Mimi Demissew is the Executive Director of Our Family Coalition (OFC), a leading LGBTQ+ family advocacy agency. Learn how Inspira Advantage's admissions experts can help you gain admission to medical school today.
1. What's Our Family's mission and how have you supported LGBTQ+ families?
To advance equity for the full and expanding spectrum of LGBTQ families and children through advocacy, education, and support programs.
2. What are the most common blind spots you've observed in how schools or higher education leaders approach LGBTQ+ inclusion?
There is an assumption that LGBTQ families and children are not already part of the community they serve. There is also a lack of understanding in thinking that LGBTQ issues are somehow separate from the issues that most families are facing. Our data and several other data sets show that socioeconomic concerns impacting the majority of American families are the same as the ones that LGBTQ families are also concerned with overcoming. While at the same time our families also have the added burden of facing discrimination due to their sexual orientations, family makeup, and gender identities.
3. What advice would you give to students entering professional fields who want to advocate for LGBTQ+ equity from within large systems or institutions?
My advice is that you should first understand the historic context that shapes and creates our current laws and the systemic oppressions we find ourselves having to navigate. Once you have a greater understanding of how America's historical context has shaped and continues to shape existing systemic barriers, you will be better equipped at dismantling these systems and advancing true systems change that is grounded in real equity. At the same time, learn what advances have already been made by the people, communities, and groups who have been in the LGBTQ movement already so that you can build on their foundations. Lastly, build collaborations with multiple groups of people.
4. How can doctors and aspiring medical professionals better support LGBTQ+ families?
LEARN! I can't tell you the number of times that medical professionals have asked me and other families very outdated or heteronormative questions. One example would be to suggest that one of the parents is the "real" parent or to ask same-sex couples which one of them is the "man or woman." It’s difficult enough navigating health systems when you are feeling unwell and/orvulnerable. So reducing as many barriers to entry and creating simple policies and training for staff to increase their capacity and to increase the capacity of the institutions to provide affirming care is critical.
5. What systemic shifts do you hope to see in the next generation of professionals when it comes to supporting LGBTQ+ families, students, and communities?
If we can begin creating policies that center the lives of the most vulnerable among us, then we could alleviate and support so many more families. We need to begin thinking in holistic terms and addressing the whole person and the whole family so that we can break down all barriers to access. What would our health system look like if we centered Black and indigenous, working-class, disabled, and LGBTQ families when designing systems of care and access? If could create something that could truly serve the family that I described, then we could really achieve something great: a healthcare system that makes all families healthy and improves the quality and access of service for all families.
Inspira Advantage is proud to feature insights from leaders like Mimi Demissew, MBA, to help pre-med students understand the importance of culturally responsive care and inclusive support for diverse communities.
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