‘I felt a real sense of solidarity and pride’

For the second time in BPS history members and staff marched together at Pride in London, the annual parade to celebrate and promote equality for the LGBTQ+ Community. Member Carole Carter said 'By marching we are showing people that we will not tolerate the pathologisation of LGBTQIA+ identities. This message of solidarity has been wholly embraced by the public both years we've marched. It is something my teenage self desperately needed and didn't get from the mental health teams I had contact with.'

Brit Clayton – Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead for the BPS Member Networks – said: 'The decision to participate reflects our dedication to cultivating an inclusive and supportive culture. By standing shoulder to shoulder with LGBTQ+ members and employees, we hope to foster an environment where diversity is valued, respected, and celebrated. This outward display of support creates a sense of belonging for all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.'

For some it was a deeply personal and affirming experience. Rebecca Morgan said: 'I've never been prouder to be LGBT than I have when marching with the BPS at Pride. The crowd really supported our message to ban trans conversion therapy and it was wonderful to be cheered for the work we do. Having had harmful experiences of therapy myself, I know how important it is to provide marginalised people with the support they need. Perhaps the best moment was being approached by a woman in her 70s from a country where she said most institutions are not supportive of LGBTQ+ people. She took a photo of me in my BPS shirt to show her friends what change could look like.'

Rob Agnew, the Chair of the Sexualities Section, who co-organised our attendance at the parade, said: 'The current public narrative on LGBTQ+ communities is dominated by loud non-expert voices, and these people are finding their way into the writing of government legislation that affects us. We need organisations like the BPS to leave the clinic and the lab and be seen to be doing the things we are trained to do. Our attendance at Pride in London is a perfect example of how psychologists can work constructively towards a better world, sharing an evidence-based, political message, delivered directly to the public.'

Chair of the EDI Board and BPS Trustee Adam Jowett commented: 'Marching in the parade was a great opportunity for the Society to show its support for the LGBTQ+ community and its commitment to diversity and inclusion. I felt a real sense of solidarity and pride whilst marching alongside other BPS members and staff.'

Pauline Grant, marched with BPS last year as an Ally and returned this year. 'Having marched last year as well as this, there were some notable highlights. One was that, alongside the small group with Bible quotes about being "unseemly", were other church groups promising to be welcoming. Another was the large number of banners/posters in the crowd echoing the BPS messages that Brit was shouting out. Being straight positioned me as part of an invisible minority, an experience worth having from time to time! It also provoked conversation with people curious about my participation, which is an education opportunity that's a serendipitous gain.' 

Brit Clayton concluded: 'As the world continues to strive for inclusivity and acceptance, organisations taking part in events like Pride play a crucial role in promoting diversity and fostering an environment of equality. This goes beyond symbolic representation: we hope our actions serve as a catalyst for positive change. We look forward to joining Pride in London again next year, and invite members to join us again.'