Out in the Match: LGBTQ+ Applicants Read Programs Closely

LGBTQ+ general surgery applicants use small signals to judge whether a residency program is psychologically safe, and some hide their identity to avoid being filtered out.

• Seventeen current US LGBTQ+ general surgery residents were interviewed in a qualitative study.
• Participants disclosed their identity as a “litmus test” for affirming programs, or concealed it out of fear of not being ranked.
• Micro-signals such as pronouns, pride symbols, and the tone of answers to LGBTQ+ questions shaped their assessments.

Programs that show visible LGBTQ+ representation among residents and faculty, and that answer identity questions with clear, consistent tone, may recruit these applicants more effectively. This qualitative study identifies signals applicants notice; it does not measure whether any program change improves recruitment or residency experience.