We speak to 3 Boots employees about what Pride means to them, how they celebrate & how they feel Free to Be in their everyday lives…
There’s a thousand ways to be, and they all deserve to be celebrated. Some are bold and unashamed. Others are quietly strong. No matter who you are, or how you like to show up, Boots believes everyone should be free to be who they want.
Here at Boots, Pride is an all-year round celebration that champions and empowers sexuality and gender expression. While Pride month is often seen as a joyous celebration of parties and street parades with Pride rainbow flags and music, we can’t forget that the yearly occasion was born out of the pain and protest of the oppressed LGBTQ+ community.
What does Pride mean to Boots colleagues?
This year we’re putting our colleagues at the front of our Pride campaign, to empower them to share the ways they feel #FreeToBe all year round, no matter their sexuality or gender expression.
We sat down with three Boots colleagues from the LGBTQ+ community to understand what Pride means to them and how they are #FreeToBe.
Alex (he/him) – Digital Project Manager:
Are there any milestones that have made you feel especially proud of who you are?
“One of the key milestones for me was the first time I walked with Boots in a Pride parade. I think because it felt like I was part of a community during work, which is obviously a big part of my life.”
Who or what has inspired your journey toward being free to express yourself?
“One of the biggest inspirations for me are actually some of my friends. I think the people around you are crucial to shaping your experience, and seeing my friends going through their own journeys really inspired me to push myself to grow.”
How does Boots support the LGBTQ+ community?
“Boots supports the LGBTQ+ community by allowing them to freely express themselves at work. They are a Stonewall Gold business, which means they also have stringent policies in place to make sure that people feel welcomed and supported at work.”
Isobel (she/they) – Learning & Development Content Specialist:
What is your first memory of feeling “Free to Be”?
“I don’t have a first memory that I can recall of feeling “Free to Be” because I’ve always felt free to be. My parents, my family and my friends have always been really supportive of me, and any time I’ve felt like someone’s tried to diminish that shine, I know they’re there and I know that they’ll be behind me no matter what.”
How does Boots support the LGBTQ+ community?
“Boots supports the LGBTQ+ community within its stores and head office by having the Pride Alliance BRG (Business Resource Group) and the Pride Working Group to make sure its marketing is authentic and inclusive. They go out and help with charities, and they are present in the community through the King’s Trust, and it’s shown through how many LGBTQ+ awards they’ve won.”
How can allies best support the LGBTQ+ community during Pride month & beyond?
“By being a voice of strength and support for the LGBTQ+ people in your life. Also, go to Pride events and learn a bit more about the community that you might not have known before.”
Adam (he/him) – Healthcare Category Assistant:
How do you celebrate Pride in your own life & what does it mean to you?
“I celebrate with my friends mainly, and my different LGBTQ+ sports clubs that I’m involved in. We also march in Nottingham and do loads of events and raise money.”
What does freedom to be yourself look like in your workplace?
“I organised a Football vs Homophobia tournament with the Nottingham Lions at Boots, and we had two teams enter from Boots, and one of those teams actually ended up winning. But the amount of love, support and donations that we received from everyone in the workplace was overwhelming and it just makes you feel so happy and able to be yourself at work.”
How can allies best support the LGBTQ+ community during Pride month & beyond?
“I think just be passionate and if you want to learn, that’s amazing. If you’d like to ask questions, we’re more than willing to help. I think we can tell when you’re just genuinely curious and interested, and we love that and we want to share, because we’re finally proud of ourselves, we just want to share it with the world.”
With Pride month in full swing in the UK and around the world, #FreeToBe is a mantra we’re proud of, one we can repeat each day to become true champions of self-expression. Pride month is an opportunity to reflect on how we support the LGBTQ+ community both in the workplace and out – not just this month, but year-round, too. So whether it’s your first Pride or you’ve been marching for many years, let’s celebrate and empower the LGBTQ+ community together.
