From the 1978 Mardi Gras to Today: The Risks of Activism as a Pharmacist
Navigating the Professional Risks of Activism in Pharmacy
Foreword:
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Kay Dunkley, Executive Officer of the Pharmacists’ Support Service, for her invaluable guidance and encouragement in the development of this article. Her insights have been instrumental in shaping this discussion on the complexities pharmacists face when engaging in activism.
At around 10 p.m. on June 24, 1978, a small crowd gathered in Taylor Square, Sydney, rugged up against the cold. What had started as a peaceful march in solidarity with the fight against the anti-gay Briggs Initiative in California soon turned into a night of violence and injustice (Willett, 2000). As the crowd moved towards Hyde Park, police intervened despite an issued permit. When the protestors reached Kings Cross, police swooped in, blocked the dispersing crowd and arrested 53 people. Over the following months, 178 people were arrested during further demonstrations (Sydney Morning Herald, 1978). Many lost their jobs, homes, and relationships after the Sydney Morning Herald published their names, addresses, and occupations.
That first Mardi Gras, born out of police repression and public shaming, is now one of Australia’s most celebrated cultural events. But the risks of activism remain, especially for those of us in regulated professions like pharmacy.
As a transgender woman and a pharmacist, my existence is inherently political. Simply existing can become a matter of public debate—whether it’s the healthcare I can access, my rights, or even my ability to exist without scrutiny. Like the 1978 marchers, I believe that meaningful change comes from those willing to stand up for their communities. But in doing so, I must also navigate the professional and legal consequences of activism in a way many outside of healthcare do not.
During a recent webinar, I posed a question to my peers: how might pharmacists engaging in activism—especially in ways that involve protest and potential legal consequences—be impacted in their careers? The response I received reflected the complexity of this issue.
Kay Dunkley, Executive Officer of the Pharmacists’ Support Service, acknowledged that while political activism is outside the formal role of a pharmacist, health professionals are held to higher standards of conduct than the general public (Dunkley, 2025). While Pharmaceutical Defence Limited (PDL) and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) do not explicitly address activism, AHPRA’s Code of Conduct does outline responsibilities for health advocacy (AHPRA, 2024). However, it also requires pharmacists to report criminal charges punishable by 12 months or more in prison, meaning an arrest at a protest could have professional consequences (AHPRA, 2024).
These responses, while understandably neutral, highlight the reality that regulatory bodies prefer not to engage in political discourse. This is unsurprising, but it leaves pharmacists in a grey area—aware that activism could put our careers at risk, but without clear guidelines on where professional boundaries truly lie.
This is not a hypothetical concern. In recent years, healthcare professionals in Australia and beyond have faced disciplinary action for activism, whether it be advocating for refugee healthcare, Indigenous rights, or climate action. For example, in 2024, a Canberra-based doctor was arrested for participating in a blockade targeting Forestry Corp (Canberra Times, 2024). His name was publicly reported, reinforcing how health professionals involved in activism may face reputational consequences. Similarly, tribunal and court decisions regarding health professionals—including cases related to activism—are published on the AHPRA website, further exposing individuals to public scrutiny (AHPRA, 2024).
For transgender pharmacists like myself, this risk is amplified. The media has historically demonstrated little regard for the ethics of outing LGBTQIA+ individuals. If I were arrested at a protest, my name and identity could be splashed across headlines. If this led to a mandatory disclosure to AHPRA, would it impact my ability to practise? Would I be scrutinised more harshly than a cisgender colleague? These are not paranoid concerns but reflections on a system that has long held marginalised people to different standards.
Additionally, AHPRA’s regulatory scrutiny extends beyond activism and into pharmacists’ private lives. Recent cases illustrate this point, such as the pharmacist who was investigated under the ‘fit and proper person’ test following an assault charge (AJP, 2024) and another pharmacist whose professional conduct was examined in relation to a child assault case (AJP, 2024). These examples demonstrate that pharmacists’ actions—even outside the workplace—can have lasting professional consequences.
The paradox is clear: pharmacists are encouraged to be advocates for health equity and minority groups, yet there is no safety net when that advocacy leads to legal consequences. If the profession values its commitment to social justice, we must have real conversations about how we support pharmacists who take action beyond the dispensary.
The first Mardi Gras marchers did not set out to create a national institution. They simply refused to accept the status quo, despite the risks. Today, the LGBTQIA+ community celebrates that legacy, but we should also remember the cost paid by those arrested and outed in 1978. For pharmacists engaging in activism, the risks may not be as extreme, but they remain real. We must ask ourselves: how do we balance our ethical duty to advocate for justice with the professional risks imposed by regulatory oversight? And more importantly, how can our profession ensure that those who stand for change are not left standing alone?
References:
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). (2024). Code of conduct. Retrieved from https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Resources/Code-of-conduct.aspx
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). (2024). Tribunal decisions. Retrieved from https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Resources/Tribunal-decisions.aspx
Australian Journal of Pharmacy (AJP). (2024). Fit and proper person test examined after assault. Retrieved from https://ajp.com.au/news/fit-and-proper-person-test-examined-after-assault/
Australian Journal of Pharmacy (AJP). (2024). Professional misconduct possibility probed in child assault case. Retrieved from https://ajp.com.au/news/professional-misconduct-possibility-probed-in-child-assault-case/
Canberra Times. (2024). Doctor arrested at blockade targeting Forestry Corp. Retrieved from https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8431023/doctor-arrested-at-blockade-targeting-forestry-corp/
Dunkley, K. (2025). Personal communication.
New South Wales Government. (1979). Summary Offences Act repeal. Retrieved from https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/
Sydney Morning Herald. (1978, June 26). Names published of arrested protesters.
Willett, G. (2000). Living out loud: A history of gay and lesbian activism in Australia. Allen & Unwin.
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