewers are hostile on purpose to see how you react. I wasn't there, but it's possible he was trying to see how you think and was not being discriminatory. If you gave a good answer to his question, then I think you will be alright.

I like to assume that this is the case. I think that this draws a parallel to the Mayo situation. Whether or not wrongdoing took place, the key is to approach either the person involved or their direct supervisor. If you're brushed off, then other options may be necessary - but go through the chain of command.

On another note (just curious I was having this discussion with my friend the other day), what is the evidence that homosexuality is genetic?

From a neuro perspective, I know homosexual men have amygdalas that are more similar to women than men. The nature/nurture of that is arguable, but it would be a pretty significant reorganization if people "decide" later in life.

 

[dd128]

It's true he may have been trying to stress you out, and I know some schools do practice "stress interviews," but I do not believe they are suppose to involve personal attacks. You may want to write a letter to the dean to let them know, as chances are if he was biased against homosexuals there may have other prejudices he has and you may not be the first person to complain. It seems like a physician intolerant of whole groups of people got into the wrong line of work.

 

[Dawktah Rawkah]

... Overall, I think his attitude towards me was hostile. I'm worried now that I won't get in because I mentioned I was gay in my personal statement. Should I call the school and complain? I have very good STATS and got positive feedback on my personal statement from other schools.

Hey man, i wanna give you props for having the balls to lay your situation out on line in your PS. that's awesome. while the interviewer may have been hostile, keep in mind that he was probably not related at all to getting you the interview. in other words, some one else on the adcom took interest in your app enough to send you on to the interview step. some one in the school's adcom has your back. most adcom's consider the interview(s) as one of many factors in their decision. they know that many interviewers are moody, hostile to some, friendly to others, preferential, biased etc. As such, a "bad" interview does not mean you might won't get accepted to that school. i would hope you do contact the dean/adcom regarding any feelings of hostility you may have picked up from the interviewer (as mentioned by a previous reply) so that they can do a better job w/ the next interviewee in a similar situation. no need for a media (or sdn) firestorm, but they should get their stuff together. they obviously thought you were dope enough to deserve an interview - they'd probably want you as a student. never mind some ol' crotchety doc who's trapped in 1955. Sounds like you held your ground and said your piece ... the only right thing to do in that situation. best of luck w/ everything.

 

[Maxprime]

It's true he may have been trying to stress you out, and I know some schools do practice "stress interviews," but I do not believe they are suppose to involve personal attacks. You may want to write a letter to the dean to let them know, as chances are if he was biased against homosexuals there may have other prejudices he has and you may not be the first person to complain. It seems like a physician intolerant of whole groups of people got into the wrong line of work.

Personal attacks are the most stressful kind. I think that a stressful interview should have boundaries, but one that is truly stressful should be close to the line.

I don't think you should write a letter - this kind of issue requires face to face contact in my opinion.

 

[Lukkie]

maybe he was trying to prepare you for what you're gonna be facing when you are practicing. i wouldn't doubt you'd get a lot of patients that will request another doctor when they see you come in with your purple scarf and clay aiken voice

 

[Compass]

maybe he was trying to prepare you for what you're gonna be facing when you are practicing. i wouldn't doubt you'd get a lot of patients that will request another doctor when they see you come in with your purple scarf and clay aiken voice

Perhaps you should think about what you say before you say it. That's a terrible stereotype, and exactly one of the reasons why people don't feel so accepted.

 

[Concubine]

From a neuro perspective, I know homosexual men have amygdalas that are more similar to women than men. The nature/nurture of that is arguable, but it would be a pretty significant reorganization if people "decide" later in life.

It seems kind of a stretch for homosexuality to actually evolve. I mean, doesn't homosexuality mean your fitness is virtually zero? If a gene did evolve, how would it be passed on if the carrier doesn't reproduce?

 

[PlumpyJeaneze]

I regularly post on SDN, but I don't want to post under my normal name since I have not completely come out of the closet (I am a homosexual).

I was at an interview, and we some how got on the subject of doctors treating homosexuality. I said I didn't believe that homosexuality should be looked at as a disorder since it may be genetic. He asked me "how homosexuality would evolve if it was genetic". I gave a pretty good answer (I think), but he asked it in a really condescending way. Overall, I think his attitude towards me was hostile. I'm worried now that I won't get in because I mentioned I was gay in my personal statement. Should I call the school and complain? I have very good STATS and got positive feedback on my personal statement from other schools.

