Campaign Event - ‘Being an ally’
Starting off UK Pride History Month with our first event of 2024, titled 'Being an Ally,'. Our panel included Lauren Adams from TEKsystems, Lucy Morgan and Seba Dyer from Pod Talent, and Jake Freeman from Goodman Masson. Maria Cuffaro hosted the evening's discussions.
The conversation began with a timely question: "How do we move beyond pinkwashing?" Lucy called out the abundance of rainbow flags on June 1st, often for profit rather than genuine support. She advocated for year-round initiatives instead of solely focusing on Pride and Pride History months, a sentiment Lauren wholeheartedly endorsed. Both emphasized the importance of companies demonstrating genuine support through their actions and policies, not just performative gestures.
Seba highlighted the role of allies in alleviating the burden on LGBTQ+ communities, urging for more ally engagement in advocating for policies and support. Jake emphasized the importance of building networks inclusive of both LGBTQ+ individuals and allies, which fosters genuine support and accountability within businesses.
The panel unanimously agreed that allies play a crucial role in driving organisational change. They emphasised the need for allies to understand their privilege, educate themselves, and empathize with the LGBTQ+ community. Overcoming fear and discomfort, as Jake noted, is essential for allies to actively support the community.
Regarding diversity and inclusion targets, the panel cautioned against reducing efforts to mere checkboxes. They stressed the importance of creating inclusive environments where everyone feels safe and valued, irrespective of numerical quotas.
When discussing the qualities of a good ally, the panel emphasized the importance of challenging discriminatory behaviour, advocating for inclusivity, building trust, and making discussions relevant to all stakeholders. Seba shared ‘the best allies make you feel welcome’.
In sharing experiences of what a great ally looks like, the panel highlighted individuals who actively sought education and created safe spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals.
To foster diversity in recruitment, the panel recommended directly challenging bias, asking pertinent questions about clients' EDI strategies, and showcasing successful examples to mitigate risk. Lauren added you can use your influence as a recruiter to press for more diverse shortlists but asking clients ‘how can we help you solve your EDI challenges?’ or ‘What is in your strategy/policies and how can we help you realise them?’ This opens more doors than you think.
In summary, the event underscored the vital role of allies in advancing LGBTQ+ inclusion and emphasized the importance of genuine, sustained support beyond symbolic gestures.
