Abstract
Purpose
We assessed changes in US medical schools’ social media communication regarding LGBTQ+ topics and changes in website Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) related content after the January 2025 anti-DEI executive orders.
Method
Social media profiles from the top fifty medical schools as defined by the 2024 Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research were reviewed from Feb–June 2024 and Feb–June 2025 and the number of posts featuring LGBTQ+ content was compared. Platforms included X and Instagram. Medical school websites were reviewed during pre- and post-executive orders timeframes and the presence of a DEI office or diversity statement was compared. We evaluated by linear regression whether results correlated with the medical school state’s 2024 presidential voting record.
Results
The average number of LGBTQ+ related posts per medical school decreased from 3.10 to 0.88 (
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Conclusion
We found a significant decrease in medical school LGBTQ+ social media content, publicized DEI offices, and published diversity statements after the anti-DEI executive orders of 2025. These changes may impact medical school climate for LGBTQ+ students and faculty and the impact of these changes requires further study.