Did I miss something? Where is he discriminating against you on the basis of sexual orientation? It sounds to me like he was hating on your terrible answer. Your "homosexuality shouldn't be looked at as a disorder since it may be genetic" answer was ludicrous. Should depression or cystic fibrosis not be looked at as a disorder since it may be genetic? (Note- I am not saying it should be treated like a disorder, just that the OP's reasoning was horrible.)

Your evidence of discrimination is his "hostile" attitude? Please. So everytime someone is hostile to you it is because you are gay? Some people are just really condescending and rude (especially true for doctors). Unless you can tie the attitude to your sexual preference then you shouldn't contact the school. You will look like a soft fool.

 

[Lukkie]

Perhaps you should think about what you say before you say it. That's a terrible stereotype, and exactly one of the reasons why people don't feel so accepted.

well im just saying, if he comes crying here after the interview instead of having plowed through the interviewer, one can only wonder when he starts seeing patients, many of whom no doubt will be reluctant to be operated on by a homosexual (would you let your son get a physical by a gay doctor? HES TOUCHING YOUR SONS BALLS 😡 ) how he will handle it.

 

[Lukkie]

Did I miss something? Where is he discriminating against you on the basis of sexual orientation? It sounds to me like he was hating on your terrible answer. Your "homosexuality shouldn't be looked at as a disorder since it may be genetic" answer was ludicrous. Should depression or cystic fibrosis not be looked at as a disorder since it may be genetic? (Note- I am not saying it should be treated like a disorder, just that the OP's reasoning was horrible.)

Your evidence of discrimination is his "hostile" attitude? Please. So everytime someone is hostile to you it is because you are gay? Some people are just really condescending and rude (especially true for doctors). Unless you can tie the attitude to your sexual preference then you shouldn't contact the school. You will look like a soft fool.

best post in this thread.

 

[dd128]

well im just saying, if he comes crying here after the interview instead of having plowed through the interviewer, one can only wonder when he starts seeing patients, many of whom no doubt will be reluctant to be operated on by a homosexual (would you let your son get a physical by a gay doctor? HES TOUCHING YOUR SONS BALLS 😡 ) how he will handle it.

Not taking any sides, but wouldn't straight male gynos go along the same lines? You become objective when you are a physician, just because OP is gay doesn't mean he's going be fondling children during an exam.

 

[LizzyM]

If I had been your interviewer, I would have been attacking your logic rather than your sexual preference. How can something not be a disorder because it is genetic? The logic is faulty as there are many disorders that are genetic. Furthermore, can we tease out, at this point, whether it is genetic or environmental, with the understanding that the environmental exposure that predisposes to homosexuality may be the uterine environment (that is, prenatal exposure)? Is there any scientific evidence one way or the other? Identical twins vs. fraternal twins would be the studies to look at because in both cases the uterine environment was identical while the identicals have the same DNA whereas the fraternal twins share only 50% (same as all siblings).

Don't take it as an attack on your sexuality; it might not be.

 

[Lukkie]

Not taking any sides, but wouldn't straight male gynos go along the same lines? You become objective when you are a physician, just because OP is gay doesn't mean he's going be fondling children during an exam.

kind of. but male gynos are relatively normal people (except for the fact they chose to go into gyno). dont forget that homosexuality was once categorized a psychological disorder in the DSM but was taken out in the latest edition because society is so PC now.

 

[smq123]

maybe he was trying to prepare you for what you're gonna be facing when you are practicing. i wouldn't doubt you'd get a lot of patients that will request another doctor when they see you come in with your purple scarf and clay aiken voice

well im just saying, if he comes crying here after the interview instead of having plowed through the interviewer, one can only wonder when he starts seeing patients, many of whom no doubt will be reluctant to be operated on by a homosexual (would you let your son get a physical by a gay doctor? HES TOUCHING YOUR SONS BALLS 😡 ) how he will handle it.

kind of. but male gynos are relatively normal people (except for the fact they chose to go into gyno). dont forget that homosexuality was once categorized a psychological disorder in the DSM but was taken out in the latest edition because society is so PC now.

Tell me, is it fun being on the fast track to being banned?

 

[dd128]

kind of. but male gynos are relatively normal people (except for the fact they chose to go into gyno).

always did kind of wonder what drove guys toward that specialty...

