Pride in Medicine
Pride in Medicine is a newly founded, not for profit organisation of rainbow doctors, medical students and allies. Our group started in 2022 with a small group of senior surgeons and O+G specialists, as a way to shine a light on issues affecting rainbow people in healthcare. It was quickly realised there was a need to provide visibility to, and advocacy for medical students and clinicians within our community, and we opened the doors to medical students and doctors from all specialities.
Despite being new, our organisation now encompasses a diverse group of over 120 members of varying levels of experience and specialisation,who are members of the rainbow community or allies. Our first project has been to garner the support of the medical colleges to participate in the Sydney World Pride Mardi Gras Parade, a highly visible show of support for the rainbow community.
Through advocacy, education and mentorship, we aim to be a voice for rainbow medical students, doctors, and patients. We want to create an environment where doctors feel safe to be their authentic selves at work and eliminate the inequities faced by our rainbow patients.
Our mission
Doctors and medical students from Australia and Aotearoa working toward equity, visibility and inclusion in healthcare for our rainbow patients and colleagues.
Our Values
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We aim to build a community which is a source of support and resources for rainbow doctors and medical students.
We want rainbow doctors, trainees, and patients to see themselves reflected and valued in the medical workforce.
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We believe that the rainbow community deserves equity of access to health resources, equity of outcomes, and equitable access to healthcare experiences that meet their needs everywhere.
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We aim to advocate for our rainbow colleagues and patients to have culturally safe, affirming, and inclusive experiences in healthcare.
We embrace opportunities to educate, support, and be leaders in medical spaces.
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We embrace the diversity and intersectionality in the rainbow community and wish to see it within our medical workforce in order to provide the best care for rainbow patients.
We value the perspectives contributed to rainbow communities by people from different ethnic and cultural groups, Disabled People/Tāngata whaikaha, and people from other backgrounds.
We recognise the injustices experienced by First Nations People in our settler-colonial nations, the intersectional disadvantages impacting LGBTQIA+SB and Takatāpui people, and the particular work we must do to achieve equity for these communities.
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We want rainbow people to be included in the health system in a way that provides them culturally safe and affirming experiences, empowers them to actively collaborate in decision-making, and meets their needs in all areas of healthcare.
Why rainbow?
Rainbow refers to the full spectrum of sexual, gender and cultural diversity inclusive of LGBTQIA+SB*/Takatāpui**/Queer people.
*LGBTQIA+SB is an acronym referring to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Indigenous identities Sistergirl and Brotherboy.
For more information click here.
**Takatāpui is a Māori (Indigenous people of Aotearoa NZ) word, historically meaning 'intimate companion of the same sex'. The term was reclaimed in the 1980s and is used by individuals who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex or part of the rainbow community.
