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Home  »   LGBT+Latest News   »   LGBT+ Pharmacists’ Network Newsletter – April 2021

LGBT+ Pharmacists’ Network Newsletter – April 2021

In the latest LGBT+ Pharmacists’ Network Newsletter, find out how to nominate in the upcoming elections and read first-hand stories and experiences of LGBT+ Network Members.

Sat 17th April 2021 The PDA

In this issue:

  • LGBT+ Network invites nominations for upcoming elections
  • Being ‘out’ as part of the LGBT+ community at work
  • Being BAME and LGBT+: My personal coming out story
  • Just Like Us #YoungerMe campaign
  • Staccato: Personal notes by a respiratory pharmacist during a global pandemic
  • Get Involved

LGBT+ Network invites nominations
for upcoming elections

The PDA LGBT+ Pharmacists’ Network has grown substantially over the last year and in the coming weeks, the PDA will be running an election for LGBT+ Officers to lead the network.

Three positions are available: President, Vice-President, and Honorary Secretary. Further details about the roles can be found here.

These roles are voluntary and the term is for 2 years. Only PDA LGBT+ Network Members can apply for these positions. You may apply for more than one of the advertised roles but can only be elected to one of the positions. Nominations must not already be officers of another PDA EDI Network.

Further details on how to apply can be found by clicking below. We look forward to receiving your nominations!

 

LEARN MORE

Being ‘out’ as part of the LGBT+ community at work

By Jayne Love (she/her), PDA Organiser and LGBT+ Network Coordinator
Research carried out by Stonewall in 2018 discovered that when at work, becoming ‘out’ and open about your sexuality if you are part of the LGBT+ community was still a problem. Over 35% of LGBT+ workers admitted hiding their identity at work due to fear of discrimination, with this rising to 42% for LGBT+ BAME colleagues and 51% for transgender staff.

The research further revealed that 18% of LGBT+ workers had been the target of negative comments or conduct from their colleagues within that year because they were a member of this community. Those who identified as BAME or disabled in addition to being LGBT+ were more likely to experience harassment and abuse in the workplace. With 10% of LGBT+ and BAME workers reporting being attacked by customers or colleagues within that year, compared to 3% of white people.

Further, 24% of trans workers said they did not get a promotion they were up for at work because they were transgender, compared to 7% of LGB people who were not transgender. Additionally, 24% of LGBT+ disabled people said they were excluded by colleagues in that year.

 

LEARN MORE

Being BAME and LGBT+: My personal coming out story

By Vimal Patel (he/him), Community Pharmacist and PDA LGBT+ Network Member
Coming out of the closet was unquestionably difficult. When you are both LGBT+ and BAME, it is especially hard as there is double prejudice. One would have thought that the BAME community would be more accommodating, considering that they face their own prejudices, mostly racism.

However, I have found less acceptance from the BAME community regarding LGBT+ individuals. I consider that the issue is more of a cultural one in instances where family and standing in the community are placed over the needs of the individual.

For example, something as simple as marrying somebody of a different caste, religion, or race in a heterosexual relationship can create issues and tensions, with bickering amongst the community. Try and imagine telling them that you are LGBT+, which is often considered taboo.

 

LEARN MORE

Just Like Us #YoungerMe campaign

By Scott Rutherford (he/him), third-year pharmacy student and PDA LGBT+ Network Member
Just Like Us is a charity that aims to empower young lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, as well as people who belong to other less common identities (abbreviated to LGBT+), whilst educating non-LGBT+ young people about LGBT+ identities. Just Like Us trains 18–25-year-olds to visit schools and share their stories and run workshops about different sexual orientations and genders.

In December 2020, Just Like Us ran a campaign called #YoungerMe which invited LGBT+ people to share a photo of themselves when they were younger (or something that represents their childhood) and tell the world about the impact that LGBT+ inclusive education would have had on them when they were growing up. The campaign attracted the attention of the whole community and shed a light on the importance of making sure young people know that they have a place within their schools, colleges, and the wider community.

 

LEARN MORE

Staccato: Personal notes by a respiratory
pharmacist during a global pandemic

Ameet Vaghela (he/him), lead pharmacist for respiratory and allergy services
I was born in Harrow, London and was brought up in Lusaka, Zambia, and completed my studies in the UK. I am a NHS respiratory pharmacist in Brighton. Some things I enjoy are singing with the Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus, origami paper folding, watching dystopian films, and getting to grips with Twitter!

‘Staccato’ is my first publication – and I was selected as one of five finalists in a pharmacy writing competition. I am proudly married to my husband, Tarun, and we live in Brighton.

To read Ameet’s publication, click below.

 

LEARN MORE

Get Involved

  • Follow the PDA LGBT+ Pharmacists’ Network on social media using the hashtag #PDAlgbt
  • Please also feel free to share this mailing with a colleague that would like to read it. 
  • Pharmacists that are not yet members of the PDA LGBT+ Pharmacists’ Network can join here.

 

VISIT THE LGBT+ PHARMACISTS’ NETWORK PAGE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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