For a large part of my life I held very strong religious and anti-LGBT beliefs. When my views changed I became an ally. Now I want to be very open in creating a safe and supportive environment for all our LGBT staff and students, because everyone deserves to be valued and respected.

I have always been a strong advocate in support of the LGBT+ community and it is a privilege to be able to bring this to my place of work. I believe that it is extremely important to be visible when advocating for equality and challenging discrimination. By being a visible LGBT+ ally at Queen's I aim to raise the voices of those in marginalised communities and shine a light on the challenges they currently face. I want to help promote a culture of acceptance, ensuring all our staff and students know they are welcomed, supported and understood.

While those decisions are obviously very personal, and unique to each individual, I would like to think that Queen’s is creating a sense of a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment, where one’s sexual orientation is not an issue.

We all have a part of play in making this University feel safe, welcoming and inclusive. Helping to promote tolerance and acceptance, respect for individuals, whatever their background. This is as true for the LGBTQ+ community as it is for others from different backgrounds, whether that is defined by their faith, race, nationality, gender or age – or any combination of those. Wearing the QUB rainbow lanyard is an expression of my allyship in work.

We can all express allyship this way or in other ways – by attending events, supporting PRISM, walking in the Pride Parade or stepping in if you ever see or hear inappropriate behaviours. We all have a part to play in making Northern Ireland, Belfast and Queen’s a more tolerant, inclusive and progressive country, city and place of study and work. Being a visible LGBT+ Ally is one small way of doing this.

At an institution such as Queen's University Belfast we should not just take that as given but to para-phrase a quote from Bayard Rustin. "People will never fight for your freedom if you have not given evidence that you are prepared to fight for it yourself."

I can’t speak on behalf of the LGBT+ community, whose own voices should be heard first and foremost. But I can voice my support of my LGBT+ friends and colleagues; I can speak out for equality, and to challenge discrimination; and I can work to ensure this our corner of the world comes to be a confident, inclusive and welcoming place for all of us - for all our identities, and for all our differences.

Wouldn’t it be even better if:

• My LGBT friends and colleagues did not have to decide whether to be open about who they are? If who they are was not an issue?
• If PRIDE was solely a celebration and party?
• If discrimination and homophobic behaviours were relegated to the history books?
• If there were no barriers for my LGBT friends and colleagues in terms of career, community acceptance and education?

Until then I think the first thing I can do is have my picture taken before trying to be the best ally I can be!

Stonewall allowed me to see the struggles our LGBT+ friends and family face. Society often treats them as secondary, dismisses or vilifies them. It's important to be a visible ally to show LGBT+ people the support they have and to show society that support so it can be normalised.

Diversity and inclusivity in our workplace build a more dynamic, inventive, vibrant workforce. We should all welcome it. The more Queen's LGBT+ people and allies the better for the whole university.

Within QUB, I feel that it is vitally important for all employees and students to feel comfortable being themselves, whether working or studying, so that we can all get the most out of our experiences at QUB and in Northern Ireland. By being visible LGBT+ allies, we can support and encourage inclusion and diversity throughout the campus and foster a safe community for everyone.

Within the Security Service we are committed in treating everyone in a fair and consistent way. We embrace and recognise equality and diversity and celebrate the importance of difference. Over the last few years we have worked collectively to improve, develop and deepen our knowledge in this area of vital importance; always with a view to continuously improve our professionalism and expand our understanding.

I wanted to be an ally because I feel strongly that we should all be able to be exactly whoever we are, no matter where we are. I want our students to feel safe and supported, no matter how they identify, and I want our staff to feel that they are valued, no matter who they are.