Pride month is ending, but that doesn’t in any way mean that queer visibility is finishing. For me, June started with announcing to all my colleagues that I was part of the LGBTQIA+ community and is ending with me launching the RCOT LGBTQIA+ Colleague Network.
Since I joined RCOT in March 2021, I’ve seen the incredible work that occupational therapists have been doing, in creating their LGBTQIA+ OTUK group and the LGBTQIA+ Steering group that’s working with RCOT. The solidarity, the representation and the visibility made me really happy and proud. And the knowledge that there is still so much more that needs to be done has reinforced in me the need, the desire to have a space like that for me and my colleagues as well.
Until our recent all colleague away day, I’d only met a third of my colleagues in person. Our mostly digital way of working has taken away those lunchtime and tea break chats where you talk about your life and can casually mention that you’re you're not straight. I do this, like a number of my friends, to find out if anyone has a problem with it, and if they do I can steel myself for any future difficulties.
Since most of my work has been done remotely, I’ve often felt like I was assessing a video call for when and where it was appropriate to share it. And this added to the nerves of those ‘coming outs’. So, when the opportunity arose for me to talk at our away day about a topic of my choosing, I jumped on the chance. I was excited, proud and scared, but I wanted to be open about my identity, because it’s part of who I am – I also wanted to open up the space for other people to know that they’re not the only ones who are LGBTQIA+ that work at RCOT.
Last week I held our first internal RCOT LGBTQIA+ Safe Space. I was joined by many allies and colleagues, and was delighted to announce the launching of the RCOT LGBTQIA+ Colleague Network. I know that not everyone is out, has figured it out, or may even know much about the LGBTQIA+ community, but I want to give people the space that I also crave. It was nerve-wracking, as is writing this piece. Because even though I’m happily out and proud, and I want to be the beacon for other people that I wish I'd had, it’s an incredibly exposing and vulnerable position to put yourself in.
I feel very privileged to work somewhere where people are supportive and encouraging. I’ve had a resoundingly positive response to this and the other equity, diversity and belonging work that I’ve been involved in at RCOT. This is the start, only the start. I know that there is so much more to be done, so much more to learn and be better at. But this step is the first of many more to come.
Hi, I’m Olivia. I’m one of the Communications and Marketing Officers at RCOT and I’m queer.