RANZCR is proud to officially celebrate Sydney WorldPride 2023 (17 February – 5 March) for the first time in support for safe, informed, inclusive and respectful health care for LGBTQIA+ patients while recognising our ever increasingly diverse workforce in clinical radiology and radiation oncology. This is aligned with RANZCR’s ongoing commitment to improving health outcomes for all.
Not only will the College Coat of Arms take on rainbow hues during the festival period, but a clinical radiologist representative and a College staff representative will march among sixty medical and health care professionals in the Pride in Medicine float at the 2023 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and WorldPride Parade on 25 February together with 12,500 marchers from over 200 floats marching along Oxford Street. This is an important College initiative jointly made possible by the Royal Australiasian College of Surgeons (RACS), Australian College of Rural Remote Medicine (ACRRM), The Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC), The Royal Australiasian College of Physicians (RACP), The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) and The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) and many more.
The Pride in Medicine float will be a flatbed truck of three mobile ED assessment bays staffed by doctors in sequinned scrubs and drag queens, flanked by banners showing the participating colleges’ logos. Fifty marchers will trail behind in rainbow-coloured sequined scrubs and LED lights performing intermittent choreographed dance moves.
Clin A/Prof Sanjay Jeganathan, RANZCR President, said: “The LGBTQIA+ community is a minority that experiences disparities in health outcomes due to stigma, discrimination and denial of civil and human rights.”
“Clinical radiologists and radiation oncologists will serve our patients well and with fairness if we reflect our wide diversity and give support to all our cultural constituents. The World Pride parade is more than a street celebration with colourful floats and flag-waving marchers. It’s our proud moment to demonstrate our willingness to advocate for the health of LGBTQIA+ people and indicate to medical students and junior doctors that we welcome and encourage them from the LGBTQIA+ community to become part of our professional community.”
Duane Findley, RANZCR CEO, said: “RANZCR is honoured to join other medical colleges to present the Pride in Medicine float at the biggest LGBTQIA+ event in Sydney. It is the first time for the College to display our position officially and publicly in supporting for diversity and inclusion. I strongly believe it will help forge a positive workplace culture for clinical radiology and radiation oncology professions that leads to safe, inclusive, equitable health care for all Australian patients, regardless of gender and sexuality.”
Clin A/Prof Glen Lo, a Clinical Radiologist from WA, Fellow of RANZCR, commented: “I am excited to collaborate with the diverse representation of medical specialists, junior doctors and medical students from both Australia and Aotearoa NZ at this year’s Mardi Gras WorldPride Parade, representing RANZCR. I would like to take this opportunity to raise awareness that our professions are a critical, integral part of the health care system and to advocate for equitable access to healthcare in both countries.”
Look out for the Pride in Medicine float!
Spot the RANZCR pride logo at Mardi Gras Parade 2023!
Cheer for us when you spot us at World Pride!
Help us deliver a message:
Despite our diversity of experience and practice, we are equal and united in our support of our LGBTQIA+ patients, medical students and colleagues!
Approximate March Time:
Around 9:40pm, Saturday, 25 February 2023.
(Actual time may differ depending on the parade proceeding on the day)
Follow us on social media for more updates on Mardi Gras 2023.