Celebrating Pride at Chambers

The reason why Pride Month is in June is that it marks the police raid that prompted the Stonewall riots - was a critical moment in the development of the LGBT+ rights movement.

The raid took place during the early morning on June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, Manhattan. Employees were arrested for selling liquor without a license, with police roughing up many of the patrons and clearing the bar.

The LGBT+ community held a series of demonstrations to protest against the raid and calling for the establishment of safe spaces for homosexual people - where they could congregate without fear of being arrested or becoming victims of violence. These riots served as a catalyst for the improved rights of LGBT+ people.

In the UK, the first official UK Gay Pride Rally was held in London on July 1, 1972 (chosen as the nearest Saturday to the anniversary of the Stonewall riots of 1969).

Much progress has been made in the last 50+ years for LGBT+ people’s rights and lives across the world. In 1970 homosexual activity was still illegal,and homosexuality classified as a mental disorder, in many countries.

The decades since have seen a steady wave of legalisation and extensions to LGBT+ couples rights as civil partnerships, marriage and adoption across continents. Together with legal rights, positive LGBT+ representation in the media has dramatically increased.

In the professional space, many companies like Chambers and Partners offer LGBT+ employees additional support in their everyday lives.

Our INSPIRE LGBT+ team host events and publish content to raise awareness of key issues effecting the LGBT+ community and, with the support of our D&I team, work to create an inclusive culture across the company, demonstrated by our recent Transitioning at Work policy.

Additionally, our D&I team recognise firms and individuals advancing LGBT+ inclusion at our regional awards, with a recent Report highlighting how organisations are advancing LGBT+ inclusion in the Asia Pacific and Greater China Region.

While progress continues to be made in some areas, some of these hard-won rights and social acceptance are also being eroded. Progress cannot be taken for granted.

For example, Florida’s so-called “Don’t say Gay” bill bans teachers from instructing students about sexual orientation or gender identity “in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate.”

In the last few years, dozens of bills have been approved in US states (and other countries) specifically targeting the trans population, with the most successful policies being those that restrict trans girls and women from participating on women’s sports teams.

Needless to say, there remain places where progress never took place or where things seem to go backwards, and where being openly part of the LGBT+ community means putting oneself at legal and physical risk.

Every year, Chambers supports its LGBT+ employees in celebrating Pride. It is a necessary yearly reminder that the LGBT+ community must and will continue to stand up for its rights. But also an opportunity for us as a community to celebrate our lives, our achievements, our perseverance, and the diversity of life in general.

Chambers hosts an internal Chambers Pride Party in our London office during June, giving members across the business the opportunity to share their stories and open discussions. During the party our annual Chambers Pride lip sync video is premiered, which is always a highly anticipated feature of the night.