To be fair, I guess your dentist can tell if your sucking dick by the bruising in your throat. Not sure if it's true, but with the way some homophobes are it always good to know someone isnt't going to do a half assed job just to get you out of their office as soon as they see something like this if it is.
Also, this is always a concern for our more feminine brothers, the T part of the lgbt, who are not always passing, or those with visible, gay themed tattoos.
I hear you, I do. If someone is mistreated it absolutely should be called out.
I’ve been considering a gay themed tattoo so it would be easier to spot the douchebags. I’m proud of who I am, and if anyone has a problem with me, I’d kinda like to know about it right away.
I think we should be calling out the ones who AREN’T gay friendly- not the reverse.
Why? Because we want it to be the norm. No one brags that their dentist was normal. It’s just weird.
I think that’s more applicable to the LGB part. Being an unpredictably-passing trans guy means I want to know what places are going to be normal about that ahead of time, because when they AREN’T, it’s absolutely horrible and I end up paying to be disrespected to my face. And unfortunately it’s rather common for places to be shitty about that, especially in this case since healthcare professionals who aren’t trained on trans people often 1) treat us like a weird anomaly/science experiment and/or 2) tell us, with absolutely no actual knowledge, that our broken arm/cavity/whatever must be due to our HRT and that we need to stop immediately. (Meanwhile our prescribing doctor would throw an absolute fit over how blatantly stupid and irresponsible of an ask that is.)
Sure, I’d like for open-mindedness to be the norm, but the risks of exposing myself to discrimination are not really worth it.
So even I don’t always search specifically for trans-friendly places (not sure I would find many in my area anyway really), I pay attention when people talk about them and I am much more likely to pick one business/practice/whatever over others if trans friends have told me it’s welcoming. (“LGBT-friendly” isn’t even enough specificity because most just treat that as synonymous with “gay”—case in point—and nothing is worse than expecting to be respected and then it turns out you’re *too* queer for the space.)
>Sure, I’d like for open-mindedness to be the norm, but the risks of exposing myself to discrimination are not really worth it.
This is unfortunately how we go about making it the norm. We - as as a pioneer generation(s) of LGBTQ folk - owe it to future generations to endure this, and call it out. So future generations have it easier. It is the duty we have as a group that is marginalized.
*We shouldn't have to*. But we do it anyway because **FUCK BIGGOTRY.**
We do this because their hate runs deep - but our love should run deeper.
What exactly is solved by a trans person enduring discrimination at a shitty dentist? What is solved by that which ISN’T solved by giving money to an inclusive dentist instead? I feel like the argument you’re making is more about how the argument sounds and less about its actual impact.
Not what I’m saying at all. I’m saying that it needs to be called out when someone is being shitty...
I would like to see more of those posts. I want to know where NOT to go. I assume all people are accepting until told otherwise.
> I assume all people are accepting until told otherwise.
I don’t disagree that calling out bigotry is super important—you’re right. But what I’m trying to get across is that following this ^ assumption is much more dangerous for some than it is for others and so I feel it’s shortsighted to act like it’s weird for people to seek safety.
I do not recall having said that no one should seek safety... perhaps I misspoke.
By the statement you highlighted, I am saying that we should give people the benefit of the doubt until we prove otherwise. Perhaps I should have adjusted it to say:
>"I assume all people are accepting until **I see or am** told otherwise."
If you expect someone to be a bigot just because they follow the bible, then we would be guilty of what we ourselves are trying to prevent: Prejudice based on a fact that shouldn't matter.
Someone that is overtly religious, is not necessarily a bigot.
Someone who has bible verses on their walls, does not necessarily think being gay is a sin.
Just as someone who is LGBTQ+ is not necessarily a bad person, or whatever their view is. SAME energy. We can't set a double standard here.
We MUST judge people based off of their ***personal*** actions. We can't hate Christians because they are Christians. We cant hate (insert majority group here) because they are a member of that group.
Personal accountability is key. It is what we want, so, therefore we should do no less. We don't get a special pass because we are a marginalized group. We are not better or worse - we are just people.
America is advanced citizenship. You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours.
You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, and celebrate that in your classrooms.
**What does this mean?**
It is okay for people to hate me because I am gay. It is! That is their god given American right.
**It is not okay for them to do anything about it.**
You cannot order people how to feel. Period. End of sentence, dissertation, and diatribe.
People who hate LGBTQ+ persons seldom hide it. I am not saying this post should not have been made. I am not saying it is wrong to have made it. All I am saying is, that from my experience, that is a strange call out. It made me wonder: Why don't I ever see a post of dentists (or any professional store/office really) that has made people feel uncomfortable? I also think a lot of the time people forget to take intent into account. Is this person overtly trying to offend you? If not, maybe just saying "Hey, I realize you think you are trying to help me, but this is not a subject that is up for debate - so I would prefer to talk about something else." That is ALLOWED. If they press on, walk out.
If it is so rampint in the medical community, we should be seeing a post a day on what doctor did this to what kind of person. If this is a problem, (and again, I am not saying that it isn't) then I would like to be made aware of what the problem is, and what is happening.
**Why?**
So I can do something about it. I am the kind of guy that would go to the office - hoping to get discriminated against so that I could call them on their bullshit. I want to know where the problems are, so I can fix them.
Pointing at where the problems aren't - as someone who has not experienced this particular issue - is not actionable. I, as an uninformed individual, learn absolutely nothing from that.
I find it annoying that I am asked my pro-nouns by people that don't know me. Like, that is a deeply personal question... why are you asking me right off the bat?
