Patients want us to ask about their sexuality and gender

People with diverse gender identities (GI) and sexual orientations (SO) are our patients, but they are also our friends, employers and work-colleagues. Every day we work alongside people whose lives we share a part in, through our love for emergency medicine. We hear about their family lives, upcoming vacations and friends from out of town. Our colleagues are not defined by their relationships or families. Yet these aspects of their lives are important. They shape the patterns of daily living, priorities and values. It is by sharing these aspects of our lives that we build personal relationships with others; trust.Patients with diverse genders and sexualities are not rare. They are seen and treated, often unknowingly by us every single day. And just like our colleagues and coworkers, their personal lives, while not defining who they are, influence how they live.But patients with diverse GI/SO are different. And they are acutely aware of …