Carrying that secret around and the range of emotions that came with being in the closet started to have a detrimental effect on my own mental health and my resilience to deal with stress. Combining that with work stresses had a negative impact on my life in and out of work. I found it hard to go through a day without a conversation raising feelings of frustration and anger at not being able to be myself and I really felt like it was starting to impact my work.
However, this is where Pride, and the visible displays of support can really help. I wouldn’t have been brave enough to talk to my manager, but I didn’t need to because I noticed the General Manager of my business was wearing a Prism badge. This small sign was a lifeline to give me enough confidence to go to a Prism event (our UK LGBTQ+ ERG) and from there quietly get involved in the committee. I knew that at the top of my business someone was supportive of what Prism was doing and I had at least one ally. For me getting involved in Prism and gradually being more open about who I was in Rolls-Royce, built my confidence and took away a huge amount of the burden that I had been carrying for years.
Unlike other LGBT people I know, I was out at work before I was out to my family as I had moved away from home when I started work for Rolls-Royce and I was concerned about the reaction I would get. Prism & colleagues in my team gave me a supportive community to know that they were there for me regardless of what happened when I came out to my family. My colleagues and Prism really went above and beyond supporting me through that difficult period and without their help I don’t think I could have been open about who I was. Four years ago, I took the step to come out to my family which was only possible due to the inclusive environment that built my confidence at Rolls-Royce. So, although it may seem like small things you can do to get involved, even wearing a badge or attending an event this Pride month, it can make a big impact to someone’s life.
This Pride month I reflect on my journey and the journey as a company we have been on. I’m proud that this year Rolls-Royce has been recognised as a Top 100 LGBTQ+ employer in the UK by Stonewall. I know it represents the hard work and great progress we have made to making our colleagues lives easier in work, celebrating their contributions and as in my case supporting them outside of work too. There’s always more we can do though and I encourage everyone to learn more - you can really make peoples lives better.