LGBTQI-RectangleLGBTQIA+

Supporting pharmacists to achieve their potential is part of our ambition to create a culture of belonging. Sexual orientation is one of the areas where people in our inclusion and diversity survey thought more support was needed for the profession.

Our survey told us one in ten of you felt that the profession wasn’t welcoming to all individuals, irrespective of their background, beliefs, gender and sexuality – and a further one in four weren’t sure.

Embracing equality for a stronger profession

It’s great to see some of the work the RPS is now doing around equality, inclusion and diversity issues, to celebrate the diversity of the pharmacy profession and to help promote the principles and practice of inclusion.

- Julie Morgan

Embracing pride amidst adversity

Standing behind trans people and the LGBTQ community. It's a tough world out there and to see posts celebrating Pride in the face of adversity is great, such as posts during Pride Month.

- Anonymous

Identifying the problems

We need more visible and authentic leadership at all levels in pharmacy so that everyone feels welcome and they can be their authentic selves at work.

More than a third of LGBT staff have hidden or disguised that they are LGBT at work because they were afraid of discrimination.

Being able to show your whole identity is central to your leadership style - find out why visible leadership matters.

One in five LGBT people aren’t out to any healthcare professional about their sexual orientation when seeking general medical care, and one in seven have avoided treatment for fear of discrimination because they're LGBT. 

There is a severe lack of teaching around LGBTQIA+ issues in pharmacy education and, where it is present, it reinforces marginalisation — the profession must take steps to improve.

What you can do

Together, we can tackle discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people in our pharmacy workplaces.

As a pharmacist, here are some actions you can take, and some resources to help you understand the issues they face.

Microaggressions

picture of RPS LGBTQIA+ microaggressions posterMicroaggressions are the everyday, subtle, intentional — but often unintentional — interactions or behaviours that communicate bias against LGBTQIA+ people.

Tackling microaggressions can make a real difference to workplace culture. We’ve worked with our ABCD LGBTQIA+ group and the PDA’s LGBTQIA+ network to develop resources on microaggressions.

Find out more about LGBTQIA+ microaggressions, how to challenge them if you experience them and how positive micro-affirmations can make all the difference to workplace culture.

Download our poster on LGBTQIA+ microaggressions for your workplace. 

Improve communication and understanding with patients by downloading our LGBTQIA+ glossary to better inform conversations with patients and make healthcare more inclusive.

Breaking barriers

Fire your imagination with the achievements and experiences of others!
picture collage of Vimal Boulton-Patel and Andrew Sommerville

Pledge for Inclusion and Wellbeing

ABCD graphicSign our Pledge to demonstrate your support for a profession that's inclusive, celebrates diversity, creates a culture of belonging, and supports pharmacy teams’ health and wellbeing.

SIGN OUR PLEDGE

Already signed our pledge, but don’t know how to put it into action? We can help!

Join our Action in Belonging, Culture and Diversity (ABCD) Group

Our ABCD group is a place to talk through ideas, create change, and build networks across the profession.

At our meetings we hear from people with lived experience and create a culture of belonging, champion inclusive and authentic leadership and challenge barriers to inclusion and diversity:

If you share our passion for inclusion and diversity, get involved!

JOIN THE GROUP

RPS coat of armsWhat we're doing

At our RPS Action in Belonging, Culture and Diversity (ABCD) meetings – the forum where you talk with us about inclusion and diversity – you’ve raised key issues you want us to champion. Some of the things we do involve:

  • Working with a range of Schools of Pharmacy to embed LGBTQ+ topics within the undergraduate curriculum
  • Developing inclusive healthcare toolkits for pharmacists with the Pride in Practice programme from the LBGT Foundation
  • Call on the Government to expand provision of pre-exposure prophylaxis to community pharmacies and GP practices as part of the Government’s HIV Action Plan

Our Blogs

You're not alone! Many RPS members have written about their experiences in promoting and fighting for Inclusion and Diversity in pharmacy.

Discover their stories and learn about how their experiences, background and culture have shaped who they are today.

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