I met my first soul mate in 1984. I was 14 years old. She was hanging out with my sister at the time, but I had been eyeing her. She was covered in brown leather, sexy trim, big snaps. She had broad shoulders, narrow hips, that signature 80s upside down triangle silhouette I so longed…
In an early episode of HBO’s series Gentleman Jack, the main character, Anne Lister, pays a visit to one of her tenant farmers, whose son has been in an accident. Lister is seated on the bed beside the boy, chatting with the parents about his recovery, when the theretofore silent boy suddenly pipes up to…
We are delighted to welcome the awe-inspiring campaigner, Lady Phyll, as our latest Inspirational Role Model and to feature her moving answers to our latest IRM hot spot: Describe your role in one sentence To inspire, motivate and lead a team of dedicated and impassioned volunteers to deliver the intersectional celebration that is…
What has been the highlight of your career? I am very fortunate to have had a number of jobs that have given me opportunities to work for big, positive change in the world. Living and working in West Africa as my first job out of University, helping women’s journalists and supporting press freedom was phenomenal.…
April 26th is Lesbian Visibility Day – who knew?! Well, actually relatively few people. Started in 2008, this day of visibility doesn’t get the same level of press as of some of the other LGBT+ events. It scores a relatively modest 7000 hits in a Google search, and only trended on Twitter for the first…
Every New Year’s Eve, every birthday, every milestone always brings with it the opportunity to reflect on our achievements and think about our future plans…how we might do things a little bit differently. But going into 2019 I knew, without a doubt, that it would be one of the biggest changes in my lifetime. Not…
The New York dating scene has long been a muse for movies, TV shows and novels: When Harry Met Sally, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and Girls to name a few. Sarah Jessica Parker made quite the living from a show where that was its entire premise – complemented by some Jimmy Choo’s, numerous Cosmopolitans and one sex-crazed best friend. But that’s the world of STRAIGHT dating… what’s QUEER dating like?!
On the tail of a wonderful vacation on the Florida panhandle with my extended family, and as the Out & Equal staff embarks on an intense last few weeks of planning what I know will be our best Summit ever, I find myself reflecting on how equality activism and the resulting need for self-care, family, and art interweave and are sustaining me through difficult times.
As always with me, the day starts in a fairly pedestrian way and then something unexpected happens and it all changes . . . . back in March 2017 was NO exception. Scrolling through my Instagram, I see an advert for ‘Pride Boxing’ – and think nothing of it. Later in the day, my team and I (mainly women) are having the ‘weight loss’ conversation where upon I say –oh I’m thinking of doing ‘Pride Boxing; boxers are always super fit and toned” but I wasn’t really thinking that – I was just saying it to show off (I’m very mature like that!).
So, here goes… I am bisexual. That’s still something I am afraid to say in certain circles including, unfortunately, LGBTQ+ ones. Despite having a really positive ‘coming out’ experience, it’s still the case that biphobia and bi-erasure exist… particularly, in my experience, in the ‘gay world’. Don’t get me wrong, I am very aware of my many privileges; white, middle class, ability to ‘pass’ as a straight woman, yet despite this I still have experienced a lot of negativity around my sexuality.
There is a delicious irony that the title of the one Culture Club song I actively dislike is so apt for my first ever blog for LBWomen.
But perfect it is for this tale of two parts, starting with the professional stuff.
We have so many beautiful women in our community full of diverse talents, backgrounds and experiences with stories to tell and connections to be made. What is the most difficult part of experiencing this nirvana filled with these majestical ladies? It’s finding them! They are here in our day to day lives but it can…
As the breadwinner in my family, it took me a long time to ‘come out as an entrepreneur’. Having a full-time job, I started my business Goodordering on the side and, for three years, I hustled and worked late nights and weekends to get the business to a point where I could quit my full-time…
Since 2010, when the Lord Davis report said that the lack of female faces on boards was simply not good enough, we have since seen FTSE companies scrambling to find top female talent to make up their numbers.
The Davies report was a great starting point, don’t get me wrong, it said we need to achieve 25% women at board level for our FTSE 100 companies within five years, and it achieved that.
A rainy day in London doesn’t start any better when the WhatsApp message is ‘Celebrating my birthday in Goa – who’s in?’. There began months of planning, ‘Marigold Hotel’ references, flight/hotel bookings and finally, we were off – Five go mad in Goa.
I have never had any yearning to go to Goa – it’s in my head a hippy’s hangout and somewhere already discovered. WRONG – we were about to go an adventure where I discovered a love of this Indian State which has me already planning to return.