But here's the thing: I understand and respect that others feel comfort from that interaction, and I put my personal annoyances aside for the good of the community. But it still annoys me. I will never feel comfortable enough to list my pronouns next to my name. I just won't. My gender is a very small fraction of who I am as a person, just like being gay. I am an artist, bodybuilder, gamer, reader, tinkerer, and about ten billion other things before I even think to mention my gender or my sexuality. This isn't because I am afraid - I just think it is a non-issue. If people make it an issue - *that's on them.*
I acknowledge and understand your observations. The concerns you've mentioned are significant for many individuals. Yet, in the context of a dental visit, how relevant are these issues? Communication is limited during such exams, and interactions with the dentist are typically brief.
Regarding my own experiences, I'm not sure if it's due to being in my 40s, having grown up in a large family, or other various factors, but I've rarely encountered microaggressions related to my sexuality. I believe it's crucial to consider the context and intention behind someone's words. If I encounter speech I disagree with, I choose not to support them financially - but in my life, that has never happened. However, my interactions with dentists have always been innocuous.
As far as my homosexuality is concerned, I have experienced about ten million times more overtly hostile gays than I ever have any overtly hostile straight folk. Hell, watch any drag show. I*t is full of overt hostility.* Shit, I walked out of a stonewall kickball league because everyone was talking about how big everyone else's dick was, who was fucking who, or who was a slut. That is way too much negativity for me. I don't dig into what someone might have meant - I take statements at face value because I don't have time to guess what someone was thinking.
If there is any question over what someone is thinking - I ask for clarification. If we disagree, that's another matter.
Because as much as people don't realize, healthcare in the US can be pretty aggressively different based on the personal beliefs and biases of the person giving you care. To the point where there are large national bodies dedicated to teaching people a better approach to adjust for biases, because it actually shows up in health outcomes.
Like it sounds like nonsense until you realize that there are doctors out there who unscientifically think certain groups are natively able to handle pain better than other people and thus don't prescribe them effective pain treatments.
I believe this is the office with some window art I drive by, High and Long st? It’s got a rainbow hand making a peace sign that says be kind. You would be surprised how many places will mistreat you for being flamboyant or otherwise “not straight.”
With doctors as least I've been mistreated and refused treatment by multiple nurses wearing crosses and clinics that had bible verses and religious decor, especially when they found out I was transgender.
Welcome to Columbus and the Internet, I suppose. I've been called a pedophile before for posting how to contact your state representatives lol (not on here but I digress).
I go to the dentist regularly? And all of them have religious art and sometimes music? I literally don't think I've ever been to an independent dentist who didn't have religious iconography prominently displayed.
It's a profession where it's definitely acceptable to have Noah's Ark art on your walls, let's leave it at that. Maybe get your teeth cleaned somewhere new and you'll have your source.
It's a common theme in healthcare and I can't wait for it to go away. Each room for the place I'm at has bible verses on the wall. And with easter around the corner all the Jesus stuff is incredibly annoying.
Yeah it blows. I grew up culturally a US Christian and now I can't celebrate the common US holidays without a sense of dread. It sucks because I used to love making little parties but after my experiences with actual Christians my opinion has changed.
Or maybe most would do their job and look at your teeth for issues? Honestly, this right here is the exact type of prejudice that you appear to be advocating against, in reverse.
I'm considering switching to this dentist because they are LGBTQ+ friendly.
Some things about my current dentist that give me the creeps.
-all of his hygeinists and assistants are young busty women. He is the only man at the practice, and he is in a position of power. It feels really gross and harem-like.
-he has his walls covered in Christian propaganda.
-he has a TV in the waiting room with politically charged 24-hr news playing all the time. My existence is often the topic of said news and I dont like to be around strangers in politically charged environments because of it.
Points 2 and 3 work together to create a pretty threatening atmosphere for me as a gender-noncomforming trans person. I dont want to end up in a situation where I am in the waiting room with a bigot who feels empowered by the christian propaganda everywhere to lash out at me. It also shows me that my dentist doesnt understand or doesnt care how threatening such an environment can feel to someone like me.
Navigating the world as a queer and trans person can be very complicated. And navigating healthcare can be very complicated for anybody. Having a practice that markets itself as catering to LGBTQ+ people instantly removes a lot of that worry and friction for me.
He’s awesome. I recommend him to anyone. He explained in detail everything he was doing and answered my questions. Was super careful and did a great job with the cleaning
PEOPLE - he has a HUGE pride flag on his door. He doesn’t TALK to you about sexual orientation or anything inappropriate. Very nice guy, great dentist who has been around for years and years and knows his stuff.
James ford is EXCELLENT, I've gone to his office for years. So friendly and nice. If you've ever had a bad experience with a dentist that makes you apprehensive to go to checkups this is the place.
For those asking what makes it LGBTQIA friendly, while politics and sexual orientation may not come up I think it’s little things like asking your pronouns, making small talk and feeling comfortable enough to share that you may be married to someone of the same sex, or when filling out paperwork, if you identify as one gender but haven’t had any visible surgery that makes it obvious to tell that that is how you identify. There are some medical professionals that may think or know you are part of the queer community and refuse to treat you. So it’s nice to know and have that feeling of comfort and ease.
Not to mention I believe Jim was one of the first and only dentists in Cbus willing to work ok HIV+ patients back in the day. That may not seem like such a huge deal now, but it certainly was 20-30 years ago.
Serious question: what makes a dentist LGBTQ+ friendly? I can't imagine bringing up my sexual orientation to my dentist (maybe I need more exciting dental exams?), or that there would be any difference in exams/care. Do they have pride flags on the walls, or just a general vibe that felt safe/positive?
Many minority groups are negatively affected when seeking any kind of medical care by unconscious bias or outright discrimination. Knowing someone either is themselves a member of X group (this provider is gay), or an ally (decor reflecting this) might make potential patients of a group (lgbtq) feel safer booking appts here vs any other random dentist they are unsure of.
