Guy’s and St Thomas’ launches Progress Pride Badges

To coincide with LGBT+ History Month 2025, Guy’s and St Thomas’ has introduced Progress Pride Badges for staff wanting to show their commitment to LGBT+ inclusive healthcare.

The new design updates the 6-striped rainbow flag with the Progress Pride flag to better represent the many identities within the LGBT+ community – including trans, non-binary, and intersex people, and people of the global majority.

The new design builds on the NHS Rainbow Badge project that began at Evelina London in 2019 to promote a message of inclusion for patients who identify as LGBT+. Both the NHS Rainbow Badge and the Progress Pride Badge communicate that the wearer provides a safe, open and non-judgemental space for patients to talk about issues of sexuality and gender identity.

The Trust remains part of the NHS Rainbow Badge project, which is now a national assessment and accreditation model allowing NHS Trusts to demonstrate their commitment to reducing barriers to healthcare for LGBT+ people.

The Progress Pride Badges are just one part of a range of Trust activities that build on our commitment to ensuring everyone is treated with dignity and respect regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

The new badge design and initial rollout was generously funded by Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity – as part of their charitable aims of supporting EDI (equality, diversity, and inclusion) initiatives at the Trust.

Professor Ian Abbs, Chief Executive Officer of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, said:

Guy’s and St Thomas’ is the Trust that introduced the NHS Rainbow Badge and so I am proud that we continue to create a welcoming, friendly, inclusive environment for our LGBT+ patients, staff, and visitors.

“This new badge design is part of a wider programme to improve the experiences of LGBT+ people across the Trust. London is home to one of the largest LGBT+ communities in the country and we want to do all we can to remove any barriers to healthcare excellence and celebrate the diversity of our patients, staff, visitors, and local communities.”

Tendai Wileman, Chief of Staff and Director of Organisational Change – the Executive Sponsor of the Trust’s LGBT+ Staff Network, said:

“Many LGBT+ people feel reluctant to share information about their sexual orientation or gender identity in healthcare settings – out of fear of discrimination or of a lack of understanding of their specific health needs.

By wearing a simple visual symbol of LGBT+ inclusion, our staff can help signal that they’re providing a safe space for someone to speak about their sexuality, gender identity, or both. They might be the first person someone has ever felt confident enough to open up to about how they feel.

“Wearing a badge doesn’t mean you’ll have all the answers – but that you are prepared to listen, respect, and support.”

Dr Michael Brady, National Advisor for LGBT+ Health, NHS England, said:

“The Progress Pride Badge is a powerful sign to LGBT+ people that NHS services are a safe space and that we are committed to delivering LGBT+ inclusive care.

It's great to see this initiative as Guy’s and St Thomas’ pioneered the original NHS Rainbow Badge and built the foundation for what is now a growing national quality improvement programme addressing LGBT+ inequalities in trusts all across the country. Congratulations and thanks to all involved.