Nicholas Pfleghaar, Gay
2nd Year - Medical Student
LIST YOUR INVOLVEMENTS AT OU:
LGBT Leadership Council, Friday’s Live Access Athens Host, VP of American Medical Student Association, President of LGBTA-POM, VP Emergency Medicine Club, and SpeakOUT! Panel
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO BE OUT or TO BE AN ALLY?
I believe being out is important to serve as a role model for those who aren’t yet out and to be a voice for the gay community and advocate for our rights!
WHY ARE YOU “PROUD”? WHAT ARE YOU MOST “PROUD” OF?
I’m most proud of the fact that I go to a medical school which embraces culture and makes me feel very comfortable being out of the closet and I’m proud of the support I receive from my classmates. It’s such a good feeling to know that future physicians can be open to issues of sexuality. GO OUCOM!!
WHAT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF COMING OUT?
The uncertainty of how people within the medical school would react when they knew I was gay and how that might effect my schooling and career.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHERS WHO COME OUT?
Don’t let fear stop you from being who you really are! Come out to everyone and stand up for who you are and what you believe in!
THOUGHTS FOR NON-LGBT PEOPLE ABOUT LGBT PEOPLE AND CONCERNS:
We have to be careful not to make assumptions for an entire community from individual interactions. The LGBT community is very diverse and unique therefore your experiences with one person from our community is only a small window to look through…so be interactive!
