ALLIED FORCE
Colleagues tell us what it means to be an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community and the difference that this can make
A genuinely diverse and inclusive workplace is one where all colleagues feel valued, supported, and empowered to grow and develop.
Knowing you have allies – colleagues across the business who respect and accept you for who you are, whether they are part of your team or not, is an important part of that.
For colleagues identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex or asexual our LGBTQIA+ allies help provide an inclusive space where they can be their authentic selves
at work.
A world of difference
Someone who knows the importance of allies is driver Louise Jury.
“In today’s society, people are much more open-minded, but that hasn’t always been the case,” says Louise. “I came out when I was 28 years old which is fairly late, and I never spoke about it in my previous roles before I joined ARL. That was very isolating. If I had support and encouragement from allies and the feeling that I could just be myself it would have been a lot easier for me.”
Tracey Martin, left, and Louise Jury
Tracey Martin, left, and Louise Jury
Part of our allies’ role is volunteering their time to support and represent ARL at work and LGBTQIA+ events.
“I didn’t have to sign up for anything to become an ally; my manager just mentioned a few events that we have coming up, and I made myself available,” says Tracey Martin, customer host at Camden Road. “I’m new to allyship within the workplace but not at home. My daughter is part of the LGBTQIA+ community and I’m very proud of her and want to support her in being herself.”
Becoming a more inclusive workplace was one of the action points from our recent culture review. As well as appointing a dedicated equality, diversity and inclusion (ED&I) manager, ARL has an ED&I steering group that is owned and led by employees who directly contribute to, influence and shape our approach to inclusion.
“We want to make sure that our workplace is inclusive to everyone who currently works there and any generations coming in,” adds Tracey. “That means providing an open and inclusive space without judgement and offering effective listening and support wherever needed. I wouldn’t want my daughter to go into a workplace where she would feel insecure.”
Power in progress
“From the first day I joined ARL, I’ve felt comfortable being myself,” says Louise. “My colleagues, who are mostly train drivers and men, encourage me to be who I am and to put myself out there for opportunities, such as being a local health and safety rep for New Cross Gate.”
And for Tracey, being an ally isn’t only about colleagues; it means supporting customers, too. “I work in Camden, which is a diverse community, and I want to make our customers feel safe and included - it could be as little as being a welcoming face for them.”
On her rest day in August, Tracey will represent ARL at the Black Pride festival in Stratford. “It’s going to be a lot of fun. I will make sure people feel safe and they are not being judged, and we will be giving out ARL tote bags to festival-goers.”
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