Pride Month 2026 – blog by Sam Morgan RVN
Sam Morgan RVN reflects on progress that has been made for LGBTQ+ rights, while acknowledging that openness and acceptan...
Pride Month 2026 – blog by Luke McBlain MRCVS
Luke McBlain, veterinary surgeon, Director and Lecturer of Abbeydale Vet Nurse Training, and past President of the BVNA, sees Pride Month as a chance to recognise the resilience and achievements of LGBTQ+ people, while also acknowledging the struggles of earlier generations.
On this page
I have been fortunate to grow up without legislation that actively discouraged discussion of LGBTQ+ identities in schools, but it is important to remember that many people in our profession and wider society did not have that experience.
My career journey
I graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2023 and began my career in a private mixed practice, where I worked with both farm animals and small animals. After 18 months, I decided to make the move into charity practice, which has been one of the most rewarding decisions of my career so far.
I now work for a large veterinary charity, where I help provide free and low-cost veterinary care for sick and injured pets belonging to owners on low incomes. I find it incredibly fulfilling to be able to make a difference for people and animals who might otherwise struggle to access veterinary treatment.
More recently, I was promoted within the hospital and have taken on additional non-clinical responsibilities leading the veterinary team. This role allows me to support my colleagues while helping to deliver the charity's mission.
What Pride Month means to me
For me, Pride Month is both a celebration of how far we have come as a society and as a community, and an opportunity to look towards the future. While it is important to recognise the progress that has been made, it is equally important to continue advocating for equality and ensuring that the rights of LGBTQ+ people, and other marginalised groups, are protected.
It's a chance to celebrate the diversity, resilience and achievements of LGBTQ+ people, while also remembering the challenges that previous generations faced to create the freedoms many of us enjoy today. Their courage and determination laid the foundations for the progress we've seen, and Pride reminds us that inclusion and equality are ongoing efforts rather than destinations.
Who inspires me in the LGBTQ+ community
I would say the founding members of BVLGBT+. The work they have done within the veterinary profession has been monumental. Since the organisation was established, they have worked tirelessly to improve visibility, representation and support for LGBTQ+ people across the profession.
What I find particularly inspiring is that their work extends beyond education and advocacy. They have created a supportive community where veterinary professionals and students can connect, share experiences and find encouragement from others who understand the unique challenges that LGBTQ+ people may face. Their efforts have helped make the profession more inclusive and welcoming, and their impact continues to be felt by many individuals throughout the veterinary community.
LGBTQ+ history and why it matters
I think it is important for people to understand just how recent many advances in LGBTQ+ rights have been. I was born in 2001 in Scotland, shortly after Section 28 was repealed there, meaning I grew up in a very different environment to many LGBTQ+ people from the generations before me.
I have been fortunate to grow up without legislation that actively discouraged discussion of LGBTQ+ identities in schools, but it is important to remember that many people in our profession and wider society did not have that experience. For them, growing up often meant having little representation, limited support and sometimes feeling unable to be themselves.
Understanding this history helps put current conversations about inclusion and visibility into perspective. The progress that has been made should not be taken for granted, and learning about the experiences of those who came before us reminds us why continuing to champion equality remains so important.
Advice for allies in the veterinary profession
Listen to people's experiences, avoid assumptions, and be willing to learn if you make a mistake. The goal should be to ensure that every colleague can bring their whole self to work and focus on being the best professional they can be, without worrying about whether they'll be accepted for who they are.
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