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Pride, the LGBTQ+ community and the National Trust

A close up of National Trust staff and volunteers at Birmingham Pride 2022
National Trust staff and volunteers at Birmingham Pride 2022 | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

June is Pride Month, a period where many of our staff, volunteers and supporters celebrate LGBTQ+ communities and commemorate years of struggle for civil rights. Learn what we do to support our LGBTQ+ colleagues throughout Pride month and beyond.

Pride in 2024

In 2024, we're attended more than 30 LGBTQ+ Pride events across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We also hosted a number of events at the places we look after.

Pride is a hugely important event for hundreds of thousands of people all around the world – part-celebration, part-protest and, for many, a chance to be visible. It’s an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come as a society and acknowledge the work still to be done.

How we support our LGBTQ+ Network

As a charity whose purpose is to make nature, beauty and history accessible to everyone, Pride has a significant role in our ambition to make sure everyone feels welcome in everything we do.

We work together with our internal LGBTQ+ Network to champion a safe and inclusive place to work and volunteer, where we embrace how our similarities and differences make us stronger.

I’m thrilled that we will be attending, delivering and hosting over 30 Pride events in 2024. It’s so heartening to see that our teams in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have chosen to support our ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion by attending Pride events both large and small, in cities and more rural locations. Once again, I look forward to joining them; celebrating and marching alongside colleagues, championing the contribution of the LGBTQ+ community in society.

A quote by Tina LewisNational Trust Director of People

Voices from our team

Chelsey

Pride in London

As the UK's largest and longest running Pride – marching through the streets of London with 30,000 other members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies is a deeply humbling experience, and the day each year that I feel the most proud to work at the National Trust and wear the rainbow Oakleaf!

Part-protest, part-celebration – the parade is a time where we can visibly show our active allyship and demonstrate our commitment to being 'for everyone, for ever'. In front of a million annual attendees, it's a truly amazing experience for everyone involved, and the warm and heartfelt reception we receive from the crowd is always energising for our staff and volunteers for the months ahead.

It's been an absolute honour to coordinate the Trust's representation for Pride in London and share the wealth of authentic queer histories – past, present and future with the public.

National Trust staff and volunteers wave rainbow flags and wear t-shirts with a rainbow logo at London Pride
National Trust staff and volunteers at London Pride, July 2022 | © National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra
A man looking down the guard around a tree sapling, in a landscape dotted with other newly planted trees

For everyone, for ever

We protect and care for places so people and nature can thrive. Find out who we are and what we stand for.

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