What do pronouns have to do with using the restroom? Everything. In a time when policies are making people afraid to simply exist, veterinary professionals can’t afford to stay silent. Real allyship means more than words — it’s about action, visibility, and creating a world where everyone can show up fully, safely, and authentically… and yes, just pee in peace.

There’s a story making its rounds in the veterinary and legal worlds right now: A UK court just ruled that a veterinary practice unlawfully discriminated against a client, Ms. Bailey, when they banned her from returning, partly because of her gender-critical beliefs. She’s a friend of J.K. Rowling, and the practice knew it. They said it was about her behavior, but the court found the evidence didn’t support that alone.

You might be thinking, “Well, that’s the UK. Different laws. Different systems.” Or “J.K. Rowling… I can’t even with that.” But here’s why this matters to us in a HUGE way, right now, in veterinary medicine:

We have a blind spot in our profession around terminating client relationships. This court ruling sets a precedent that should have every veterinary leader looking closely at how and why we terminate client relationships. We can’t afford to be sloppy or inconsistent if we want to protect our teams and our practices