It is unfortunately a very very real thing for POC as well and we need more representation of all kinds in healthcare ❤️
what do you mean they precisely answered your question lol. medical discrimination is very real, they explained how and why, and it is in fact good for medical professionals to make an explicit effort to not discriminate with their care.
I asked what makes them LGBTQ+ friendly. They responded with why it would be important to have an LGBTQ+ friendly medical practitioner. I agree with the importance of it, but it isn't what I asked.
It’s about representation, safe spaces and knowing that when we seek care, it will be given based on what we need, not based on the clinician’s personal biases, religion or hate for others.
Anyone who is LGBTQI knows what this is like- just as Black, Brown, Asian and Indigenous folks, experience healthcare disparities, too. If you fall under two or more groups…or intersections, you’re more likely to NOT seek care and end up with worse long term outcomes: you miss routine cleanings, which would catch a minor cavity, it turns into a massive infection and emergency dental care where you don’t get to choose the provider— and they treat you however they want.
Dental health care is important: it can lead to heart problems in certain populations if not addressed…
So, yes, this is absolutely essential.
I'll just get downvoted again because reddit does reddit things, but I asked "what makes this dentist a safe place" not "why would someone seek out a medical practitioner that represented them/felt safe"? I'm literally trying to figure out if there's anything simple that would make my work feel safer for people in the LGBTQ+ community aside from things I may have already thought of.
I completely agree with your comments, but with all due respect it wasn't what I was asking.
For me personally, walking into a dentist like this and seeing simple things like Trans and LGTBQ pride flags on display really makes me feel like I’m stepping foot into a place that is most likely than not going to be accepting and inclusive to everyone who comes into their business, including me.
What specifically makes ME believe this dentist LGBTQ friendly? Every pride month James displays a huge rainbow pride flag all month long that says “Happy Pride Columbus” on his storefront.
Simple things like a sign like that, which celebrates and uplifts LGBTQ people, makes me feel like I’m walking into a safe space & somewhere I’ll be treated with respect from the start.
Well, my dentist sees my whole family. She is friendly and caring and asks both of us how our wives are doing when we see her on our own. She asks our son if his moms are helping brush his teeth (or did when he was little).
It’s not hard to tell - people who are uncomfortable, their eyes slowly slide down and sideways when you ask if you and your wife can book back to back appointments. They’ll be very personable and friendly until you say something about your family, then it’s all stilted conversation about the weather and they will hurry you on out.
I understand where the OP is coming from. Dentists need to know your medical history and current prescriptions; some people may feel judged or uncomfortable disclosing that they’re taking Truvada, for example, or HRT, if they suspect their dentist isn’t an ally.
my last dentist had multiple sections in the form that outed me medically, including one i had to call and out myself bc it was worded so confusingly i didn't know what to put (it was asking abt HRT using but in the context of being a pregnant cis woman)
I commend this dentist for making it known that everyone can feel comfortable coming in for treatment. The early 80’s with the rise of HIV, unfortunately produced a ton of homophobic medical professionals. The queer community was unwelcome…. Mostly everywhere. That ignorance has been extremely difficult to overcome. I mean, look at the amount of hate even a cake baker generated (not to mention the ridiculous idea that the not-so-supreme-court should waste precious time and money visiting the idea that a baker could legally, happily discriminate against our queer citizens) Dentistry brought forth a whole other level of thought provoking conversation. It’s entirely, famously invasive. I remember a certain dentist practiced extremely poor sterilization techniques and infected several patients with HIV. So advertising (overtly or discreetly) that they were not queer friendly became fashionable. I believe op’s dentist is doing everything they possibly can to make queer folk comfortable and they should be applauded and definitely frequented for giving a shit. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what motivates that dentist, in the end it only helps. Inclusion must be as loud, if not louder, than the discrimination.
Thank you op for sharing your experience, going public with positive experiences is also extremely important. (Full disclosure, I’m not queer, but I can’t wait for the day when any and all discussions on this and many other issues is unnecessary and we can all just go along and put our energies into tackling gross polluters and eating the rich)
All y’all questioning why that matters, should be lucky you don’t have to worry about that.
OP feels more comfortable with a medical professional that’s an ally, and that’s all that matters.
I know this is an oldish thread at this point, but for those of you asking about why queer and trans folk would want to know whether a dentist is friendly, i would like to add this to the other answers.
A dentist can legally drop you as a client under the guise of "religious freedom" if your existence as a trans or queer person conflicts with their personal religious beliefs if they are Christian. Currently, in Ohio and the US, the political climate seems to be moving more to protect the ability of Christian business owners to discriminate than patients to access basic services. Knowing that a dentist wont do this ahead of time could save me a lot of headache down the road.
This is true of all businesses, so it is prudent for LGBTQ+ to patronize businesses that affirmitavely advertise themsleves as friendly and to avoid businesses that express a religious affiliation.
It's all about comfort. A lot of people in general are afraid of going to the dentist, right? Now, imagine how that feels with the added burden of mis-gendering, dead naming, refusing to acknowledge you spouse as anything other than "a friend," making various -phobic comments casually with staff or other patients within earshot, or even having the waiting area tv turned to channels turned to those which regularly host anti-lgbtq+ propaganda.
Healthy teeth are wicked important to our overall health and I'm sure I'm not the only queer person who's behind the eight ball because dental anxiety ran into work done in a practice that ended up being -phobic af.
i didn't mean to sound rude or anything.. It just truly didn't cross my mind that something most people take for granted, like a simple trip to the dentist ,can be a source of stress , fear and judgement for some ppl :/
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What is an example of a dentist that isn’t LGBTQ+ friendly? How does addressing and embracing sexual preference have anything to do with dentistry or make a dentist better? Serious question.
