Statement on racist and xenophobic violence in the UK
07 August 2024
Racially Minoritised Communities Special Interest Group (SIG) on behalf of and in collaboration with BASHH
07 August 2024
Like many others across the country, and across the world, we are horrified by the racist and xenophobic violence and rioting in the UK over recent days, as shown on the news and social media. We acknowledge the deep pain and distress experienced by many of our members, the wider sexual health and HIV community, and our patients. We stand in solidarity with anyone who has faced abuse or violence as a result of their race, religion and/or nationality, especially in the last week. We understand that in these moments of increasing violent and racist rhetoric, people will be feeling scared. We want to let you know that we are thinking of you.
We are a group of healthcare professionals diverse in race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexuality, class and ability. We are proud of our diversity and our intersectional identities. They are at the heart of our speciality. It is our diversity and intersectionality that makes our patients trust us. They are our strength.
As the UK’s professional organisation for sexual health and HIV, we pay testament to our racially minoritised, religiously minoritised (with particular consideration in this case to recipients of Islamophobia) and migrant colleagues. We celebrate your invaluable contributions to the NHS and we stand with you. We urge NHS employers and leaders to do all they can to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their staff.
Inequalities in sexual health and HIV are fuelled by racism. We would like to reassure patients that UK sexual health and HIV services remain open, and welcome to all. BASHH condemns racism or violence directed towards staff or patients. We will not tolerate this in our services and we will stand against it in order to support the community we serve. We will continue to promote and provide inclusive and respectful sexual health and HIV care to everyone.
In the meantime we ask our members to support each other. Check in on each other, your friends, your families, and your neighbours. Most importantly take care of yourselves. Resilience is fostered by building and strengthening our communities and networks. Compassion will always thrive over oppression.
If you are a BASHH member and would be interested in online drop-in with other colleagues affected by this, or would like to share other information or suggested support with BASHH and other BASHH members, please email admin@bashh.org