Stand up as an ally
Our LGBT+ & Friends steering group hosted an event at London’s Phoenix Centre to launch their brand new ‘Allies’ network.
What is an ally? According to LGBT+ campaign group, Stonewall, who along with LGBT consortium, Gendered Intelligence, spoke to colleagues about how to effectively be an ally and how we all have the power to make things better for LGBT+ colleagues on the frontline, ‘being an ally is about being an active friend or support to someone else.
‘Straight people can be allies to LGBT people. LGBT people can be allies to each other. If we want to live in a world where people are accepted without exception, we all need to be part of the solution.
‘An ally understands that people face discrimination and exclusion because of their identity. They recognise when they have privileges and use them to positively impact others. An ally focuses on what they can do to create a more inclusive culture.’ Click here to read Stonewall’s ‘Five ways to be an ally.’
HR director Central and new LGBT+ & Friends steering group chair, Jane Fairhurst, said ‘I was delighted to attend the Allies launch event and both excited and astonished by the number of people who attended.
‘Their enthusiasm and participation throughout the session was first class! There were nearly 100 people in London’s Phoenix Centre, with a great mix of frontline colleagues, line managers, HR professionals and senior leaders listening to speakers from Stonewall and Gendered Intelligence as well as some of our own Allies on how they have made a difference.’
Summer of Prides
A wave of colour and glitter swept through Brighton and Hove on Saturday as colleagues joined thousands of people at the biggest ever UK Trans Pride event.
Despite a rainy start to the day the clouds parted to make way for a sea of pink and blue flags to across the city. Thousands gathered outside the Marlborough pub and theatre, before making their way along the seafront to Brunswick Square.
Leicester driver, Lucy Sorti, said: ‘This is the first Trans Pride Royal Mail has attended with colleagues from across the UK.’
Royal Mail’s Trans network chair, Julia Casson, added: ‘We have an LGBT group within the company and we really wanted to come to a Trans-specific event to support our colleagues in every single context.’
Supporting Pride is another way we can celebrate our differences, reflect the communities we serve and promote Royal Mail as an equal opportunities employer and a true champion of LGBT+ colleagues and the wider LGBT+ community.
As one of the UK’s largest employers, we are committed to putting equality and diversity at the heart of our business. Once again, all Royal Mail colleagues and their friends and family are invited to celebrate the below Pride events:
- Liverpool – 27 July
- Norwich – 27 July
- Belfast – 3 August
- Leeds – 4 August
- Swindon – 10 August
- Chester – 10 August
- Cardiff – 24 August
- Bi-Pride London – 7 September
- Dundee – 21 September
We want people to sign up to attend the Pride of your choice as early as possible as places are capped. To secure your places, please email pride@royalmail.com with your name, the number of people attending with you, which Pride you would like to attend and whether you would like to be on our much-loved Royal Mail rainbow float.
