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  Posted by: Dental Design      6th March 2020

February is LGBT History Month, making it the perfect opportunity for you and your colleagues to raise awareness and put more thought into making the practice a safe space for people who fall under the LGBT+ umbrella.

Of course, the changes you make in your practice need only be very minor. It’s likely that your practice is already a welcoming, accepting environment, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not a good idea to take some extra steps to ensure that you don’t accidentally offend someone by asking the wrong question.

For example, it’s a good idea to make sure that staff are not making assumptions when meeting people. In today’s world it’s likely that people will come to the practice with their same-sex partners or even have same-sex parents, and therefore you need to take extra care that you don’t say silly things like “are you here with your brother?” or other slip ups that, though meant completely innocently, may cause offense.

Why not celebrate LGBT History Month by raising some money for some LGBT+ causes? There are loads of amazing charities that help support LGBT+ individuals, including those who support people living in much less accepting countries and communities than our own.

The Kaleidoscope Trust is an excellent option. They support the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people all over the world, and routinely work with government bodies to ensure that these people have access to fundamental rights and get their voices heard. You can find out more about this excellent organisation here: https://kaleidoscopetrust.com

Or what about one of the charities that started it all – Stonewall? Named after the historic riots in 1969 that spurred the modern gay rights movement, the charity helps empower LGBT+ people across the world and is at the very forefront of promoting equality. You can find out how to get involved with Stonewall here: https://www.stonewall.org.uk/

Raising money for these organisations is easy – perhaps you could do a sponsored fancy dress day or even have a rainbow week at your practice? These events will raise funds and also ensure that you are making it clear that your practice is accepting of everybody, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation.

In the end, it’s so important to ensure that your practice is a welcoming space for all people. By visibly showing your support and going the extra mile for LGBT+ patients, you can ensure that everyone knows that your practice is a safe space.

 

For more information about the BSDHT, please visit www.bsdht.org.uk

call 01788 575050 or email enquiries@bsdht.org.uk


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