Reuben Clarke: why we need Pride Month

working for us

With Pride Month set to end today, Reuben Clarke, Co-Chair of the Pride at Work Community at Cadent, shares why the month–long celebration is so important.

“Why do we need Pride Month? Why should corporations support the LGBTQ+ Community when all they see to do is commercialise them?”

These were the thoughts that I had when joining the Cadent LGBTQ+ representation group, Pride at Work, two years ago. I felt that the LGBTQ+ questions had mostly been debated and answered, that Diversity and Inclusion groups were just there to tick a box.

A lot has changed in two years. Firstly, my understanding of the many challenges that members of the LGBTQ+ and other groups face has evolved, with friends at other organisations experiencing discrimination and prejudice based on their minority status. As I look around at world politics, I see the signs of us slipping backwards in many ways on LGBTQ+ issues.

Within the Pride at Work community, we try to discuss these important topics in order to shine a light on what is going on within the community, both in and outside of the workplace. Representation groups within businesses like Cadent are now more important than ever, as they help carry the message of inclusion through the company.

I have seen first-hand how Cadent strives to embrace diversity and inclusion in everything they do, not only for Pride at Work Committee but for all ED&I Groups, with support and real investment coming from our Board of Directors.

The support we have received has allowed Cadent to attend their first ever Pride Parade, Birmingham Pride 2021, and now why we are attending both Manchester and Birmingham Pride Parades this year.

As well as providing a budget for us to attend the parades, we are also given the support to discuss the difficult topics and share our personal stories.

We have come a long way in two years, and this is only the beginning. We are looking at organising in-person events, organising volunteering days with LGBTQ+ charities and much more.

As we celebrate Pride Month, Cadent, as Your Gas Network, is proud to celebrate and embrace with passion, the desire and drive, in our small way, to make a fairer more inclusive world. 

Cadent

Cadent is the UK’s largest gas distribution network with a 200-year legacy.  We are in a unique position to build on strong foundations whilst encouraging the curiosity to think differently and the courage to embrace change.  Day to day we continue to operate, maintain and innovate the UK’s largest gas network, transporting gas safely and protecting people in an emergency.   Our skilled engineers and specialists remain committed to the communities we serve, working day and night to ensure gas reaches 11 million homes from Cumbria to North London and the Welsh Borders to East Anglia, to keep your energy flowing. 

Future of Gas: Here at Cadent we support the Government’s plans to reach Net Zero by 2050. That means we’re backing the introduction of hydrogen as a low carbon alternative to natural gas for the future. We know people love the controllability of gas and, with our network already in place, it makes sense to switch to the lower carbon alternative offered by hydrogen, which we believe can keep homes and businesses warm for generations to come.

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Media contacts

Rebecca Wright

rebecca.wright1@cadentgas.com

07899 983792