As Pride Month comes to a close, we take a moment to reflect not just on the vibrant events and meaningful conversations we’ve shared, but also on the deeper purpose behind them. At GIA, Pride is more than a celebration – it’s a statement of our values and our commitment to inclusion, empathy, and respect. This year, we were especially moved by the reflections below of our Non-Executive Director Antonia Belcher OBE, who reminds us that while progress has been made in some areas, there are still urgent challenges to confront, especially for the trans community, both in the UK and around the world.
Antonia’s words serve as a powerful call to action: to lead with care, to stay curious and inclusive, and to ensure our spaces, policies, and practices genuinely support all identities.
From Drag Bingo to thought-provoking discussions, this Pride Month was a vibrant blend of fun and purpose at GIA. And while the flags may come down, our commitment to equity, allyship, and inclusive leadership remains strong – this month and every month.
Antonia Belcher Reflections
This Pride, it is, for me particularly troubling to note that whilst some Nations have reaffirmed commitments to equity, many have failed to deliver tangible actions, and here in the UK we are seeing progressive roll back of hard won rights, especially in the Trans community, imitating to an alarming degree what is already happening in the US.
I remain steadfast on the importance of themes around gender intelligence in leadership, the ongoing struggle for reproductive rights, and the need for intersectional policy making. Despite challenges, voices from civil society and forward-thinking nations do offer hope for progress.
I am nearly a year in as the first Non-Executive Director at GIA, and I am loving being a small part of what makes GIA so strong and impressive. GIA is its people, its clients, and its friends/supporters. What has made it impressive for me is the welcome I have received, and the ease with which I can proudly say…I am a GIA staffer too.
Leaders of today need to be diverse, curious and deeply inclusive. As more Gen Z individuals openly identify as LGBTQ+ inclusive, leadership is not just a goal – it is a necessity. We need to be ever mindful of this, in how we design workplaces, homes, habitats and leisure places, reminding ourselves that inclusivity must be intentional and ongoing. For me, leadership is rooted in care and collaboration, and I see this happening at GIA.
It is shameful that we are witnessing the ‘weaponising’ of leadership in our politics and social media, where power is now being used to divide rather than unite. We must not allow this to happen in our industry and professions. Here at GIA, people prioritise empathy, safety and shared success. Leaders in our own fields of specialisation – GIA lead clients, other consultants, suppliers, the public, and our own social/collaborative circles, both in and out of the workplace. Real leadership doesn’t just follow a plan – it questions, adapts and considers the human impact of decisions. Critical thinking is needed to guide inclusive practice. I see this in action at GIA, at all levels, and it impresses and restores me.
Our industry, and its players want to be inclusive, they broadly know it is good for business, and their survival. They also fully appreciate the need to understand their diverse customer base, and to cater for those diverse needs and demands. I sense a strong DNA core to be inclusive at GIA and this impresses me, and positions GIA well for the future.
Turning to Pride, I will be marching on 5 July in London with Not A Phase. I like to see Pride as a reminder to Be Kind. We celebrate or see Pride for one month a year, and it acts to remind society that we are not all the same, and that difference exists in society, and should be celebrated. For those who perhaps question or feel challenged by those differences, we simply ask for kindness, and not just for a month but for all months ahead.
Sometimes the simplest principles guide us best. This reflective piece shares the ABC’s of living with kindness, empathy and acceptance, connecting those timeless values to the foundation of inclusive leadership and promoting equity in how we live and work. From embracing differences to striving for wisdom, this piece is a heartfelt reminder of the qualities that build stronger communities, partnerships and businesses. I am indebted to a friend and fellow transwoman, Cynthia Fortlage, sharing this with me earlier this year. We first spoke over 12 years ago, whilst Cynthia was living and working in Canada, and trying to find their path to gender equality.