Anyway, it really does depend on whether or not the guy was just being confrontational or prejudice, OP didn't provide specifics so it's difficult to say for sure. I'd have to agree with the person earlier on who talked about keeping it on the DL until you are in a place to do something about it. The medical profession is fairly conservative and there isn't much you can do about that.

 

[Lukkie]

always did kind of wonder what drove guys toward that specialty...

Anyway, it really does depend on whether or not the guy was just being confrontational or prejudice, OP didn't provide specifics so it's difficult to say for sure. I'd have to agree with the person earlier on who talked about keeping it on the DL until you are in a place to do something about it. The medical profession is fairly conservative and there isn't much you can do about that.

i agree, we are getting only the OP's perspective on this whole matter, and as PlumpyJeaneze laid out rather eloquently, is just a pity-begging sobfest.

 

[med007]

i agree, we are getting only the OP's perspective on this whole matter, and as PlumpyJeaneze laid out rather eloquently, is just a pity-begging sobfest.

he/she asked for no one's pity. only their advice.

if any of you got the impression that something you said during one of your interviews hurt your chances, you know you'd all be posting this stuff just the same, asking perfect strangers if you're going to be ok.

honestly, i think people are too liberal with sharing their lives on this website to begin with.

 

[Perrotfish]

From a neuro perspective, I know homosexual men have amygdalas that are more similar to women than men. The nature/nurture of that is arguable, but it would be a pretty significant reorganization if people "decide" later in life.

Well, you see significant reorganization in the frontal lobes of people who develop addictions. Yet addictive behavior is certainly considered a choice, at least at first.

he/she asked for no one's pity. only their advice

.

He asked for advice about whether to tattle on his interviewer, which I'll admit I'm not a huge fan of. Then, of course, he got the crazy hateful response that premeds give to every problem except for "Do you think I'll do alright on my MCAT!?", which they respond to with a big premed circle jerk of mutual support.

 

[jr doctor in sd]

I agree with the people that said to just leave it out of your PS. (too late, I know). I think that someone's orientation is their business and that it should play no role in admission to a medical school.

The sad part, however, is alot of LGBT people try to apply and use it as a scapegoat and talk about discrimination, struggle, yadda yadda yadda to
try and get an application boost because it shows diversity too.

Just the same, it ruins someone who has sincerely been affected through life and grown stronger because of their orientation. So if i was the interviewer, who knows...I might try some brash attacking to see how you'd react I think that is definitely plausible. I want to see if you were passionate about your stance or if you'd go along with me and agree to see how you are.

Also, I don't know about old conservative interviewers. But I personally do NOT care what your orientation is...so I'm sure alot of interviewers don't either. The people who are too much sometimes that like to live for gay rights really bother me - only because it seems that they like to do that ALL THE TIME - attack people who think differently and complain that people think differently.

I personally am 100% for gay rights and do NOT like this kind of talk about it as a disorder at all...it's just some stuff to consider though. And OP, im sure you were not hardcore "gay this gay that" everything in your statement and application since you couldn't even use your real acct. to post this here. It's no problem, it's the internet...this is where you should care least what people think - they can't even see you or ever know you.

Do the same in life haha, don't care what they think if they're never gonna accept you. Some people will always be that way. 👍

 

[shiftingmirage]

Something that I think that has been omitted on this thread is that if the school really does have a problem with your sexual orientation and you do not feel welcome there, is it really a school you would want to attend?

 

[VelaenOscuridad]

Something that I think that has been omitted on this thread is that if the school really does have a problem with your sexual orientation and you do not feel welcome there, is it really a school you would want to attend?

That's a good point, although one interviewer's attitude does not necessarily reflect the school's attitude. Still, I'm not sure the interviewer has a prejudice. After mentioning that I was gay in my interview, I was asked why I wasn't active in more LGBT organizations, to which I was tempted to respond, "are you in any straight organizations?" It was a little offensive, but I understand that straight people may have misconceptions about LGBT people that aren't exactly negative.

Speaking of misconceptions, gay people are "relatively normal" too. In fact, one can argue that a lesbian has more reason to go into gynecology than a straight man, because at least she knows about female experience and has the same parts herself. I hope the person who suggested that there is anything creepy about a gay physician is banned now. Honestly, are we living in the 1950s?

