Pride in Leadership publishes report on barriers to LGBTQ+ career progression in the UK
By Jayne Love (she/her), PDA Organiser and Equalities Lead
In April, Pride in Leadership published ‘Barriers to LGBTQ+ career progression in the UK,’ a report based on a survey of over 1,000 LGBTQ+ professionals.
Key findings included:
- Many LGBTQ+ professionals develop valuable workplace skills like empathy, resilience, creativity, emotional intelligence, and strong interpersonal abilities through their lived experiences.
- Barriers to career development persist, with 70% lacking LGBTQ+ leadership role models, 50% facing hostile workplaces, and 42% feeling HR is unsupportive, with even greater challenges for trans people.
- Confidence and identity shape career paths, since imposter syndrome, fear of bias, and lack of safety often lead LGBTQ+ professionals to settle rather than to seek senior roles.
- Recruitment lacks transparency, as 93% sensed possible bias, with 16% believing they lost opportunities due to being LGBTQ+.
- LGBTQ+ mentoring builds confidence and clarity, but most corporate programmes overlook LGBTQ+ representation.
- Organisational support varies, with 82% seeing Pride Month marked, but fewer report real action like leadership training (37%) or mentoring (31%), making allyship feel performative without structural change.
- Intersectionality deepens barriers, with LGBTQ+ professionals who are also disabled, from ethnic minority communities, working class backgrounds, or identify as women or non-binary face added challenges in leadership, discrimination, and pay equity.
- Many LGBTQ+ professionals contribute outside of their working roles, with 40% serving as trustees or volunteers.
- LGBTQ+ pay gap lacks visibility with no legal reporting requirement.
For employers, Pride in Leadership recommended:
- Moving beyond performative allyship to embed LGBTQ+ inclusion in leadership, policies, and training.
- Creating a respectful culture for LGBTQ+ staff with policies that allow HR to address breaches.
- Ensuring safe travel options for LGBTQ+ employees.
- Boosting LGBTQ+ leadership representation through mentoring and role models.
- Reporting on LGBTQ+ pay gaps and career progression for transparency.
- Supporting LGBTQ+ staff networks with the resources and time to drive change.
And for the LGBTQ+ community, their top tips were:
- Having the courage to apply for a promotion or a new role.
- Joining or creating an LGBTQ+ staff network and using it to drive real change.
- Finding and supporting LGBTQ+ role models or being one if you can’t see one!
- Engaging with LGBTQ+ professional groups, mentorship schemes, and leadership programmes.
- Buying from LGBTQ+ led businesses and organisations.
- Seeking coaching, training, and other professional development opportunities.
- Supporting each other, advocating and supporting other LGBTQ+ professionals with their careers.
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PDA LGBT+ Network invites nominations for upcoming 2025 elections
Every two years, members of the PDA LGBT+ Pharmacists’ Network can elect three officers, who will lead the network and work alongside the Immediate Past President and co-opted committee members.
The PDA will be holding an election for PDA LGBT+ Network Officers in the coming weeks. Three positions are available: President, Vice-President, and Honorary Secretary. Please see below for further details of the roles.
President
The duties and responsibilities of the President shall be as follows:
- Liaise with PDA staff to plan and deliver an annual programme of activity
- Chair virtual and in-person meetings of the network
- Keep up to date with issues of interest to LGBT+ pharmacists
- Represent the network at external meetings
- Be the principal spokesperson for the LGBT+ Network, giving interviews and being quoted in communications as required
- Be a member of the PDA Equalities Council
- Serve as the Immediate Past President for two further years following their period of presidential office.
Vice-President
The duties and responsibilities of the Vice-President shall be as follows:
- Support the work of the President
- Deputise for the President where necessary
- Keep up to date with issues of interest to LGBT+ pharmacists.
Honorary Secretary
The duties and responsibilities of the Honorary Secretary shall be as follows:
- Ensure meetings are effectively organised and minuted
- Share a copy of the agenda and minutes with PDA staff within two weeks after a meeting has taken place
- Liaise with appropriate members of PDA staff to ensure the effective administration of the network
- Keep up to date with issues of interest to LGBT+ pharmacists.
The committee will work together following the guidance set out within the PDA Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Networks remit to deliver a programme of activity to help engage members and grow the network and its influence.
How to nominate
Those wishing to nominate themselves must be members of the PDA LGBT+ Network in order to be considered for election. PDA LGBT+ members may apply for more than one role, but can only be successful in one.
Individuals cannot be elected officer of more than one PDA EDI Network within the PDA simultaneously. It is recommended that officers are not also Regional Committee or NEC members so that they may devote adequate time to these substantial roles.
Members interested in standing for any of the above positions should email the following information to [email protected] by 5 pm on Friday 4 July 2025:
- First and second name
- Year commenced practice/study
- Qualifications
- Previous/current positions held that they feel are relevant to the role (role title; employer/organisation/university; year started/ended)
- Supporting statement explaining which position(s) they are nominating themselves for and why (up to 250 words)
- A headshot photo for use in the election process and on the website.
The PDA looks forward to receiving nominations!
Learn more
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Upcoming event: Join the PDA LGBT+ Network at Manchester Pride!
This year, the PDA LGBT+ Network are pleased to announce that we will be taking part in Manchester Pride again. Join us and help keep Pride going strong!
Manchester Pride is one of the UK’s leading LGBTQ+ charities. It is part of a global Pride movement celebrating LGBTQ+ equality and challenging discrimination. The theme this year is love, which has long been a source of strength and resilience for LGBTQ+ people. In the face of historical and ongoing discrimination, love has helped queer people have the courage to be themselves.
Date: Saturday 23 August
Time: The Parade starts at 12 pm, but the network will meet earlier for coffee and to assemble!
Scott Rutherford, the Immediate Past President of the PDA LGBT+ Network, said, “This year, the PDA LGBT+ Pharmacists’ Network proudly joins the Manchester Pride Parade to celebrate the theme of love. Together, we stand against discrimination, championing a future where every LGBTQ+ pharmacist can live and work authentically. With vibrant clothing, and dancing in unity, and with pride, we will showcase love as a force for change – breaking barriers and fostering inclusion in pharmacy and beyond. Our presence sends a powerful message: love unites, love heals, love conquers. By marching, we affirm that LGBTQ+ pharmacists and pharmacy trainees and students are seen, valued, and supported.”
More information about Manchester Pride will be sent out closer to the time.
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In case you missed it
Below are recently published PDA news items relating to the LGBT+ Network.
Get involved
- Join the PDA LGBT+ Network here.
- Follow the PDA LGBT+ Network on social media using the hashtag #PDAlgbt.
- Contact the PDA LGBT+ Network committee by emailing [email protected].
- Please also feel free to share this mailing with a colleague that would like to read it.
- Join the PDA LGBT+ Network Facebook group here
- Join the PDA LGBT+ Network WhatsApp group here.
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