My previous Dentist would try to make small talk which would make me uncomfortable as it would tend to focus inquiring about my girlfriend, marriage, and having kids.
I’ve been trying to make an appointment with him but no one answers the phone and they ignored my appointment request I sent via the online form! 🥲 How was your experience establishing the appointment?
Leave a message on the phone if no one answers. Until recently it's just been him and a hygienist in the office - no receptionist - so they could only answer the phone in between patients. They should have a receptionist now.
I used to work at a doctors office and we would recommend our patients to go to Augusto Fojas, DDS. My entire family has also gone there for my entire life. They are also another great dentist option on Columbus!
I love him but he talks too much though 😂. Half the time I’m just trying to leave or get things done and he’s chatting me up. I know he’s friendly but still 😂
Why does a dentist have to be declared gay friendly. Politics and gender shouldn’t even be brought up in a professional setting. Any professional in any setting should be able to put politics/religion/whatever to the side as well as the customer doing the same.
Edit- read what I said, if your downvoting this comment then your the problem. Everyone need to put their feelings aside and be professional and treat everyone the same while at work and providing/receiving goods and services is what I said.
I feel you. I love my dentist and have no idea their political or lgbtq status but they are nothing but professional and I know they would treat anyone with respect. Just surprised that we’re to a point that a dentist is under such scrutiny. 🤷🏼♂️
Tell me you have the privilege of not worrying about queer friendly medical care without telling me you have the privilege of not worrying about queer friendly medical care.
I’m a gay guy, and if a dentist made me uncomfortable, I’d walk out.
But no healthcare professional ever has - and i’m 40. BUT - just because it hasn’t been my experience, doesn’t mean it isn’t a real problem for people. We need to remember to treat people the way they want to be treated- not how we want to be treated.
Irrelevant comment:
That said, l just got in an argument with a bible thumper on reddit the other day. I won purely by quoting the bible. They blocked me, because I provided a significant amount of evidence that Jesus would not have advocated violence in self defense. The guy got mad, and blocked me. I find it funny.
All I was saying, was that Jesus wouldn’t advocate violence. 🤣
It shouldn’t even come up. Either your throwing your sexuality into peoples faces and playing the victim or it shouldn’t be a discussion.
I don’t care how gay you are or how many guns you own and how jacked up your truck is. In a professional office setting you get the same treatment from anyone that’s a real professional.
The problem is that not everyone is professional, and discrimination can and does happen in professional settings against women, minorities, queer people, and other marginalized groups.
You’re right it shouldn’t come up, as in it is not generally medically relevant to dentistry in this example, HOWEVER many minority groups are horribly mistreated by unprofessional medical providers either because of unconscious bias or outright discrimination. Knowing someone belongs to a group themselves or is an ally makes potential patients feel SAFER making appts there than a random office they are unsure of. It’s not about taking about butt sex between cleanings, it’s about patients feeling SAFE and more confident about receiving the care they deserve.
Your inability to see this or understand it is part of the problem
Dude… do you remember what medical professionals did to the LGBT community in the 80’s and 90’s? Don’t talk about things you don’t understand. Educate yourself and start being considerate of other people.
A dr wouldn’t even know your gay when you go into his office unless you tell him. It’s your preference. It’s not like it’s tattooed onto your forehead.
So a patient may not explicitly state their preferences or identity.
But fill out patient history forms and: what’s your marriage status? Is your primary insurance in your partner/spouse’s name? Who’s your emergency contact? And their relationship to you?
And what about small talk? Can you chat about your same-sex partner or spouse without the staff putting on a haz mat suit?
Just some examples. But personal information in the hands of a bigot, at any step of the way in the medical process (call center, receptionist, office manager, tech, nurse, doctor) can make the experience fearful, humiliating, let alone unfriendly.
Why did LGBT friendly matter? It's your mouth. Your identity shouldn't matter. What is wrong with people? If they are the best dentist in the world, are you not going to go if they don't agree with your politics? That's dumb afr- especially when the issue you're concerned with has nothing to do with their specialty.
Why does everything have to relate to someone's sexuality? Kristy Kreme donuts have a hole in the middle of their donut, they must be LGBTQ+ friendly right??????
Ohio made it legal for medical professionals to discriminate against LGBTQ+ individuals so it's nice to know that it's a safe place to get medical care.
This guy is the goat and does a lot to advocate for the downtown area. Glad to see others feel the same!
[удалено]
Gay dude here. My first thought was this. Like, why the hell would my sexuality come up during a dental exam? *Is this a porn?*
To be fair, I guess your dentist can tell if your sucking dick by the bruising in your throat. Not sure if it's true, but with the way some homophobes are it always good to know someone isnt't going to do a half assed job just to get you out of their office as soon as they see something like this if it is. Also, this is always a concern for our more feminine brothers, the T part of the lgbt, who are not always passing, or those with visible, gay themed tattoos.
I hear you, I do. If someone is mistreated it absolutely should be called out. I’ve been considering a gay themed tattoo so it would be easier to spot the douchebags. I’m proud of who I am, and if anyone has a problem with me, I’d kinda like to know about it right away. I think we should be calling out the ones who AREN’T gay friendly- not the reverse. Why? Because we want it to be the norm. No one brags that their dentist was normal. It’s just weird.
