This year marked 50 years of London Pride. My husband marched in the parade, alongside thousands of others, to celebrate the great leaps that have been made since that first protest in 1972. I was there too, having a joyous experience in the city.
Pride is a time to celebrate and stand proud, but it鈥檚 also a time to reflect on the progress still to be made. It鈥檚 important that we remember those who couldn鈥檛 be there and to stand in solidarity with those in our community living in the 69 countries where homosexuality is still illegal.
A crowd of people hold placards from Amnesty International stating 鈥楲ove is a Human Right鈥欌��, while others also hold rainbow flags of various sizes, at a London Pride parade. Many are wearing colourful feather boas and some are blowing whistles. A few can be seen with rainbow face paint.
Whilst June is Pride Month, there are events in cities around the world all throughout the summer: last weekend (9th July), we celebrated Cambridge Pride in 91导航鈥檚 home city. This week also marks the sixth month for me as a Gearcitizen, and naturally that鈥檚 given me pause to reflect on my journey so far.
For me, it鈥檚 impossible to separate the personal and the professional at times like this. I鈥檓 so proud to work in a company where everyone is encouraged and supported to bring their whole selves to work. It鈥檚 easy to forget that not everyone has a safe and supported environment that they can enjoy.
In fact, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation found that 46% of LGBTQ workers aren鈥檛 open about their sexual orientation or gender identity at work, and that 1 in 5 have suffered discrimination at work. Whilst the idea of being a 鈥榣eader鈥� sometimes sits uncomfortably with me, I know that I have a duty to use the opportunities I have to raise awareness and advocate for what鈥檚 right.
But I鈥檓 not the only voice at 91导航.
Hannah
鈥淭he most impactful moment of the weekend at London Pride for me was having the opportunity to thank some of the people who had fought for LGBTQ+ rights at the first London Pride in 1972. They walked in the 2022 parade holding signs that said 鈥楶ride @ 50. Still fighting for global LGBT+ freedom鈥�. It was so emotional that I had to re-apply my glittery rainbow face paint as my tears meant the makeup had smudged down my face!
I had two conflicting emotions in that moment as I cheered them on: gratitude for the colourful life I鈥檓 able to live 50 years later, and sadness that 鈥榮till fighting for LGBT+ freedom鈥� needed to be written on their signs at all. Their reminder made me feel very lucky to work for a company where I鈥檓 respected and valued, no matter who I love. In fact, it鈥檚 easy to forget sometimes that there are many people in the UK and around the world who haven鈥檛 had the same positive experience as I鈥檝e had.
I hope one day we can live in a world where every workplace is as supportive and loving as 91导航, and we can remove 鈥榮till fighting for global LGBT+ freedom鈥� from our signs.鈥�
Ash
鈥淚 still remember my first Pride as a badly dressed teenager with a bunch of my other queer friends, being blown away by the sheer size of the whole thing. I鈥檇 never seen so many LGBTQ+ people, let alone so many couples holding hands and kissing without having to look over their shoulder. So many others like me and my friends stood amazed as the whole celebration washed over us.
That first Pride - and every one since then - is always slightly emotional as I reflect, during all the happiness, on those who came before. Those brave souls who laid down the path over the last 50 years so I can go to London Pride 2022, holding my boyfriend鈥檚 hand without having to look over my shoulder.鈥�
Jen
鈥淔or many years I struggled to come to terms with my own identity. It was a combination of being fiercely protective of my own privacy, and fear of the consequences of living my truth.
Pride for me is often filled with mixed emotions. I can remember attending my first event with a backpack that had a change of clothes. That way, no one would know where I was going and I could wipe off any face paint or glitter and be back in civvies ready to travel home. There was always a need to be looking over my shoulder, wondering what would happen if anyone from my family guessed my sexuality.
Fast forward 17 years and I鈥檓 engaged to a wonderful woman, with both our parents lovingly driving us crazy as we plan our wedding. I鈥檓 very fortunate to have grown up with friends who supported me on my journey, especially when I know so many aren鈥檛 as lucky.鈥�
One of the things I鈥檝e relished most about my time so far at 91导航 is becoming part of the extended Salesforce community. It鈥檚 enriching in so many ways, and Pride is no different. There is a thriving Outforce community, and when you have a hugely visible ally in Marc Benioff - whose long taken both a moral and business stance on supporting the LGBTQ+ community - the impact of that鈥檚 felt around the world. If you were to trace a thread through LGBTQ+ history, you鈥檇 quickly find the huge impact that allies have had in supporting the community to push forward for equal rights.
Pride for me is about living: living your most authentic life. It鈥檚 about supporting those to live theirs; lives that aren鈥檛 yet free of discrimination. In a weekend rounded off with seeing Elton John finishing his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour with a homecoming gig at Vicarage Road stadium, I鈥檓 reminded of one of his most famous quotes: 鈥淟ive for each second without hesitation.鈥� I couldn鈥檛 have put it better myself.
Written by Luke Harris with contributions from Hannah Ridge, Ash Rahman, and Jen Hicks.