Pride month is about acceptance, equality, education, awareness, and solidarity among people of different sexual orientations and gender identities. Pride is expressed through colourful parades, concerts, marches, and flags, which symbolise the diversity and unity of the LGBTQ+ community. The Pride movement is all about being proud of who you are no matter who you love.

Last year, I wrote about how Pride is still needed, and we need to continue to drive change in acceptance and equality. Read the full article > Pride - Is It Still Needed in 2023?.  It's 2024 and we still don't have acceptance and equality for the LGBTQ+ community, so we need to continue pushing forward.

I also posted and article about how to be a good ally as a manager (How To Be An LGBTQIA+ Ally As A Manager) which is still relevant today.

Reflecting on the last 12 months, I have been thinking about my friends and colleagues and if I have been there as an ally and supporting them. Also, how I have been perceiving them and the thoughts and default positions that I need to challenge.  It is not a comfortable exercise, I like to believe I am inclusive and accept everyone, but I am human, and I don't always.

I have an acquaintance who has been transitioning from female to male over the last 2 years. I met them for the first time in person last year. It was great to meet him and spend time catching up. I did however find that when I was talking about him with others, I found that I wanted to explain that he had transitioned, at the same time I felt conflicted as this is irrelevant and private to him. In part I wanted to explain to avoid him needing to face their reaction when they met him. I did explain the transition, but still feel that may not have been the right approach.

This reflection highlights to me that I still need to work on my acceptance and how I be a better ally. I am determined to continue challenging myself and work on being the ally my family, friends and colleagues deserve.