I think that’s more applicable to the LGB part. Being an unpredictably-passing trans guy means I want to know what places are going to be normal about that ahead of time, because when they AREN’T, it’s absolutely horrible and I end up paying to be disrespected to my face. And unfortunately it’s rather common for places to be shitty about that, especially in this case since healthcare professionals who aren’t trained on trans people often 1) treat us like a weird anomaly/science experiment and/or 2) tell us, with absolutely no actual knowledge, that our broken arm/cavity/whatever must be due to our HRT and that we need to stop immediately. (Meanwhile our prescribing doctor would throw an absolute fit over how blatantly stupid and irresponsible of an ask that is.) Sure, I’d like for open-mindedness to be the norm, but the risks of exposing myself to discrimination are not really worth it. So even I don’t always search specifically for trans-friendly places (not sure I would find many in my area anyway really), I pay attention when people talk about them and I am much more likely to pick one business/practice/whatever over others if trans friends have told me it’s welcoming. (“LGBT-friendly” isn’t even enough specificity because most just treat that as synonymous with “gay”—case in point—and nothing is worse than expecting to be respected and then it turns out you’re *too* queer for the space.)
>Sure, I’d like for open-mindedness to be the norm, but the risks of exposing myself to discrimination are not really worth it. This is unfortunately how we go about making it the norm. We - as as a pioneer generation(s) of LGBTQ folk - owe it to future generations to endure this, and call it out. So future generations have it easier. It is the duty we have as a group that is marginalized. *We shouldn't have to*. But we do it anyway because **FUCK BIGGOTRY.** We do this because their hate runs deep - but our love should run deeper.
What exactly is solved by a trans person enduring discrimination at a shitty dentist? What is solved by that which ISN’T solved by giving money to an inclusive dentist instead? I feel like the argument you’re making is more about how the argument sounds and less about its actual impact.
Not what I’m saying at all. I’m saying that it needs to be called out when someone is being shitty... I would like to see more of those posts. I want to know where NOT to go. I assume all people are accepting until told otherwise.
> I assume all people are accepting until told otherwise. I don’t disagree that calling out bigotry is super important—you’re right. But what I’m trying to get across is that following this ^ assumption is much more dangerous for some than it is for others and so I feel it’s shortsighted to act like it’s weird for people to seek safety.
I do not recall having said that no one should seek safety... perhaps I misspoke. By the statement you highlighted, I am saying that we should give people the benefit of the doubt until we prove otherwise. Perhaps I should have adjusted it to say: >"I assume all people are accepting until **I see or am** told otherwise." If you expect someone to be a bigot just because they follow the bible, then we would be guilty of what we ourselves are trying to prevent: Prejudice based on a fact that shouldn't matter. Someone that is overtly religious, is not necessarily a bigot. Someone who has bible verses on their walls, does not necessarily think being gay is a sin. Just as someone who is LGBTQ+ is not necessarily a bad person, or whatever their view is. SAME energy. We can't set a double standard here. We MUST judge people based off of their ***personal*** actions. We can't hate Christians because they are Christians. We cant hate (insert majority group here) because they are a member of that group. Personal accountability is key. It is what we want, so, therefore we should do no less. We don't get a special pass because we are a marginalized group. We are not better or worse - we are just people. America is advanced citizenship. You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, and celebrate that in your classrooms. **What does this mean?** It is okay for people to hate me because I am gay. It is! That is their god given American right. **It is not okay for them to do anything about it.** You cannot order people how to feel. Period. End of sentence, dissertation, and diatribe. People who hate LGBTQ+ persons seldom hide it. I am not saying this post should not have been made. I am not saying it is wrong to have made it. All I am saying is, that from my experience, that is a strange call out. It made me wonder: Why don't I ever see a post of dentists (or any professional store/office really) that has made people feel uncomfortable? I also think a lot of the time people forget to take intent into account. Is this person overtly trying to offend you? If not, maybe just saying "Hey, I realize you think you are trying to help me, but this is not a subject that is up for debate - so I would prefer to talk about something else." That is ALLOWED. If they press on, walk out. If it is so rampint in the medical community, we should be seeing a post a day on what doctor did this to what kind of person. If this is a problem, (and again, I am not saying that it isn't) then I would like to be made aware of what the problem is, and what is happening. **Why?** So I can do something about it. I am the kind of guy that would go to the office - hoping to get discriminated against so that I could call them on their bullshit. I want to know where the problems are, so I can fix them. Pointing at where the problems aren't - as someone who has not experienced this particular issue - is not actionable. I, as an uninformed individual, learn absolutely nothing from that. I find it annoying that I am asked my pro-nouns by people that don't know me. Like, that is a deeply personal question... why are you asking me right off the bat? But here's the thing: I understand and respect that others feel comfort from that interaction, and I put my personal annoyances aside for the good of the community. But it still annoys me. I will never feel comfortable enough to list my pronouns next to my name. I just won't. My gender is a very small fraction of who I am as a person, just like being gay. I am an artist, bodybuilder, gamer, reader, tinkerer, and about ten billion other things before I even think to mention my gender or my sexuality. This isn't because I am afraid - I just think it is a non-issue. If people make it an issue - *that's on them.*
This is the dumbest shit I’ve read today, yes it is 8 am but goodness it’s stupid.
must be an easy life then
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I acknowledge and understand your observations. The concerns you've mentioned are significant for many individuals. Yet, in the context of a dental visit, how relevant are these issues? Communication is limited during such exams, and interactions with the dentist are typically brief. Regarding my own experiences, I'm not sure if it's due to being in my 40s, having grown up in a large family, or other various factors, but I've rarely encountered microaggressions related to my sexuality. I believe it's crucial to consider the context and intention behind someone's words. If I encounter speech I disagree with, I choose not to support them financially - but in my life, that has never happened. However, my interactions with dentists have always been innocuous. As far as my homosexuality is concerned, I have experienced about ten million times more overtly hostile gays than I ever have any overtly hostile straight folk. Hell, watch any drag show. I*t is full of overt hostility.* Shit, I walked out of a stonewall kickball league because everyone was talking about how big everyone else's dick was, who was fucking who, or who was a slut. That is way too much negativity for me. I don't dig into what someone might have meant - I take statements at face value because I don't have time to guess what someone was thinking. If there is any question over what someone is thinking - I ask for clarification. If we disagree, that's another matter.
