The SoR’s LGBTQI+ Equalise Workers Group took part in London Pride last weekend, joining 35,000 participants in the parade at the UK’s largest Pride event.
Donning rainbow tattoos, face paint and glitter, radiographers and SoR staff members alike marched from Hyde Park Corner through to Piccadilly Circus, Haymarket, Cockspur Street and Trafalgar Square, finishing off at Whitehall Place. A lively cheering crowd lined the parade route as music from the likes of Charli XCX and Chappell Roan provided the soundtrack for the day.
London Pride 2025 took place on Saturday July 5 and the annual event attracts more than a million visitors each year.
The SoR Equalise Workers Group was one of 500 groups that took part in the parade, which was led by LGBTQ+ community groups.
Hannah Austen and CJ Parish enjoying Pride London 2025
Important to get involved
James Barber, chair of the SoR's LGBTQI+ Equalise Workers Group, marched with the SoR group. He said that participating in the parade highlighted the SoR’s commitment to inclusivity.
“Today was amazing,” he said after the parade.
“It really showcased the society’s commitment to inclusivity issues and the LGBTQI+ community.”
Mr Barber added that this is a particularly important time to show solidarity with the LGBTQI+ community: “Especially with everything that’s going on at the moment with various backwards steps in inclusivity, it’s good to keep our name on the front line of being involved, being inclusive and showing everyone that that’s where our commitment is, and it’s not just on paper and policies, it’s putting ourselves out there and engaging in the community.”
Katie Thompson, the newly-inaugurated SoR president, was also in attendance. Reflecting on the parade, she said that it is important to integrate the values of Pride in all areas of life, and emphasised the importance of equality as an SoR core value.
“I think everyone should incorporate Pride in all of their life,” she said. “I think it’s really important that we treat everyone as equals. The Society of Radiographers believes that, we here today believe that.”
Katie Thompson, President of the SoR, marching in London Pride 2025
More about the SoR and Pride
The SoR is a regular attendee at Pride events across the UK. The organisation also had a presence at London Pride 2023, where it jointly sponsored a double-decker bus with the Royal Free London. To read about the SoR’s experience at London Pride 2023 - and a roundup of other Pride events in 2023 - click here.
The LGBTQI+ Equalise Workers Group also attended Glasgow Pride in July 2024, where they flew the flag for LGBTQI+ representation. To find out more about the SoR at Glasgow Pride, read the September 2024 edition of Synergy here.
(Image credits: Eva Slusarek)