 

[se2131]

After mentioning that I was gay in my interview, I was asked why I wasn't active in more LGBT organizations, to which I was tempted to respond, "are you in any straight organizations?" It was a little offensive, but I understand that straight people may have misconceptions about LGBT people that aren't exactly negative.

I'm not sure I understand why this was offensive (unless it was phrased non-tactfully). LGBT people face discrimination, and it's my understanding that the purpose of these LGBT groups is to combat that discrimination. Would it have been offensive if this was the 1960's, and an interviewer asked a minority why they weren't involved in anti-racist organizations? You can have your reasons for not being involved w/ LGBT groups, but there's no need to get offended at the slightest touch.

Again though, it depends on the context in which the question was asked.

 

[mountainhare]

It seems kind of a stretch for homosexuality to actually evolve. I mean, doesn't homosexuality mean your fitness is virtually zero? If a gene did evolve, how would it be passed on if the carrier doesn't reproduce?

I think it might be too simplistic to say that it's one single gene acting in the absence of environmental factors, but one theory I've read says that people who are heterozygotes for homosexuality genes might, in certain situations, be more fit than people who are homozygous for heterosexuality genes, since these heterozygotes are more emotionally sensitive, more skilled at forming beneficial alliances with people of their own gender, etc. A heterozygote advantage (as in the case of, say, sickle cell) might help explain how a gene like this would evolve, although it's not the only hypothesis out there. It's very easy to believe that bisexuality would be evolutionarily advantageous, since bisexuals are better able to form alliances with people of both genders while still being able to pass down their genes, and thus it might be better for our species as a whole if an entire spectrum of sexual orientation did exist. Or so the argument goes. I'm sure you could find tons of books on this subject if you did a bit of research.

OP: It is certainly possible that, in his heart or in his subconscious, this interviewer felt hostile toward you because of your sexual orientation. It is also possible that anti-gay sentiments, rather than ordinary scientific skepticism, were what lay behind his professed skepticism that homosexuality can evolve. Furthermore, it is also possible that your "gut feeling" that he will reject you because of your sexual orientation is correct. However, no matter what this interviewer's secret sentiments might be, his behavior didn't appear to cross any clear lines. Basically, I'm saying that even if this guy does turn out to be anti-gay and nudges your application toward the "rejection" pile because of it, there's absolutely no way you could pin him down on it. And honestly, in your life, you will probably meet plenty of people who are secretly anti-gay and who will secretly try to destroy you, but who will act perfectly charming and friendly to your face, much charminger and friendlier than this interviewer, and what are you going to do about those people? You did your best to debate in an educated, civilized manner with this guy and to dislodge his views, whatever those might be; it's the best you can do in a situation like this, I think. I'm sorry that things are like this, and I wish you the best.

 

[TexasTriathlete]

Why did you mention it in your personal statement? I know its part of who you are, but is it relevant? I mean, I can't imagine that it will make a difference in what kind of doctor you will be. The gay doctors I know, in practice, are indistinguishable from the straight doctors.

And its not like anyone is going to read the personal statement and think "sweet! a gay applicant!"

Maybe if a gay person reads your statement, it could give you a little sympathy, but there are many fewer gay people than straight people, so you should play the odds that you will probably have someone who doesn't fully understand your sexual preference reading your personal statement and/or interviewing you, and they may react negatively.

Having said that, I don't know why they brought it up. At the same time, if you put it in your PS, it's probably fair game.

 

[mountainhare]

Why did you mention it in your personal statement? I know its part of who you are, but is it relevant? I mean, I can't imagine that it will make a difference in what kind of doctor you will be. The gay doctors I know, in practice, are indistinguishable from the straight doctors.

And its not like anyone is going to read the personal statement and think "sweet! a gay applicant!"

Maybe if a gay person reads your statement, it could give you a little sympathy, but there are many fewer gay people than straight people, so you should play the odds that you will probably have someone who doesn't fully understand your sexual preference reading your personal statement and/or interviewing you, and they may react negatively.

Having said that, I don't know why they brought it up. At the same time, if you put it in your PS, it's probably fair game.

Maybe circumstances having to do with his sexual orientation are what led him to decide to become a doctor. Maybe he's interested in working on LGBT health issues once he's a doctor. Or maybe he just wanted the adcom to know more about who he is, as a whole human being, so that they can decide whether he is a good fit for their school. I mean, why do people discuss their childhood illnesses, their passion for athletics, their prowess at piano-playing, etc., in their personal statements? Doctors who were college athletes or who play the piano are indistiguishable from doctors who aren't, too. While it might not always be wise to bring up sexual orientation in a PS, there's certainly nothing blameworthy about doing so.