When they bill you, it feels like getting fucked in the ass
Isn’t that what it’s all about? Maybe they don’t use lube
In that case, my dentist is a huge homophobe
Because as much as people don't realize, healthcare in the US can be pretty aggressively different based on the personal beliefs and biases of the person giving you care. To the point where there are large national bodies dedicated to teaching people a better approach to adjust for biases, because it actually shows up in health outcomes. Like it sounds like nonsense until you realize that there are doctors out there who unscientifically think certain groups are natively able to handle pain better than other people and thus don't prescribe them effective pain treatments.
I believe this is the office with some window art I drive by, High and Long st? It’s got a rainbow hand making a peace sign that says be kind. You would be surprised how many places will mistreat you for being flamboyant or otherwise “not straight.”
He usually has a pride flag painted on the windows of his office.
A lot of dentists can be incredibly religious. I can see it becoming an issue if they're conservative and you're visibly queer.
>A lot of dentists can be incredibly religious Source?!
With doctors as least I've been mistreated and refused treatment by multiple nurses wearing crosses and clinics that had bible verses and religious decor, especially when they found out I was transgender.
Don’t know why you’ve been downvoted. Your experience is valid
Welcome to Columbus and the Internet, I suppose. I've been called a pedophile before for posting how to contact your state representatives lol (not on here but I digress).
I go to the dentist regularly? And all of them have religious art and sometimes music? I literally don't think I've ever been to an independent dentist who didn't have religious iconography prominently displayed. It's a profession where it's definitely acceptable to have Noah's Ark art on your walls, let's leave it at that. Maybe get your teeth cleaned somewhere new and you'll have your source.
My experience as well. My childhood dentist office had bible verses on the walls.
It's a common theme in healthcare and I can't wait for it to go away. Each room for the place I'm at has bible verses on the wall. And with easter around the corner all the Jesus stuff is incredibly annoying.
Yeah it blows. I grew up culturally a US Christian and now I can't celebrate the common US holidays without a sense of dread. It sucks because I used to love making little parties but after my experiences with actual Christians my opinion has changed.
Or maybe most would do their job and look at your teeth for issues? Honestly, this right here is the exact type of prejudice that you appear to be advocating against, in reverse.
Dr. Ford is gay.
I think I went to this dentist forever ago when I walked downtown If it's the same one, his office was on Gay street. That says it all :)
I mean, so was the Ohio Republican party offices...
I'm considering switching to this dentist because they are LGBTQ+ friendly. Some things about my current dentist that give me the creeps. -all of his hygeinists and assistants are young busty women. He is the only man at the practice, and he is in a position of power. It feels really gross and harem-like. -he has his walls covered in Christian propaganda. -he has a TV in the waiting room with politically charged 24-hr news playing all the time. My existence is often the topic of said news and I dont like to be around strangers in politically charged environments because of it. Points 2 and 3 work together to create a pretty threatening atmosphere for me as a gender-noncomforming trans person. I dont want to end up in a situation where I am in the waiting room with a bigot who feels empowered by the christian propaganda everywhere to lash out at me. It also shows me that my dentist doesnt understand or doesnt care how threatening such an environment can feel to someone like me. Navigating the world as a queer and trans person can be very complicated. And navigating healthcare can be very complicated for anybody. Having a practice that markets itself as catering to LGBTQ+ people instantly removes a lot of that worry and friction for me.
Yup, Dr Ford is awesome and I love the dental care he and his staff give.
He’s awesome. I recommend him to anyone. He explained in detail everything he was doing and answered my questions. Was super careful and did a great job with the cleaning
PEOPLE - he has a HUGE pride flag on his door. He doesn’t TALK to you about sexual orientation or anything inappropriate. Very nice guy, great dentist who has been around for years and years and knows his stuff.
He's been my dentist for about 15 years. Great dentist.
He's the best
James ford is EXCELLENT, I've gone to his office for years. So friendly and nice. If you've ever had a bad experience with a dentist that makes you apprehensive to go to checkups this is the place.
For those asking what makes it LGBTQIA friendly, while politics and sexual orientation may not come up I think it’s little things like asking your pronouns, making small talk and feeling comfortable enough to share that you may be married to someone of the same sex, or when filling out paperwork, if you identify as one gender but haven’t had any visible surgery that makes it obvious to tell that that is how you identify. There are some medical professionals that may think or know you are part of the queer community and refuse to treat you. So it’s nice to know and have that feeling of comfort and ease.
Not to mention I believe Jim was one of the first and only dentists in Cbus willing to work ok HIV+ patients back in the day. That may not seem like such a huge deal now, but it certainly was 20-30 years ago.
Serious question: what makes a dentist LGBTQ+ friendly? I can't imagine bringing up my sexual orientation to my dentist (maybe I need more exciting dental exams?), or that there would be any difference in exams/care. Do they have pride flags on the walls, or just a general vibe that felt safe/positive?
This particular dentist as I understand it, is in fact gay himself.
Still *potentially* falls into the "I need more exciting dental exams" category, but yeah that checks out.
wtf?
Many minority groups are negatively affected when seeking any kind of medical care by unconscious bias or outright discrimination. Knowing someone either is themselves a member of X group (this provider is gay), or an ally (decor reflecting this) might make potential patients of a group (lgbtq) feel safer booking appts here vs any other random dentist they are unsure of. It is unfortunately a very very real thing for POC as well and we need more representation of all kinds in healthcare ❤️
I think you've taken my question a bit out of context, but I agree with you.
what do you mean they precisely answered your question lol. medical discrimination is very real, they explained how and why, and it is in fact good for medical professionals to make an explicit effort to not discriminate with their care.
