Em's story
How does your identity relate to your work?
I have worked in student support for over 10 years, joining Swansea University in September 2022 as Welfare and Wellbeing Lead in the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science. I identify as non-binary and gay.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion has often been a crucial part of my work and something I certainly feel passionately about in the workplace. I was co-chair for the staff LGBT+ network in the previous university I worked at and I am very pleased to be joining Daf and Freya as a Co-Chair of the Swansea University Staff LGBT+ Network. Supporting the development of inclusive spaces and championing Equality and Diversity has not only played a part in my full-time work in Higher Education but also outside of the HE sector. For a number of years I worked as a youth worker for an LGBT+ youth club and I am currently a non-executive director for a grassroots LGBT+ organisation that supports LGBT+ young people and their families and provides education and training for workplaces and professionals.
I am very much looking forward to being a part of the growing work of Swansea’s Staff LGBT+ Network.
Do you feel comfortable being out at work?
Whilst I have been out as gay for a long time, coming out as non-binary has been quite recent and continues to be ongoing. It did take me a while to feel comfortable in sharing that part of my identity – not everyone understands what it means to be ‘non-binary’ and it can feel difficult to be your authentic self in unknown environments. I am becoming more confident in just being me in the workplace and sharing my pronouns when I introduce myself and on my email signatures. And whilst my identity as a non-binary person extends far beyond my pronouns, at least feeling comfortable to introduce myself as ‘They/Them’ is a starting point.
Why are LGBT role models important in the workplace?
Visibility is so crucial, for any minority group. Growing up in the era of Section 28, I didn’t have any visible role models whilst in education and that massively impacted on how I was able to understand and explore my own identity. LGBT+ role models in the workplace are an important part in creating an inclusive environment, a place where everyone feels able to comfortably be themselves, but more than that, to be able to have a voice and advocate for their rights. And to work in an educational environment, I feel it is more important than ever to have LGBT+ visibility across the workplace – students seeing their own identities reflected in the staff around them helps students to know, it’s ok to be you.
What can allies do in the workplace?
Allies play a really important role in creating an inclusive and safe environment for LGBT+ staff. Not only can allies be a bigger part of the movement, engaging in events like LGBT+ History Month, Pride Marches or awareness days but allies can also create change in culture, understanding and inclusive practice within the workplace. Whether it’s advocating for LGBT+ staff needs, challenging some problematic language or educating colleagues on best practice, active allyship can make a difference to the work environment and how supported LGBT+ staff feel.