Pride Month is here, and the Gender and Sexuality Alliance East London is ensuring local LGBTQ+ individuals don’t miss out.
They’ve created a special poster for shops, schools, healthcare facilities, businesses, and public spaces to demonstrate love and support for the community.
GSA EL is a voluntary safe space and network for LGBTQ+ individuals and organisations working on reproductive and sexual rights locally.
Dr Madeleine Muller, a GSA EL committee member, said the initiative originated when a member visited the UK with their gay teenager an noticed how their child’s face lit up upon seeing pride flags and supportive posters in windows.
By displaying a poster, organisations affirm their inclusivity.
Muller said: “We can spread a message of love, acceptance, and support to counter negative narratives on social media.”
While this initiative garners support, some members of the public have expressed disdain and threatened to boycott LGBTQ+ supportive businesses, such as the recent campaign urging a boycott of Woolworths.
Muller said supporting the LGBTQ+ community doesn’t require compromising beliefs, it is about valuing a society that respects and upholds human rights. Lazi Dana, a transsexual woman using she/they pronouns and a university student, believes companies should demonstrate year-round support for the community.
Dana expressed skepticism toward companies that only show support during Pride Month, saying that building trust and creating a safe environment requires year-round support.
To show support during Pride month, Muller suggested various actions for businesses, such as organising educational activities and raising awareness about the needs and experiences of their diverse workforce and student body.
GSA EL will assist arrange these activities on request.
To access the poster, scan the QR code and download the poster from the Google Drive or use the link
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WwLeNY7C4p8PanIHMJQJb_hA8q-HnRGG?usp=sharing
