“Would you like to write a blog post for LGBT+ History Month this year?”
“Of course,” I said, remembering how much I had enjoyed last year’s theme of Politics in Art. I had reeled off a huge number of musicians, and the hardest part was deciding who to leave out.
Every year, LGBT+ History Month is a great way to celebrate the value of diverse experiences. It’s one of the ways we remind ourselves in the Trust that we want to tackle inequalities, and be the best place to train and work for everyone, regardless of their backgrounds.
“Great,” said Patrick Price, equality, diversity and inclusion lead, “this year the theme is ‘Behind the Lens’.”
“So you might want to share your favourite LGBT+-themed film,” he casually dropped in.
Ah. I was stuck.
I don’t watch films. In fact, the only film I have seen in the last few years was Kung Fu Panda (my daughter was desperate to watch it).
This year’s theme is all about celebrating LGBT+ people’s contribution to cinema and film, and especially encouraging us to look ‘Behind the Lens’ and listen to LGBT+ peoples’ lived experiences.
Fortunately I wasn’t stuck for too long. I wanted to say something about why LGBT+ visibility in the media is important. Something about why seeing your experiences represented is important for establishing a secure self-identity and a sense of the possible.
The first person I thought of was Evan Davies, the economist and BBC presenter, who rose to fame on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme and BBC2’s Dragons’ Den. Evan decided to speak publicly about his sexuality when he became a recognisable face on the BBC. “It was around the time I joined Newsnight in 1997 that I decided I should definitely be publicly gay,” he said.
In interviews he has said that he “wants to be seen as a journalist who happens to be gay, rather than a gay journalist”. “I’m not at all embarrassed about being gay, it’s just that I don't particularly want the first or only thing that people associate me with to be that I’m gay.”
Evan has also said that hiding his sexuality at work was a “terrible mistake”.
“Hiding gaping great bits of your life at work is just tiring - I’ve been there - and it’s just not worth it.”
I then thought of another inspiring broadcaster, Sue Perkins.
I’ve also always admired the way that she has spoken out against harmful lesbian stereotypes and homophobia, with a lightness of touch but still in a way that’s impossible to ignore. She has also talked about her diagnosis with ADHD later in life, as well as being told about a tumour, which leaves her unable to have children, while she was filming a TV programme.
It’s important for us as LGBT+ allies to learn about the cultures of our colleagues. Presenters like Sue help to increase everyone’s awareness, for example around the complications that can come with having children in a same-sex relationship.
I don’t just mention this to plug that the Trust won Freedom To Speak Up organisation of the year at the HSJ Awards in 2021. But when it turned out that Sue was presenting the awards, and that Northumbria Healthcare had won, I wanted to make sure I was standing next to her in the official photo!
The pressures at the moment can feel relentless at times, but I hope you will be able to pause to celebrate LGBT+ History Month this year.
As a Board we recognise the value our LGBT+ staff bring to the Trust, and we sincerely value the insight all of the staff networks provide us. We want to keep working on this to make sure we understand if you feel like you belong and can bring your best to work.
After all, this translates into the care and compassion we offer to our LGBT+ patients, and we know that understanding different experiences helps us deliver better services to all of our patients.
You should take great pride in how your contribution to a diverse workforce is supporting people across Northumberland and North Tyneside.
