LGBT+ HISTORY MONTH
Wearing our identities with Pride
Sweco author: Mariella Branagan, HR Resourcing Co-ordinator
You never really stop having to come out when you’re bisexual, so as a co-founder of Sweco’s LGBT+ & Allies group I’m excited to be playing my part in the movement to #usualise diversity, through a forum that will allow our community to wear our many and varied identities with pride
Hi, so, I’m Mariella and I’m Bisexual.
That’s my lead into LGBT+ History Month, which is in our calendar to raise awareness of LGBT+ stories, and also puts a spotlight on the history of the coming out experience for many people across the community.
It’s a time to look back and see how far we’ve come, but also how much further we have to go.
Coming out can be complicated and not always easy. Speaking from personal experience, you never really stop coming out.
The fear surrounding it never quite fades, especially when in the workplace when you’re coming out to colleagues you may have only just met for a few weeks or months.
For me, I was lucky to have supportive parents. The most ‘fanfare’ they raised was “Oh…how did you find out?”, and instead of being sarcastic and saying I received a special sparkling acceptance letter in the mail from the LGBT+ community, I just responded with a simple “I like women and I like men. That’s all there is to it.”
Did having supportive parents take away the apprehension and the sick feeling in my stomach before I told them? Absolutely not. I consider it an easier Coming Out than a lot of people who aren’t as fortunate, but I was still nervous. There is always the feeling in the back of your head that you’ll get a negative reaction, but that’s something I try not to let hold me back because I challenge myself not let fear stop me from being my authentic self.
The most important way colleagues can help each other is building that inclusive culture, which is why forums like our LGBT+ Allies group have been set-up at Sweco, so that support is there.
Mariella Branagan HR Resourcing Co-ordinator
Everyone’s Coming Out is different, and not everyone is ready to come out. That’s okay. People come to terms with their sexuality in their own time and it’s up to them if they even want to share it at all.
I’m not Out to some older members of my family yet because they have homophobic beliefs, but I am Out to my parents, siblings, and friends.
Celebration of LGBT+ History and having time dedicated to looking back, matter because you never really stop coming out, especially when in conversation with colleagues or clients at work and it can be as casual as mentioning you have a partner of the same sex or that you’re a member of LGBT+ groups.
In my view, the most important way colleagues can help each other is building that inclusive culture, which is why forums like our LGBT+ Allies group have been set-up at Sweco, so that support is there, with a defined platform.
Sweco aims to foster an inclusive environment where everyone can be themselves. The forum is in turn always going to grown, with colleagues able to interact with it anonymously or as themselves – whether they identify as part of the LGBT+ and those that are Allies and supporters of the community.
I’m proud to share my story this month alongside Martin, Chris and Adam here at Sweco. If you’d like to discuss how you or your business might be able to help us grow LGBT+ awareness across Sweco as well as wider industry, or would like to share experiences from your own organisation, please get in touch below.