During Summer 2026, RCPI welcomed speaker Chris Rowan (he/him) from Belong To LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland to Frederick House for an Allyship Workshop. RCPI has worked with Belong To previously running workshops and hosting activities such as Drag Bingo. This workshop took place before Pride and served as a reminder of why Pride is still necessary today. Chris created a safe space for RCPI staff to share what they learned about LGBTQ+ people growing up and provided tools to help participants to engage in respectful, informed and inclusive conversations about LGBTQ+ experiences in their personal and professional lives.
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland boasts a diverse and increasing workforce. The Allyship workshop gave college staff the knowledge and terminology to speak about gender and sexuality with confidence. Ignorance and bigotry breed in silence. This workshop demonstrated that these are not taboo topics to be approached with fear or uncertainty but rather with openness, curiosity and acceptance. Finally, staff learned how best to be an ally to LGBTQ+ people. Participants left feeling empowered and more informed about how to be an ally to their colleagues, friends and family.