Happy Pride Month! A celebration of LGBTQ+ history, resilience, identity and rights. It honours the Stonewall uprising of 1969, a key turning point in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, and continues today as a call for visibility, inclusion, and equality.
For LGBTQ+ people, Pride is more than just parades or rainbows. It’s about being seen and safe in a world where that hasn’t always been the case. That includes in care. However, for people receiving care, especially older LGBTQ+ individuals, Pride can also bring up feelings of invisibility, fear, or being misunderstood.
Older LGBTQ+ people may have spent much of their lives hiding who they are and facing discrimination. Many worry about being judged or mistreated in care settings, even today. According to Stonewall’s 2024 report, 1 in 6 LGBTQ+ individuals over 65 say they would feel uncomfortable being open about their identity with care staff.
According to Stonewall’s “LGBT in Britain: Health Report”
- 13% of LGBTQ+ people have experienced unequal treatment from healthcare staff because of their sexual orientation or gender identity
- 14% have avoided treatment for fear of discrimination
- 23% have witnessed discriminatory or negative remarks against LGBTQ+ people by healthcare staff
Inclusion isn’t just about those receiving care, it’s also about the people providing it. Many report feeling unable to be fully themselves at work, or worry that being open could affect how they’re treated.
- 35% of LGBTQ+ staff have hidden that they are LGBTQ+ at work for fear of discrimination
- 18% have been the target of negative comments or conduct from work colleagues because they’re LGBTQ+
As a leader, creating an inclusive environment doesn’t have to mean big campaigns. It can start with:
- Calling out inappropriate language or behaviour, and giving others permission to do the same
- Training your staff team on respectful, inclusive language and unconscious bias. For more information on how to do this click HERE!
- Listening to staff who raise concerns and act on them
- Reviewing policies to make sure they support LGBTQ+ residents and staff
- Encouraging visibility, e.g. optional rainbow lanyards, posters, or Pride Month displays
- Creating safe spaces where people can talk openly, or not, depending on their comfort level
Inclusion is ongoing and this Pride Month it’s the chance to ask yourself, what does safe, inclusive care really look like and is it present in my organisation?
