Pride Month 2026 – blog by Sam Morgan RVN

What Pride Month means to me

Pride Month, for me, is both deeply personal and quietly powerful. It’s a celebration, but also a reminder of how important visibility is.

I’ve been married to my wife for 12 years, and that’s something I’m incredibly proud of, but I’m also very aware that being able to live that life openly hasn’t always been possible, and still isn’t for everyone.

Pride is about being the complete opposite of shame, yet sadly that’s still how parts of the community are viewed today. Because of that, visibility and honesty really matter.

Pride is about recognising that journey, both collectively and personally. It’s also about showing others, especially those earlier in their journey, that it’s okay to be yourself and that there is a future where you can live the life you want.

Who inspires me in the LGBTQ+ community

For me, a lot of my inspiration has come from people much closer to home. Earlier in my career, I worked with LGBTQ+ colleagues who were open, confident and just got on with their lives and that visibility mattered more than they probably realised at the time.

I also have two very close friends who played a huge role in my life. Watching them live openly and build the lives they wanted helped me believe that I could do the same. At a time when I was still finding my way, that example was incredibly powerful.

Through my involvement with the BVNA, I also had the pleasure of working with the British Veterinary LGBTQ+ group. I attended London Pride with them, which was a really special experience, and it gave me the opportunity to meet many other people working across the veterinary profession. Seeing that sense of community, support and shared experiences was genuinely inspiring.

Of course, my wife is also a constant source of inspiration. Building a life together, supporting each other through everything, and being able to be completely ourselves - that’s something I never take for granted.

LGBTQ+ history and why it matters

I think it’s important for people to remember that many of the rights we have today are actually very recent. Things like marriage equality didn’t just happen - they came from years of people pushing, speaking up and sometimes facing real hardship to create change.

That history matters because it reminds us not to become complacent. Progress has been made, but it hasn’t been equal for everyone, and there are still challenges today. Understanding that helps explain why visibility, inclusion and allyship are still so important, even now.

Advice for allies in the veterinary profession

Be open, kind and willing to listen- that’s the most important place to start. You don’t need to have all the answers, but being approachable and respectful makes a big difference.

In day-to-day practice, small things matter such as using inclusive language, not making assumptions about people’s lives, and creating an environment where colleagues feel safe to be themselves.

It’s also important to recognise that, sadly, people still make assumptions and not everyone is accepting. Because of that, allyship really does matter. If you hear or see something that isn’t inclusive, having the confidence to challenge it (appropriately and professionally) can make a real difference.

Ultimately, when people feel safe and valued for who they are, they can bring their whole selves to work and that benefits all of us, as individuals and as a profession.