 

[TexasTriathlete]

Your personal statement is about pimping yourself out, more than it is about telling them about yourself. There is all kinds of crap that contributes to our makeup as people, but how much of it can you really use to sell yourself?

I'm not trying to downplay how much of an effect this has had on the OP's life. I have no doubt that it is very important. But is it the kind of thing you want to put in your PS? Especially considering the kind of issue it is. Lets face it, we're not talking Ford vs. Chevy. This is an issue that not everybody understands, and some people might feel very strongly about. The OP even admitted that he's still in the closet to some point. Why is there a closet in the first place? It's not right, but some people are hostile towards homosexuality.

Remember what you're supposed to do when writing your PS...

I am awesome because...
A
B
C

I should be accepted to medical school because...
A
B
C

I will be a good doctor because I have the following qualities...
A
B
C

The end.

 

[mountainhare]

Your personal statement is about pimping yourself out, more than it is about telling them about yourself. There is all kinds of crap that contributes to our makeup as people, but how much of it can you really use to sell yourself?.....

TexasTriathlete, I totally understand what you're saying. If I were homosexual, it's quite possible that I would decide not to mention it in my PS. What I'm opposed to is the implication that, by bringing up his sexual orientation in his PS, the OP was somehow asking to be discriminated against. If the OP ever gets discriminated against because of his sexual orientation, that discrimination would be a terrible thing, and it would in no way be justified by his having brought it up in his PS. That was what I was trying to express in my post.

I think the sexual-orientation issue is kinda like all the other diversity issues: the race issue, etc. It's possible that the OP believes that his firsthand experience as an LGBT individual will make him more sensitive to the specific needs of LGBT patients, or of minority patients in general, and thus it will help make him a more awesome doctor. Perhaps he thinks he will bring a unique perspective to his medical-school class because he will be able to teach his classmates about what it is like to come from a background like his. Is it a risk to mention sexual orientation in one's PS? Certainly. Perhaps it was an unwise risk for the OP to take, but it's still a brave and understandable one.

 

[Maxprime]

It seems kind of a stretch for homosexuality to actually evolve. I mean, doesn't homosexuality mean your fitness is virtually zero? If a gene did evolve, how would it be passed on if the carrier doesn't reproduce?

If that logic held true, we wouldn't have any alleles in our gene pool that cause someone to have a lower tendency to reproduce. There is no "gay gene", but twin studies have shown there are genetic propensities. Most kids realize they're gay in about high school, don't they? That's plenty of time to reproduce in the wild. In the more recent past, they had families to keep up appearances and never came out (but still had kids). Even today, you can have a surrogate mother.

I apologize for the comparison, but it is a lot like the mental disorders we've tried to nail down. There is rarely a gene that you can say, "Bam! This is the Schizophrenia/Bipolar/etc. gene - have it and you have the disease, if you don't then you're clean." To reiterate and make completely clear, I don't think homosexuality is a mental disease. I think it's like many other mental attributes humans have - we generally have genetic predispositions that either become traits or don't.

I bet the evolutionary psych people have some ideas about why it has survived - could be to prevent overpopulation, etc. Do remember that the human genome is pretty bad in terms of selection pressure. Especially in the brain, we mix genes like crazy to get different outcomes.

 

[Maxprime]

I would encourage everyone not to judge the PS without knowing what it was about. I think it's a mistake to mention your sexual preference in a personal statement unless it is very relevant to the story really of why you want to be a doctor.

 

[Maxprime]

Well, you see significant reorganization in the frontal lobes of people who develop addictions. Yet addictive behavior is certainly considered a choice, at least at first.

Yeah, people never have predispositions to alcoholism.
By your logic - schizophrenics can choose to ignore the voices in their heads, so we should blame them if they fall victim to them.

BTW, in reference to addictions - IIRC you see changes in plasticity in the nucleus accumbens - NOT reorganization of cortical structures or structural changes (besides neural damage from the abuse). There was some paper out recently that did rats with cocaine in the NA and showed changes in LTP & LTD, but not much sprouting.

