By Kate Jones Equalities and Research Officer, RCM on 04 July 2023 RCM UK Equality and Diversity LGBT

To celebrate Pride and honour the LGBT+ community the RCM has been attending conferences, protests, parades and celebratory festivals across the UK. RCM Equalities and Research Officer Kate Jones shares what the RCM has been up to.

Throughout the summer local Pride events like parades, festivals and community celebrations are an opportunity for the LGBT+ community and their allies to come together, be visible and celebrate LGBT+ identity, culture and history.

This year RCM staff, reps and members are attending a number of Pride celebrations across the UK. In June this included Cambridge Pride, a festival of up to 10,000 people held on Jesus Green in Cambridge. Members of local RCM branches, alongside RCM staff, ran a stall among other trade unions and community groups, where they spoke to the public and handed out RCM goodies.

As a trade union, equity and equality is at the heart of what we do. It was wonderful to be part of the Cambridge Pride event, making connections and showing our support for the communities. The response we had was overwhelmingly positive and we were visible in our RCM Pride t-shirts at our dedicated stall.

The RCM is also planning to attend a number of other celebrations across the UK and we would love for you to join us. At the end of this article is a list of the events that the RCM is organising to go to. If you’d like to come with us and fly the Pride flag on behalf of the RCM just send the relevant staff member an email and sign up to join us!

As well as Pride marches and festivals the RCM has also celebrated Pride by fighting for the rights of LGBT+ people in the workplace at the TUC LGBT+ Conference 2023. A delegation of RCM members attended the two-day conference in London where they voted on motions that addressed a range of issues affecting LGBT+ workers. An RCM delegate spoke in favour of a motion on health inequalities experienced by LGBT+ service users and shared their expertise and experience of the inequalities in maternity care.

It was really inspiring for our delegates to meet other people with similar challenges among their workforce who are  all working towards the same goal – equality in the workplace. We have a long way to go but these conferences, parades and protests will keep the momentum, connection and collaboration we need to make a difference.

Upcoming RCM Pride dates and contacts

Newcastle Pride 22-23 July – contact jane.harker@rcm.org.uk

Wigan Pride 12 August – contact guste.matuleviciute@rcm.org.uk

Calderdale Pride 19 August – contact guste.matuleviciute@rcm.org.uk

Belfast Pride 21 July – contact kerry.harkin@rcm.org.uk

Can’t see a Pride listed near you, or already planning to attend a different Pride celebration? Reach out to your local organiser to get some RCM Pride t-shirts to wear at your local event!

If you are a midwife, MSW or student midwife from the LGBT+ community and would like to share a day in the life story with us for the Pride season and beyond, please contact us at marketing@rcm.org.uk.