Introduction
Increasingly, lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) health professionals have become open to colleagues and patients in their workplaces. This openness has led to polarised responses, from accusations of inferiority, to celebrations of diversity. Associations of LGB health professionals have been formed to provide support and guidance, and the demand for their existence points to the ongoing challenges faced by this minority group.

Method
The author was one of the founding members of the Australian Lesbian Medical Association in 1999. Her involvement with most of the annual ALMA conferences since then has enabled collection of a rich array of stories from the coalface regarding experiences of being non-heterosexual within the dominant medical culture. These stories, when combined with a review of the literature, build a picture that reveals both the hazards and strengths of attempting to integrate these identities.

Results
Women at every conference seek discussion about coming out at work, and whether this might be irrevocably damaging to their career. There are many fears and actual experiences of discriminatory treatment, and many initially share feelings that their minority sexual identity and medical identity are incompatible. However, through supportive discussion and active role modelling, they reflect that it is not only possible to be a diverse doctor, but that it brings an added strength that benefits our work.

Conclusion
The strengths will be explored, with a discussion of the implications for the need to actively support a broad range of diversities within health professional training and workplaces.