Tonight, I was delighted to join the Lord Mayor Locum Tenens and Sheriffs of the City of London, representatives from our police, military, voluntary sector, business and residents to raise the Progress Pride flag over the Guildhall.
Pride Month is about belonging – and last night, guests brought that spirit to life. It was a night of joy, community, and visibility.
The event also marked the official launch of our newest City Belonging network: Pride in the Square Mile, which will bring together representatives of LGBTQ+ networks across all sectors in the City. If you work in the City and want to get involved, please sign up here.
I’ve been saddened to see so much hate online during Pride month this year. Much of this content talks about the need to just treat everyone equally and skip all of the rainbow nonsense. For the LGBTQ+ community, Pride is only about trying to ensure everyone – no matter what their background – is treated equally. But the lived reality is still sadly very different.
I am reminded that a quarter of the world believes that being gay should be crime. 70 countries criminalise same-sex relationships – many have recently done so. 11 countries have the death penalty for being gay. When was the last time you had to think about where you can go on holiday or which promotion opportunity with work you can accept because of the location?
30% of gay people have experienced unprovoked physical abuse with 92% regularly receiving verbal abuse from strangers. 1 in 5 gay people have experienced homelessness, 46% of gay people still don’t feel able to be open about their orientation with family. 35% don’t feel able to be open about themselves at work.
Here’s the stat that really gets me though…1 in 5 gay people aged 16-24 have attempted suicide. Older lesbians are 3 times more likely to commit suicide than heterosexual women. Suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 50 in the UK.
I once heard someone describe being gay as having to consider which version of yourself you are able to share every time you walk into a room. The mental exhaustion of not trying to trip yourself up for fear of persecution.
History tells us that change doesn’t happen without relentlessly fighting it. It also shows us the economic benefits when the City of London is seen as a safe space, welcoming to all. So for 1 month each year, the campaign for equality around the world is a reminder to stand together in solidarity, to show others that it’s okay to be to yourself and, to offer support to those who need it most.
Following the flag raising, I was delighted to join Link: LGBTQ+ Insurance Network and the City Belonging Network for a lively reception.
I was delighted to see Francesca Canty, the Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Bishopsgate Institute and her team, which had a education stand sharing some of the incredible archive of historic artefacts from the LGBTQ+ community. For those that don’t know, the the Institute has been proudly independent since 1895. It is a cultural venue located opposite Liverpool Street Station. Their beautiful Victorian building is a place for people to connect over a shared love of learning. They believe everyone’s history should be valued, and their special collections and archives document the experiences of everyday life, as well as the people who have campaigned for social, political and cultural change. It really is a hidden gem you should check out if you haven’t already done so.
It’s an honour to be part of these special networking events and to show my support for such an important community within our City’s thriving business districts.
