Scott Rutherford (he/they) 4th year MPharm student from University of Manchester, President of PDA LGBT+ network

As a home student and white cisgender man whose first language is English, I face fewer challenges than many of peers studying pharmacy. However, as a queer person, it is always difficult to enter a new environment with new people. As students, we are frequently forced into unfamiliar situations; whether it is a lab full of students, an interprofessional Zoom session, or a ward full of patients and healthcare professionals. We are conditioned into suppressing aspects of ourselves which we worry other people may deem unacceptable. From adapting the way I dress and talk, to avoiding conversations about my partner or what I’m doing at the weekend, I still catch myself trying to mask my authentic self, despite being proudly and openly queer.

When a younger student thanked me for being openly gay and working to campaign for inclusivity and diversity within the pharmacy profession, I was both gratified and saddened that they felt unable to live and study as their authentic self.

Worries about the way LGBT+ people are perceived are not unfounded, either. In my own experience, I have noticed the way my peers seem to take me less seriously than other people, and research suggests that my queerness will lead to others viewing me as less professional and a poorer leader.

Soh Xi Ken (he/him) 4th year MPharm student from University of Sunderland, Honorary Secretary of PDA LGBT+ network

I distinctly remember my excitement to “start a new life” in the UK when I decided to fly from Malaysia to study here 3 years ago. I come from a country where homophobia is institutionalised, although I was never in any real danger, I could not be fully comfortable with my own sexuality. It was to my shock when I had a negative experience coming out for the 1st time in the UK to my peers, adding to the fact I did not have the support structure, know who to turn to or even recognise what I experienced was deeply wrong then.

I was not completely wrong in my ideals that I did technically start afresh and made incredible connections, but it took me awhile to realise that I had support, within and outside of pharmacy. I just wished my educators were more vocal and visible about their allyship, the content that we learned more inclusive and diverse of LGBTQ+ people, my 1st year self would have been more willing to reach out and ask for help.

Joining the PDA LGBT+ network has been life-changing for me, to be able to have so many incredible role models to look up to gives me so much hope that the next generation of pharmacy students, who are not only LGBTQ+ but feel they do not belong, are now able to thrive and find the support they need to do so.

I hope LGBTQ+ students reading this will feel empowered to create healthy relationships, respect yourselves, learn about queer history, find, and give support; it might not be an easy journey, but it is certainly worth it.

And I hope everyone else will challenge discrimination when they see it, listen to LGBTQ+ people and their stories, and be an ally.