By Helen Gauld, Chief Executive
Pride Month is dedicated to celebrating the LGBTQ+ community worldwide. It is held every year in June to mark the anniversary of the Stonewall riots. These were a series of protests which occurred in New York, sparked after the police attempted to raid the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar on 28th June 1969. A year on, the first Pride event took place in New York, followed by events around the world in the years following.
As the Chief Executive of a Langstane Housing Association, I am proud to say that we stand in support of the LGBTQ+ community during Pride month. We believe in creating a safe and inclusive environment for all our residents, employees, and stakeholders, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Pride month is a time to remember and celebrate the struggles and victories of the LGBTQ+ community and to highlight the need for continued progress toward equality. It is an opportunity for us to acknowledge the discrimination, stigma, and persecution that many individuals continue to face, especially in today's world.
The housing sector has a crucial role to play in creating a more inclusive society. At Langstane we provide homes for people of all backgrounds, including those who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. We believe that everyone deserves access to safe, affordable, and quality housing, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Moreover, as housing providers, we have a responsibility to ensure that our staff and contractors are trained and educated on issues surrounding the LGBTQ+ community.
| File Description | File | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy |  | 143KB |
| Equality and Diversity Strategy 2021 - 2024 | | 668KB |
This knowledge and understanding can help promote a culture of inclusivity and diversity in the workplace and better serve our residents.
Pride month is also a time for us to reflect and identify areas where we can continue to improve. We recognise that discrimination and marginalisation still exist and pledge to do our part in working towards a more equitable future. We are committed to continuously reviewing our policies and procedures to ensure that we are creating a safe and inclusive environment for all, conducting regular equality audits, and promoting diversity in our recruitment and staff development practices.
Our goal is to cultivate an environment where individuals of various backgrounds and experiences feel seen and appreciated, in accordance with our organisational values of responsibility, continuous improvement, and respect for every member of our community. We look forward to holding all staff sessions throughout the month of June in order to educate our team about the importance and necessity of Pride month.
As we kick off Pride month, we wholeheartedly support and encourage individuals to feel comfortable being true to themselves, as this will undoubtedly help us to promote unique perspectives and innovative ideas within our organisation.
We wish everyone a peaceful and joyful Pride celebration!
