Pride at Sense

Pride stories

All through June, we’ll be sharing stories about being LGBT+ and disabled. Check them out:

Read the descriptive transcript for this video.

As a queer, disabled couple, my partner and I face ableism and homophobia combined when we go out together

In this blog for Pride Month, Jeffie explains how her queer, disabled relationship has opened her eyes to the ways homophobia and ableism intersect.

A man with glasses, a grey beard and a shaved head is wearing a dark grey suit with a Sense pin badge and blue tie. He's in front of number 10, Downing Street and walking purposefully towards the camera.

Sense of Pride: at Sense, LGBT+ inclusion is about more than rainbow flags

Michael, who leads communications at Sense, tells us about how we are marking Pride in this blog.

Representing Sense at Birmingham Pride

On Saturday, we headed down to chat to the LGBT community about the work we do.

An unsmiling face featuring white foundation, blue and grey highlights and tinted glasses holds a ring that is shining harsh white light onto their face. On their chest, they have 'they/them' tattooed twice.

My life as a deafblind drag king

Max explains how being a deafblind drag king affects their performances.

Tracy, a white woman with long brown hair, is standing holding a vanilla ice cream. Someone else, who we can't see, is holding a strawberry ice creamwith a chocolate flake. She's standing in front of a river with a big old bridge over it. The weather is grey, but Tracy looks like she's having fun.

Supporting people to explore their sexuality and gender identity

Tracy shares how she and other Sense sexuality and relationships advisers support adults with complex disabilities with their identity.

Connor stands against a grey wall facing the camera. He is in his twenties with short brown hair and wears a navy-blue suit over a white t-shirt and white trainers.

Coming out as transgender has been shaped by my blindness

This Pride month, Connor explains the unique challenges of being both blind and transgender.

At Sense, we’re all about inclusion! The world is not equal until it’s equal for everyone, so we’re proud to support the LGBT+ community. Happy Pride!
Michael Laffan, chair of Sense’s LGBT+ staff and volunteer network

What we’re doing in our services

Disabled people and their loved ones are at the heart of everything we do. Providing personalised support means that we empower people to become their true, authentic selves. That way, people with complex disabilities can have pride in who they are, no matter how they identify, or what their sexuality.

For example, our sex and relationships advisers provide the tools and information to the people we support, empowering them to explore their sexuality and identity. We’re growing this area of our work to make sure more people can get the support they need to be their authentic selves.

What we’re doing in our workplace

No one should be left out of life. We’re committed to making sure that no one is left out when they work for us, either. We’re striving for a culture where, if you work at Sense, you can bring your whole self to work, regardless of gender, sexuality or any other element of your identity.

To make this happen, we:

Have an active and enthusiastic LGBT+ employee network. This means that members of the community as well as allies can get together to network, campaign and celebrate.
Keep an eye on the data. Having knowledge about the diversity of the people who work and volunteer at Sense helpse us to continuously improve.
Make sure we provide the right training to staff and have supporting policies in place.