To celebrate Pride Month, we spoke with our LGBTQIA+ colleagues to highlight why this celebration is incredibly important for advocating diversity, equity and inclusion, within and outside of the workplace.
Name: Kelsey
Job Title: HR Transformation Partner
What does Pride mean to you? For me, Pride is about feeling proud, freedom and gratefulness. It is about being able to appreciate who we are, what we are and what we can achieve. It is about being able to express our own genders and having confidence in being us. I am grateful and in awe at the work done by the powerful people before us that did so much so that we could one day live this beautiful, happy, love-filled life. I'm so proud of them, and I'm so proud of us!
Name: George
Job Title: Residential Surveyor
What does Pride mean to you? For me, Pride is about having the courage to be your authentic self and live your truth, even if you’re scared of being an outsider. Pride has a deeper meaning than fun parties and celebrations with rainbow flags, but a sense of being recognised and understood in a community of others who have also struggled to embrace who they are. A friend once said, “It’s the one month of the year that I can be unapologetically myself”. Happy Pride everyone!
Name: Stephanie (she/her)
Job Title: Lettings Insurance Operations Manager
What does Pride mean to you? For me, Pride is about unapologetic self-celebration without fear of discrimination or violence. It is about celebrating who I am and being proud of my identity as a pansexual woman. It brings together a community of queer folk and allies to support and embrace one another in a world where many of us feel restricted by the norms and traditions determined by the patriarchy. Pride gives people the strength to own their identity, it takes courage to show up and be authentically you! Every day we see the way marginalised communities are oppressed and we are reminded of why Pride is still so important for educating ourselves and elevating the voices of those who are affected, in order to continue fighting for intersectional equality.
Name: Ross
Job Title: Assistant Branch Manager
What does Pride mean to you? I like to think that Pride is a celebration of diversity, it’s about enforcing equal rights for all people in my eyes. To be loud and proud of who you are and what you believe or stand for.
As a drag queen in my community, I use the confidence I have grown with my persona in all moments of life - but also to empower those whose voices aren’t heard as loudly and ensure that people of all genders and orientations feel that they can celebrate who they are, without fear. If I can walk around the local supermarket being authentically myself, I hope that it helps just one other person to be comfortable and realise that they are not alone.
Having Pride month celebrated at work has helped me to feel safe and supported as a queer-identifying person in the workplace, which gives me the ability to have open discussions with colleagues and describe how someone who identifies as LGBTQIA+ may feel. By celebrating Pride, we make our branch known as a safe place, which helps customers to feel comfortable about asking about the LGBTQIA+ community in their local area.
Happy Pride Month to everybody in the LGBTQIA+ community and to allies supporting the cause. We will continue to inspire positive change and support our staff and customers throughout 2023 and beyond.
