The Trust's LGBTQ+ Staff Network brought an eruption of colour to the streets of central London on Saturday 2 July for the annual Pride parade. The march started in Marble Arch at noon and ended in Trafalgar Square in the evening.
The parade – which was attended by over a million LGBTQ+ people and allies – was the first since the pandemic and marked the 50th anniversary of the first ever Pride organised by the Gay Liberation Front in 1972. Staff gave out 1000s of flags with a QR code linking to resources on the ELFT website.
ELFT’s LGBTQ+ Network Leader, Fiona Lord, described the event as: “A big deal for our community to share who we are and be visible on the Trust’s bus, marching together around celebrating our wonderful differences.”
Issues still remain for many LGBTQ+ people. Fiona goes onto say: It's been a difficult few years for all of us but particularly the LGBTQ community. I experienced hate crime from the neighbours in lockdown and it was hard to get the right support and it had a powerful impact on my mental wellbeing. This was our first Pride since 2019 as two had been cancelled which was a huge disappointment, so it meant a great deal to us to be there and to be seen on the day. Lockdown and COVID meant that it was very difficult for people to celebrate and to mark these very important occasions to celebrate our community and who we are. So being able to follow the same route of the first PRIDE march 50 years ago in many ways shows us how far we have come but also shows us that is still a long way to go."
David Stevens, Director of Estates and Facilities said: “We are here today because it is important to get out and celebrate who we are and the advances that we have made, look out for our brothers and sisters, and more importantly think about those who are still currently under persecution for who they are, their background and their sexuality. We should never forget that”.
The Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Trans and Queer Plus (LGBTQ+) Staff Network
The Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Trans and Queer Plus (LGBTQ+) staff network provides support to staff, organises events and advises the Trust on the development of services and policies to address inequalities that affect the LGBTQ+ community.
The Network aims to empower all employees to step up as LGBTQ+ allies and improve the workplace culture for everyone within the Trust. It promotes a better understanding of LGBTQ+ inclusion and makes LGBTQ+ experiences more visible in the wider Trust by giving LGBTQ+ colleagues a critical voice and ensuring that LGBTQ+ inclusion is embedded across the Trust.
Thanks to everyone involved in the organisation behind the scenes - and for all your support.
The LGBTQ+ Network can be found on Twitter. The LGBTQ+ Staff Network are now getting ready for Black PRIDE on 14 August. Watch this space.