I haven't read any literature outside of what was presented in class to me, but my recollection is that there are significant changes in amygdalar volume - women and homosexual men have significantly larger amygdalas than heterosexual men.

 

[Concubine]

I agree with the predisposition theory. However, a gene that reduces your fitness (which could perpetuate in the gene pool) is something entirely different (that acts within sexual realm) from a gene that makes your fitness zero. It just seems that if there ever were a "gay" gene or combination of genes, these would be highly selected against. Too me, being gay would almost certainly come from environmental factors with perhaps genetic influence instead of strictly genetic. I guess you could make the argument that some genes (or combination of genes) allows someone to be more "prone" to environmental factors that would result in them being gay. Interesting area for discussion!

 

[shraf]

I think that the only reason OP would mention it in his PS is to try to use it to his advantage and if you are going to try to use something to your advantage and it backfires then you have nothing to complain about.

If its purpose was to talk about LGBT health, OP could've done that while keeping his sexuality ambiguous. Any advisor will tell you to keep anything controversial out of your PS and your application as a while because you never know who'll be reading it and sexuality is one of those topics. You took a risk....crying about it when it backfires isn't gonna help....if it was blatant discrimination, which from your description it doesnt seem like it then i'd say you have a point....but "he was mean to me because I think he knows I'm gay" is certainly not gonna hold up.

 

[notdeadyet]

Anything mentioned in a personal statement is fair game for interview, in my book. If I mention my desire to give back to the Latino population, and the interviewer wants to discuss whether or not illegal immigration has an impact on health care to my community? Fair game.

If the interviewer asked you, "What is it with the effeminate thing?" or "Why interior decorating?" or something else stereotypical/prejudiced, it's a foul. But his questions seem above board.

Sorry, OP, but I think I agree with those who think he may just not have liked the answer. But you never know, he may have liked how you handled yourself when he didn't like your answer. I wouldn't read to much into it.

 

[StealthNerd]

wow.

So, first off: did the OP ever mention what sex he/she is? Everyone seems to be assuming that our homosexual pre-med is a man.

Either way, what the hell is wrong with that Lukke person? I am going to go ahead and stereotypically assume, given his comments ("fondle your son's balls"), that he's a homophobic man.

For the OP: your interviewer is clearly an dingus. I would have recommended that you not mention your sexuality in your PS exactly because of the potential negative affect on your chances. However, since you did and your interviewer was hostile towards it, I would definitely mention that to the Dean if you don't get in. I wouldn't go nuclear or anything, but I would argue that you owe it to the future applicants that interviewer is going to screw over. Also, how are you still in the closet if you mentioned your homosexuality in your PS? I assume you're hiding for now (at work/school/whatever) but are clearly intending to come out when med school starts?

Finally, folks need to realize that human sexuality is a spectrum like just about every other trait. There's no binary "gay" or "straight". In this country we decided to give it that compartmentilization until folks in the middle of the spectrum didn't really fit. So now we have three: gay/bi/straight. It's still wrong. Sexuality, like gender, height, and intelligence, is on a friggin spectrum. Most of us are more on the "straight" side of the spectrum for obvious evoluntionary reasons. Your genetic predisposition towards sexuality combined with your environment will determine where you fall. That's why you have "straight" men who have never had nor want a homosexual experience, have a wife and kids, but have stereotypical "gay" traights: speak with a lisp, like pretty colors, dress well and are friendly.

Same goes for gender by the way, do some research on "intersex". Pretty interesting.

Bottom line to everyone: don't be a biggoted prick. If someone identifies themseleves as gay vs straight, male vs female, white vs black/brown/yellow/red, it doesn't matter. Those characteristics play absolutely no role in the chances that they are a good or bad doctor, more or less likely to "fondle your son's balls". Don't be a *****. I had to deal with this bullsh*t in the military and I was hoping I wouldn't have to in med school.

Okay, I'm off my soapbox. 🙂

 

[StealthNerd]

Sorry, one more thing. To the folks saying the interviewer wasn't being hostile, just asking, fair game, OP mentioned in the PS.... etc... that's BS. It's BS because the conversation started with the interviewer asking how you would "treat homosexuality". That's like asking someone how you treat blackness. Honestly. WTF. That's already biggoted.

 

[notdeadyet]

However, since you did and your interviewer was hostile towards it, I would definitely mention that to the Dean if you don't get in. I wouldn't go nuclear or anything, but I would argue that you owe it to the future applicants that interviewer is going to screw over.