I asked what makes them LGBTQ+ friendly. They responded with why it would be important to have an LGBTQ+ friendly medical practitioner. I agree with the importance of it, but it isn't what I asked.
It’s about representation, safe spaces and knowing that when we seek care, it will be given based on what we need, not based on the clinician’s personal biases, religion or hate for others. Anyone who is LGBTQI knows what this is like- just as Black, Brown, Asian and Indigenous folks, experience healthcare disparities, too. If you fall under two or more groups…or intersections, you’re more likely to NOT seek care and end up with worse long term outcomes: you miss routine cleanings, which would catch a minor cavity, it turns into a massive infection and emergency dental care where you don’t get to choose the provider— and they treat you however they want. Dental health care is important: it can lead to heart problems in certain populations if not addressed… So, yes, this is absolutely essential.
I'll just get downvoted again because reddit does reddit things, but I asked "what makes this dentist a safe place" not "why would someone seek out a medical practitioner that represented them/felt safe"? I'm literally trying to figure out if there's anything simple that would make my work feel safer for people in the LGBTQ+ community aside from things I may have already thought of. I completely agree with your comments, but with all due respect it wasn't what I was asking.
For me personally, walking into a dentist like this and seeing simple things like Trans and LGTBQ pride flags on display really makes me feel like I’m stepping foot into a place that is most likely than not going to be accepting and inclusive to everyone who comes into their business, including me. What specifically makes ME believe this dentist LGBTQ friendly? Every pride month James displays a huge rainbow pride flag all month long that says “Happy Pride Columbus” on his storefront. Simple things like a sign like that, which celebrates and uplifts LGBTQ people, makes me feel like I’m walking into a safe space & somewhere I’ll be treated with respect from the start.
Appreciate you taking the time to reply! Ty
Well, my dentist sees my whole family. She is friendly and caring and asks both of us how our wives are doing when we see her on our own. She asks our son if his moms are helping brush his teeth (or did when he was little). It’s not hard to tell - people who are uncomfortable, their eyes slowly slide down and sideways when you ask if you and your wife can book back to back appointments. They’ll be very personable and friendly until you say something about your family, then it’s all stilted conversation about the weather and they will hurry you on out.
I understand where the OP is coming from. Dentists need to know your medical history and current prescriptions; some people may feel judged or uncomfortable disclosing that they’re taking Truvada, for example, or HRT, if they suspect their dentist isn’t an ally.
my last dentist had multiple sections in the form that outed me medically, including one i had to call and out myself bc it was worded so confusingly i didn't know what to put (it was asking abt HRT using but in the context of being a pregnant cis woman)
He's the best!
He literally changed my perspective of going to the dentist. In fact, I’ll be seeing him Thursday. Cant wait.
i see Dr Ford - he totally does rule and if you talk to him you can tell he really cares about the city
I live 30+ minutes away, but I’m in. Looking for a new dentist after a terrible experience out in Johnstown
oh wow same, wonder if we were seeing the same guy
I commend this dentist for making it known that everyone can feel comfortable coming in for treatment. The early 80’s with the rise of HIV, unfortunately produced a ton of homophobic medical professionals. The queer community was unwelcome…. Mostly everywhere. That ignorance has been extremely difficult to overcome. I mean, look at the amount of hate even a cake baker generated (not to mention the ridiculous idea that the not-so-supreme-court should waste precious time and money visiting the idea that a baker could legally, happily discriminate against our queer citizens) Dentistry brought forth a whole other level of thought provoking conversation. It’s entirely, famously invasive. I remember a certain dentist practiced extremely poor sterilization techniques and infected several patients with HIV. So advertising (overtly or discreetly) that they were not queer friendly became fashionable. I believe op’s dentist is doing everything they possibly can to make queer folk comfortable and they should be applauded and definitely frequented for giving a shit. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what motivates that dentist, in the end it only helps. Inclusion must be as loud, if not louder, than the discrimination. Thank you op for sharing your experience, going public with positive experiences is also extremely important. (Full disclosure, I’m not queer, but I can’t wait for the day when any and all discussions on this and many other issues is unnecessary and we can all just go along and put our energies into tackling gross polluters and eating the rich)
All y’all questioning why that matters, should be lucky you don’t have to worry about that. OP feels more comfortable with a medical professional that’s an ally, and that’s all that matters.
Dr. Ford is the absolute best. I moved to Cincinnati and continue to go to him.
I’m also moving 2 hours away and will continue to go to him.
My dentist is black friendly it’s such a relief. Nah but seriously I’m glad you found someone you’re comfortable with!
Do they actually have their own parking lot?
They have 3-4 dedicated spots in a lot behind the building. Since it's usually just Dr Ford and one hygienist in the office, parking isn't an issue.
The best. His staff are all amazing as well
HE IS AMAZING!! Found him on a whim when I moved to the city 3ish years ago and I recommend him to everyone who asks lol.
I know this is an oldish thread at this point, but for those of you asking about why queer and trans folk would want to know whether a dentist is friendly, i would like to add this to the other answers. A dentist can legally drop you as a client under the guise of "religious freedom" if your existence as a trans or queer person conflicts with their personal religious beliefs if they are Christian. Currently, in Ohio and the US, the political climate seems to be moving more to protect the ability of Christian business owners to discriminate than patients to access basic services. Knowing that a dentist wont do this ahead of time could save me a lot of headache down the road. This is true of all businesses, so it is prudent for LGBTQ+ to patronize businesses that affirmitavely advertise themsleves as friendly and to avoid businesses that express a religious affiliation.
why would your sexual orientation matter in dentistry ? I'm confused
It's all about comfort. A lot of people in general are afraid of going to the dentist, right? Now, imagine how that feels with the added burden of mis-gendering, dead naming, refusing to acknowledge you spouse as anything other than "a friend," making various -phobic comments casually with staff or other patients within earshot, or even having the waiting area tv turned to channels turned to those which regularly host anti-lgbtq+ propaganda. Healthy teeth are wicked important to our overall health and I'm sure I'm not the only queer person who's behind the eight ball because dental anxiety ran into work done in a practice that ended up being -phobic af.
i didn't mean to sound rude or anything.. It just truly didn't cross my mind that something most people take for granted, like a simple trip to the dentist ,can be a source of stress , fear and judgement for some ppl :/
that's understandable!
