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Dr Pavan Joshi, Outgoing Chair of the College's LGBTQ+ Special Interest Group reflects on his time as Chair.

As I step down from my role as Chair of the Rainbow LGBTQ+ Special Interest Group (SIG) at the 网曝黑料, I find myself reflecting on a journey that has been both deeply personal and profoundly collective—a journey marked by community, courage, and challenge.

When I took on this role, I knew it would involve more than just meetings and minutes.

The SIG Chair, as described by the College, is expected to provide leadership and direction, support professional development, influence College policy, and be a voice for members. But for me, it was also about creating a sense of belonging—ensuring that every LGBTQ+ psychiatrist, from trainee to consultant, could feel seen, valued, and supported in their professional identity.

The first-ever LGBTQ+ psychiatrists in the workplace survey

One of the most meaningful achievements during my tenure was initiating and leading the first national RCPsych survey exploring the workplace experiences of LGBTQ+ psychiatrists in the UK, while also gathering insights from those who do not identify as LGBTQ+.

This was more than a data-gathering exercise—it was an act of visibility and recognition. Our aim was to understand how sexual orientation and gender identity influence experiences of safety, inclusion, career progression, and wellbeing within the profession.

The findings were striking: 48% of respondents reported experiencing bullying, harassment, or microaggressions related to their LGBTQ+ identity. This figure rose to 58% among those from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds. Many shared feelings of isolation at work and uncertainty about how safe it was to be ‘out’. At the same time, the survey highlighted resilience, pride, and a strong desire for community, visible leadership, and institutional allyship.

The results received national media coverage and contributed to meaningful change—shaping College policy, enhancing staff training, informing HR practice updates, and supporting the development of the College’s LGBTQ+ Commitments, which urged mental health organisations to create more inclusive and supportive workplaces for LGBTQ+ staff. The voices of respondents have laid a foundation for ongoing advocacy, guiding efforts to create more inclusive, supportive workplaces across our field.

Building community through conversations and events

Throughout my time as Chair, I had the privilege of leading and hosting a series of powerful events - from Pride Month webinars to cross-specialty forums exploring the intersections of sexuality, gender, mental health, and systemic inequality.

These weren’t just professional engagements; they became spaces of solidarity. We shared stories of coming out in clinical spaces, challenged the ethics of ‘conversion therapy’ (now referred to as ‘conversion practices’), and amplified queer voices too often missing from psychiatric discourse. In every conversation, I saw the power of representation and connection. I saw what it means to feel less alone.

Together with the Rainbow SIG executives, we helped foster a more inclusive culture within the College. During the pandemic, we held virtual Pride celebrations, reflective blogs, and webinars that created visibility and connection when many felt isolated. In 2021, we partnered with the College to launch a blog series on LGBTQ+ inclusion in Scotland and hosted a landmark panel on conversion therapy. In June 2021, I also chaired a webinar featuring Professor Saul Levin, CEO of the American Psychiatric Association, and Professor Dinesh Bhugra, former President of the World Psychiatric Association - —bringing international visibility to LGBTQ+ mental health leadership.

We used platforms large and small to centre lived experience. At the RCPsych International Congress in 2023, I curated and presented the session “On Being Me,” where psychiatrists shared personal and professional reflections on identity, belonging, and mental health.

We developed CPD-accredited eLearning modules to tackle stigma, celebrated winning essays through our Rainbow SIG prize, and published blogs and articles in College outlets to sustain visibility year-round.

This collective effort was recognised in 2023 when the College achieved a Gold Award, placing it among the top 100 UK employers for LGBTQ+ inclusion.

I worked closely with College leaders to integrate LGBTQ+ perspectives into policy, training, and leadership development- a commitment that continued through 2024 and into 2025. This included hosting a visit from Fellows across the British Commonwealth, as part of a wider initiative to advance the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ communities in those countries.

Looking forward, I am working with the executive team and College colleagues to deliver our upcoming Rainbow SIG conference: From Marginalisation to Inclusion (add link). I warmly invite you to join us—to connect in person and celebrate the progress we’ve achieved together.

What we have built—through listening, learning, and leading together—is more than a programme. It’s a community. A movement. And a reminder that when LGBTQ+ psychiatrists are empowered to be fully themselves, the entire profession becomes braver, wiser, and more humane.

Navigating a polarised and hostile landscape

Our work, however, did not occur in a vacuum. In recent years, the social and political climate in the UK has grown increasingly hostile to LGBTQ+ communities—particularly transgender and non-binary people. We have witnessed a rise in anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, disinformation campaigns, and the rollback of inclusive policies.

This hostile backdrop had a direct impact on our members and our work. We encountered resistance from many quarters when promoting inclusive language, advocating for trans mental health, or organising events. Discussions could become tense, allies at times hesitated, and institutional caution risked limiting important conversations.

We learned that neutrality can be harmful.

Silence in the face of hate is not an option. Trans and non-binary colleagues, patients, and students are not abstract “debates”—they are part of our professional and personal communities. True inclusion demands courage, clarity, and commitment—especially from those in leadership.

Holding space and persisting through challenge

In spite of these obstacles, we persisted. We created space for dialogue, discomfort, learning, and growth. We worked behind the scenes to ensure inclusive representation in cCollege guidance. We supported members facing hostile work environments, especially those whose LGBTQ+ identities were marginalised or rendered invisible.

Perhaps the most powerful thing we did was simply to hold space—for complexity, for solidarity, for change. In an increasingly polarised world, the SIG became a place where people could be fully themselves, challenge norms, and imagine new ways forward.

Looking ahead: the work continues

As I pass the baton to the next Chair and leadership team, I do so with both pride and urgency.

 There is much more to do:

• Revisiting the RCPsych LGBTQ+ Commitments and developing an action plan to address issues highlighted through our survey findings, sharing across college faculties, divisions and training programmes to help embed this work. 
• Trans inclusion must be central, not peripheral. The College must take a strong, public stance against discrimination and issue clear, supportive guidance for services working with gender-diverse people.
• Allyship must become action—through training, accountability, and leadership development. We need more LGBTQ+ representation in senior roles.
• Mentorship and networks for early-career LGBTQ+ psychiatrists, especially those who are trans, non-binary, or from ethnic minority backgrounds, are vital to reduce isolation and improve retention.
• Challenging harmful narratives, whether in the media, academia, or clinical settings, must remain a priority. We cannot allow pseudoscience, stigma, or ideology to undermine our ethical commitments to equality and human rights.
• Collaborating across SIGs and organisations to build intersectional approaches and broaden the base of support for LGBTQ+ justice in psychiatry.

Gratitude and looking ahead

To every member who contributed to this work—thank you. To those who risked being visible, who spoke out even when afraid, who held each other up—you are the soul of this community. To our allies and College staff who stood with us: your solidarity mattered.

Leadership, I have learned, is not about titles or tenure. It is about creating the conditions for others to thrive. It is about using whatever platform you have to amplify voices that are often ignored or silenced.

I leave this role with deep gratitude and fierce hope—for a profession that embraces difference, protects the vulnerable, and leads with integrity and care. The SIG is more than a group. It’s a movement. A reminder that when we bring our whole selves to our work—and when we make space for others to do the same—we build a better, braver future.

Thank you for the honour and the privilege.

Dr Pavan Joshi, Outgoing Chair, LGBTQ+ Special Interest Group, 网曝黑料