I strongly disagree with this. If you are confident that you've experienced prejudice in your interview, the time to register your complaint is immediately. A complaint letter received from someone whose just been denied acceptance just reads like bitter lemons.

If you're sure it's discrimination, complain now. Doing so later has a lot less impact.

Also, how are you still in the closet if you mentioned your homosexuality in your PS? I assume you're hiding for now (at work/school/whatever) but are clearly intending to come out when med school starts?

I was wondering about this as well. And for all future applicants who may be reading this thread, do not assume that your personal statement is akin to confessing to your priest. Your personal statement may get read by any number of people and your application openly talked about.

I'm not suggesting anyone stay in the closet, quite the opposite. But if you're planning on staying there, don't bare your soul on your personal statement. It might be fine, but you could be outing yourself without knowing it.

 

[da me ka don]

Sorry, one more thing. To the folks saying the interviewer wasn't being hostile, just asking, fair game, OP mentioned in the PS.... etc... that's BS. It's BS because the conversation started with the interviewer asking how you would "treat homosexuality". That's like asking someone how you treat blackness. Honestly. WTF. That's already biggoted.

Having nothing against homosexuals, I just want to say being gay and being black are two different things. Your analogy is therefore pointless.

Sexuality and Race....synonyms? No!

 

[axlaxl1]

I regularly post on SDN, but I don't want to post under my normal name since I have not completely come out of the closet (I am a homosexual).

I was at an interview, and we some how got on the subject of doctors treating homosexuality. I said I didn't believe that homosexuality should be looked at as a disorder since it may be genetic. He asked me "how homosexuality would evolve if it was genetic". I gave a pretty good answer (I think), but he asked it in a really condescending way. Overall, I think his attitude towards me was hostile. I'm worried now that I won't get in because I mentioned I was gay in my personal statement. Should I call the school and complain? I have very good STATS and got positive feedback on my personal statement from other schools.

Being Gay is not genetic. First off, that is a bunch of NONSENSE. As a gay person you should know better than that. There is no gay gene found and if there was one should we fix it or try to make a cure for it? Think about what you're saying.

I took an entire class about this, even though I am not gay, and learned a lot about the issue. To me putting that out there the way you did and blamming it on genetics is absurd. Don't try to be so bold about it. It is what it is and move on.

 

[StealthNerd]

Having nothing against homosexuals, I just want to say being gay and being black are two different things. Your analogy is therefore pointless.

Sexuality and Race....synonyms? No!

In a word: duh. Sexuality and race are not the same thing. I apologize for giving you the impression that I was somehow clinically ******ed. The point I was making is that there are bigoted people out there that think there's something wrong with folks that have more melanin, much the same way there is prejudice against people that aren't straight. Would you prefer if I had used prejudice against Jews as an example instead? You may recall an incident in the 1930s in Germany regarding that issue. ... Some jacked up people think that anyone who's not a straight WASP is genetically inferior and "wrong", in need of a "cure". The OP's interviewer was clearly one of them. I don't see the difference between the ridiculousness of his comment on "curing" homosexuality and a similar comment on "curing" people of a different race (or different religion).

My point is that all these differences (race, religion, sexuality...) are meaningless. Hence, the analogy between the bigotry due to racism and the bigotry due to homophobia.

I guess I'm just tired of dealing with colossal stupidity. When people voice their bigoted views it's like they're jumping up and down screaming "I'M AN IDIOT!! I'M AN IDIOT!!". It just gets on my nerves.

 

[Dawktah Rawkah]

OP, some more specifics about the interview conversation might help to clear things up ... in the mean time, more hypothetical commentary ...

regarding whether/when to say something to the school about the interviewer, the sooner the better. and at all the interviews i went on, they always asked for feedback on the interviewers and the interview day. at two schools they even invited us to say "hey, my interviewer was a real scumbag ... i don't feel like i got a fair shake ... " if we felt like that was the case.