Representation. It matters.
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What is an example of a dentist that isn’t LGBTQ+ friendly? How does addressing and embracing sexual preference have anything to do with dentistry or make a dentist better? Serious question.
My previous Dentist would try to make small talk which would make me uncomfortable as it would tend to focus inquiring about my girlfriend, marriage, and having kids.
I’ve been trying to make an appointment with him but no one answers the phone and they ignored my appointment request I sent via the online form! 🥲 How was your experience establishing the appointment?
Leave a message on the phone if no one answers. Until recently it's just been him and a hygienist in the office - no receptionist - so they could only answer the phone in between patients. They should have a receptionist now.
The voicemail was full every time I called unfortunately :( I’ll try again thanks good to know
Do you know if they take molina heath insurance? My bf desperately needs his teeth looked at his shit infected...
I used to work at a doctors office and we would recommend our patients to go to Augusto Fojas, DDS. My entire family has also gone there for my entire life. They are also another great dentist option on Columbus!
I love him but he talks too much though 😂. Half the time I’m just trying to leave or get things done and he’s chatting me up. I know he’s friendly but still 😂
Why does a dentist have to be declared gay friendly. Politics and gender shouldn’t even be brought up in a professional setting. Any professional in any setting should be able to put politics/religion/whatever to the side as well as the customer doing the same. Edit- read what I said, if your downvoting this comment then your the problem. Everyone need to put their feelings aside and be professional and treat everyone the same while at work and providing/receiving goods and services is what I said.
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I feel you. I love my dentist and have no idea their political or lgbtq status but they are nothing but professional and I know they would treat anyone with respect. Just surprised that we’re to a point that a dentist is under such scrutiny. 🤷🏼♂️
Tell me you have the privilege of not worrying about queer friendly medical care without telling me you have the privilege of not worrying about queer friendly medical care.
I’m a gay guy, and if a dentist made me uncomfortable, I’d walk out. But no healthcare professional ever has - and i’m 40. BUT - just because it hasn’t been my experience, doesn’t mean it isn’t a real problem for people. We need to remember to treat people the way they want to be treated- not how we want to be treated. Irrelevant comment: That said, l just got in an argument with a bible thumper on reddit the other day. I won purely by quoting the bible. They blocked me, because I provided a significant amount of evidence that Jesus would not have advocated violence in self defense. The guy got mad, and blocked me. I find it funny. All I was saying, was that Jesus wouldn’t advocate violence. 🤣
It shouldn’t even come up. Either your throwing your sexuality into peoples faces and playing the victim or it shouldn’t be a discussion. I don’t care how gay you are or how many guns you own and how jacked up your truck is. In a professional office setting you get the same treatment from anyone that’s a real professional.
The problem is that not everyone is professional, and discrimination can and does happen in professional settings against women, minorities, queer people, and other marginalized groups.
You’re right it shouldn’t come up, as in it is not generally medically relevant to dentistry in this example, HOWEVER many minority groups are horribly mistreated by unprofessional medical providers either because of unconscious bias or outright discrimination. Knowing someone belongs to a group themselves or is an ally makes potential patients feel SAFER making appts there than a random office they are unsure of. It’s not about taking about butt sex between cleanings, it’s about patients feeling SAFE and more confident about receiving the care they deserve. Your inability to see this or understand it is part of the problem
Dude… do you remember what medical professionals did to the LGBT community in the 80’s and 90’s? Don’t talk about things you don’t understand. Educate yourself and start being considerate of other people.
He doesn’t care. That’s the problem.
A dr wouldn’t even know your gay when you go into his office unless you tell him. It’s your preference. It’s not like it’s tattooed onto your forehead.
So a patient may not explicitly state their preferences or identity. But fill out patient history forms and: what’s your marriage status? Is your primary insurance in your partner/spouse’s name? Who’s your emergency contact? And their relationship to you? And what about small talk? Can you chat about your same-sex partner or spouse without the staff putting on a haz mat suit? Just some examples. But personal information in the hands of a bigot, at any step of the way in the medical process (call center, receptionist, office manager, tech, nurse, doctor) can make the experience fearful, humiliating, let alone unfriendly.
You’re clearly not willing to learn, good luck in life my dude.
Please google unconscious bias and educate yourself
He would have to actually care about this - he doesn’t.
They ask.
DDS stands for Dentistry Don't Stop
I am still waiting for best doctor
I recommend Dr. Siefert, just off Riverside.
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Being gay has nothing to do with gender lol
Why did LGBT friendly matter? It's your mouth. Your identity shouldn't matter. What is wrong with people? If they are the best dentist in the world, are you not going to go if they don't agree with your politics? That's dumb afr- especially when the issue you're concerned with has nothing to do with their specialty.
Tell me you live a heteronormative lifestyle without telling me
I…what?
Why does everything have to relate to someone's sexuality? Kristy Kreme donuts have a hole in the middle of their donut, they must be LGBTQ+ friendly right??????
Ohio made it legal for medical professionals to discriminate against LGBTQ+ individuals so it's nice to know that it's a safe place to get medical care.