Pride season has commenced and at British Land we’re marking the occasion with a range of activities alongside our customers, partners, suppliers, and of course, employees.

We celebrate Pride to remember both the struggles and the progress in gay rights that has been made over the last 50 years. We have seen huge strides in legal and social reforms however there is still more to be done. While the vast majority of people believe in equality and acceptance there remains intolerance and discrimination against the LGBT+ community. While this remains we must ensure everything we do helps create an environment where everyone can be themselves.

At British Land we are proud sponsors of a number of LGBT+ charities and organisations - Just Like Us, Albert Kennedy Trust, Freehold and Stonewall. Internally, our Pride Alliance comprises LGBT+ identifiers and allies, and supports inclusion for all within our communities by seeking to create an environment that welcomes and respects LGBT+ individuals. By living our company value ‘bring your whole self’ we empower others to do the same.

As the ExCo sponsor of the Pride Alliance I believe it is important to be an ally and know it can make a huge difference in both understanding and respecting diversity. British Land is an organisation that accepts people for who they are and provides support if people need it. Driving a culture of allyship will only make us all stronger.

The role of the ally is a question that is regularly asked. For me, it is one of proactive and visible support, where we collaborate to overcome everything from unconscious bias through to public acts of advocacy.

Some of the ways I believe allies can support the LGBT+ community include:

• Show your support this Pride. This year Pride is running from June to September and there are a variety of events around the country to join. Inevitably many are virtual this year but arguably this makes it even easier to participate
• Join the network which supports Pride in your organisation, such as our BL Pride Alliance. We continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the workplace is equally inclusive for everyone. We are managed by a committee of volunteers from different business areas, who meet regularly to plan initiatives. Our first 100 BL Pride members include people who identify as LGBT+ and allies who support equality and challenge homophobia; people who are already out and those who aren’t; staff who have an LGBT+ child or other family member; and people who want to show support for LGBT+ colleagues.
• Read up on some of the articles written by our partners. Just Like Us have just released a new independent research report about ‘Growing up LGBT+’ and the impact of school, home and coronavirus on LGBT+ young people
• Be aware. We should avoid relying on our own experiences as we all have our own biases. Actively viewing things from a different perspective encourages visible support and will help influence and drive opportunities for others.

Diversity in life provides a very unique perspective which is of huge value to us all. By showing allyship and challenging intolerance, we can make a real difference.