It is really important to me that no one should be afraid to be themselves when they come to work. I have learned a lot from the conversations I have with my PA Anya who is part of the LGBTQ+ community and as a result I have become more understanding of what it is like to have to censor your life because of fear of how others might respond. In many cases I feel that people are worried about asking questions in case they say the wrong thing and appear rude. That is why I think that it is crucial that we create an environment where open discussion can flourish. This starts with helping people to realise they won’t be judged for asking a seemingly stupid question or because of what their response might be.
I will never truly know what it is like to walk in the shoes of a LGBTQ+ person every day but as an ally I can support them by calling for an end to discriminatory practices, fostering greater equality and challenging others when they make derogatory comments. I am proud that as a business BAM is also supporting the challenging of prejudices and working towards greater equality for all. We have come a long way since the first Pride in 1969, but there is still so much more we need to do to achieve equality for all and everyone has a part to play.
People ask me if I have reached the end of my journey, now I am an LGBTQ+ ally and the answer is no! I have come a long way but there is always more to learn and more things we can do to foster greater equality. If you are reading this and think you would like to be an LGBTQ+ ally what’s stopping you? As together we can make the change that we want to see.
