Someone recently told us they fail to understand why sexual orientation in the workplace is an issue and that discussion was irrelevant. They rightly suggested that equal human rights for all should be the benchmark. A statement with which we wholeheartedly agree. We think it’s a mark of how far British society has come in our life times that we generally don’t see race, age, sexual orientation or religion as issues. Although this too is in question in recent months in light of the murder of George Floyd and subsequent protests around the world and the fact that only this month the US Supreme Court ruled to grant LGBT+ American citizens workplace protections - meaning that LGBT+ employees can no longer be dismissed on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity - a protection introduced in UK law in 2004.
For our founder Andy, growing up gay in Lincolnshire in the 90's was not actually the horrific experience people imagine. He has a loving family who, for the most part, allowed him to come out easily. His friends were supportive too. He used to joke that he was “the only gay in the village” until he realised that within a year either side of his school year there were 13 LGBT+ kids living in the village. There were of course a few stand out moments of homophobia but overall the transition out of the closet was painless.