I’ve worked for Surrey Wildlife Trust for around 12 years in a variety of roles. and I feel really lucky to say I have loved it! Obviously there are challenging days but that’s the way with any job.

As with most things in life it’s the people who often define your experience, and I’ve worked with some fantastic folk both within and outside of the office. My roles have allowed me to develop new skills, learn from some rather clever people and build great friendships. There have been challenges, tears, cheers and laughter but through it all, I have never felt like I couldn’t just be me. I know that there are places in the world that this would be an impossibility. People who are hiding who they are, what they feel and who they love - where living each day means living a lie. I feel very privileged to not face those challenges in my life.

The Wildlife Trust choose to embrace differences through their Wild about inclusion campaign shouting about all the wonderful things that make us all unique, fantastic and vibrant. It's not about being a type or fitting into a convenient box, it’s about shouting about everyone’s marvellous differences whoever they are, whoever they want to be and however they choose to show it.

I am lucky. I have a family who I love and who support me. So should we shout about it? Yes! Because by supporting LGBTQI month we are saying we are all deserving of being whoever we want to be - wherever we are - and loving who we want to love.

Recently my wife completed a management course for work. She returned home with a rather curious document which she shared with me. It's called The Wheel of Power and Privilege (see below). It’s a circle outlining all the different elements that make up an individual. The outer ring describes ‘marginalised’ and the centre ‘power’. It mentions wealth, body type, education, and many other things. One of those is sexuality. And there we are. Lesbian, Bi, Pan and Asexual. Still hanging out on the marginalised outer circle. Big cheer for the Gay Men though! They’ve moved one place in towards ‘power’ - so that’s progress!

We sat at home and talked about this wheel for a while. Both slightly frustrated, not just for the fact we sat on the outside, but for the fact this wheel describes how so many groups are still seen in this way both in the workplace and society. These groups must work harder, do more, and hide who or what they are to ensure they move up the work ladder more easily and fit in.

It is of course a massive generalisation to say all workplaces support this system. Surrey Wildlife Trust, from my experience, thankfully, do not. I have never experienced any challenges or conflicts at work in relation to these systems. However, it does show that however far we think we have come, there is still so much work to do to ensure equal opportunities. We should all be able to be proud of being just us and celebrating what makes us different, without being told its an obstacle.

Lucy Bryce
Nature-Based Solutions Manager

It's February 2024, and it's LGBT+ History! Find out more at lgbtplushistorymonth.co.uk