While the zeitgeist feels “pretty bleak” for some members of the LGBTQ+ community, one of the country’s largest life insurance intermediaries has chosen to “dial up” Pride celebrations this summer.
LifeSearch’s head of people and culture Andrew Parker (pictured) told Health & Protection that in his friendship groups and networks, sentiment around celebrating Pride this summer is “very mixed”.
“The zeitgeist just now is feeling pretty bleak for some in the LGBTQ+ community, particularly the trans community,” Parker said.
“This has led to some people not wanting to attend Pride events because of the risk of discrimination and intimidation.”
Parker was one of seven LGBTQ+ professionals from across the health and protection sectors who contributed to Health & Protection’s analysis on why celebrating Pride matters in creating more inclusive health and protection insurance products and workplaces.
Parker cited the example an event near where he lives.
“One of my local Pride events – Stroud in Gloucestershire – has come under incredible attack online in recent weeks with some recognised media names joining in,” Parker continued.
“This threat however has increased the determination for some in my community to attend Pride festivals and make sure the protest element is as strong as the celebration.”
Hostility is very damaging
Parker maintained that the increasingly open hostility to LGBTQ+ communities is very damaging.
“As with the UK race riots in 2024 where some colleagues felt unsafe leaving home or going about their daily lives, this is now happening to some in the LGBTQ+ community,” he added.
“Every colleague has a choice about what they share of themselves at work and how best they keep themselves safe.”
Dialling up celebrations
And while the choice extends to every employer about their ED&I programmes and how they support these colleagues, Parker added he was pleased with his own employer’s approach.
“I’m thrilled that Pride Month 2025 at LifeSearch has been our best supported yet with colleagues from all parts of the LGBTQ+ community coming forward to share their stories and live their authentic selves at work,” Parker said.
“We are certainly not rowing back on our inclusion efforts. We’re dialling them up.”