regarding the hostile question ... your interviewer asked a question that no one can answer - how did homosexuality evolve? how do we know how/why anything evolved? for example, we know that some people can roll their tongue and some can't. we know that there is a genetic component to this ... research on tongue rolling has delved in to the nature of sibling inheritance and incomplete penetrance etc. ... But no one can say for sure how or why tongue rolling evolved. the question of homosexuality's "evolution" is equally impossible to explain definitively ... and since there is no link between sexual preference and infertility, the whole "wouldn't homosexuality be bred out?" thing is bs. there is, however, lots of research out there that suggests a biological basis for and a heritable genetic link to homosexuality. most studies show that pre-natal hormone levels during brain organization are involved and thus the "genes" involved may actually be mom's. so it is her fault in the end 🙂 Two articles on the subject:

http://www.springerlink.com/content/p2365262023tkn31/fulltext.html
http://www.livescience.com/health/060626_gay_brothers.html

as for your answer to the interviewer's question ... also not that happening, unfortunately. as LizzyM said, because there's a genetic component to something does not mean that it's not a disorder. in fact, most research on human disease and disorder is around finding and understanding the genetic links to disorders. genetics "prove" disorders to be biologically inherited/predisposed and not just the cause of some lone environmental factor.

none of this really matters though, because simply put, homosexuality is not a disorder. whether inherited, produced by environmental factors or "chosen", it is not a "problem" or illness. there are no direct health/psych issues related to being homosexual, thus it can't be labeled a disorder. there's nothing to "treat." and in response to lukkie, it was removed from the dsm by the same psychiatrists and phd's that wrote the rest of the dsm because research suggested there was a strong biological basis and that it was in no way a disorder ... not to appease the pc public.

Debates in this country around homosexual rights often circle around whether or not homosexuality is a "choice." some folks feel that if it's just a choice - like smoking or being fat or being addicted to drugs or gambling - then it's ok to discriminate. research shows that there's a biological basis for all these things ... regardless, there's no good reason to discriminate against anyone for anything. period.

 

[Vizsla]

Having nothing against homosexuals, I just want to say being gay and being black are two different things. Your analogy is therefore pointless.

Sexuality and Race....synonyms? No!

they are both commonly used as grounds for discrimination so no, the analogy isnt pointless. You cant (and shouldnt be asked to) "treat" either one. someone's race can be just as much a part them as their sexual preference. You may not believe that people are born gay (as they are born into a specific race) but thinking that their sexuality is any less a part of who they are is pure ignorance, as this interviewer clearly displayed.

 

[StealthNerd]

Btw, OP, can you please tell us your gender? I'd love to refer to you using a pronoun instead of "the OP". 🙂

 

[0Complications]

Having nothing against homosexuals, I just want to say being gay and being black are two different things. Your analogy is therefore pointless.

Sexuality and Race....synonyms? No!

Not when considering that most people don't get to choose their skin color or sexual orientation, unless you're Michael Jackson or Tila Tequila.


To the OP, I agree with the others, if you feel you were discriminated against then now is the time to report it. But, I will caution you on this point; I think that if you are still insecure about your own sexuality, which is made apparent by the fact that you are only peeking out of the closet, it is entirely possible that you are reading too far into comments and seeing them as offensive, not because they were intended that way, but rather because you are more sensitive to them at this stage in your life. I'm not saying this is the case, but I do think that ones own sensitivity to something can drastically change their perception of "intention" when it comes to discussing their "sensitive" issues.

Good luck, either way.

 

[0Complications]

If I had been your interviewer, I would have been attacking your logic rather than your sexual preference. How can something not be a disorder because it is genetic? The logic is faulty as there are many disorders that are genetic. Furthermore, can we tease out, at this point, whether it is genetic or environmental, with the understanding that the environmental exposure that predisposes to homosexuality may be the uterine environment (that is, prenatal exposure)? Is there any scientific evidence one way or the other? Identical twins vs. fraternal twins would be the studies to look at because in both cases the uterine environment was identical while the identicals have the same DNA whereas the fraternal twins share only 50% (same as all siblings).

Don't take it as an attack on your sexuality; it might not be.

I can understand your logic, but that still wouldn't be definitive. There are so many other variables. It could be uterine environment and genetic. I understand where you're going with this, but mono/dizygotic twins might give a "piece" of the overall puzzle, but by no means would they be a conclusive piece.

 

[SJDOG]

I am male. I'm not angry at the fact that he asked the question or got on the subject of homosexuality, just his overall attitude in approaching the subject. Thanks for the feedback, I think I will wait until I get an answer from the school, then go from there.

Oh, and of course I just didn't mention I was gay in my personal statement without putting it into some relevant context to medicine.