The SoR is urging members to get involved in the 2024 Glasgow Pride march later this month.
Taking place on Saturday 20 July 2024 , Glasgow’s 2024 Pride parade will begin at Festival Park, near the Glasgow Science Centre, and will be kicked off by GO Radio presenters Crofty and Gina McKie. It will move to Govan Road and continue through Clyde Arc, Anderston Quay and Brown Street before its final stretch through Argyle Street, Queen Street, Trongate and Greendyke. The march will come to an end at Whistler on the Green.
Glasgow Pride’s organisers have noted that the route is susceptible to change at any time, including when the march is in progress.
To join the SoR at Glasgow Pride, members will need to email [email protected].
'Most inclusive pride possible'
Glasgow Pride is billed as the “most inclusive pride possible”, building on the 50,000 attendees recorded at the 2023 event. The 2021 Glasgow Pride march was the largest march held in the UK that year.
James Barber, Therapeutic Radiographer and chair of the SoR's LGBTQI+ Equalise Workers Group, said that it is necessary for the Society to get involved with Pride to sustain and support the progress achieved by the LGBTQI+ community.
“I think it is impossible to overstate the continued importance of Pride,” he said. “It is easy to assume that these days the work of gaining equality and equity for the LGBTQI+ community is done and that these events are just a party, but if you look beneath the surface you quickly see that there is still a long way to getting true equality for our community and even the ever-present reality of backsliding around the world and the threat of this happening closer to home.”
“Visibility at events like Pride is incredibly important, both in keeping this at the front of the mind of the general public, and showing support to the community from its members and friends and allies.”
Supporting employee’s rights
Mr Barber added that the SoR’s presence at Pride events represents a culture of support in the medical community and in wider society: “Having the Society of Radiographers marching at members' local Pride events, like Glasgow, shows that their union and professional body supports them and will not tolerate infringement on their rights, and gives us all a chance to show support for our friends, colleagues and loved ones who are a part of this community.”
This isn’t the first time the SoR has gotten involved with Pride. In 2023, the Society jointly sponsored a double-decker bus with the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust at London Pride. The Society also had a presence at Belfast Pride and UK Black Pride - which took place in East London - last year.
At the time, Mr Barber said that participating in Pride events had allowed the Society to engage with intersectionality and understand the experiences of colleagues from across the UK.
Equalise is the SoR’s equality and diversity network. Those interested in becoming a member can sign up at www.sor.org/equalise.