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S3 EP5: Shining Proudly – The Power of Our Voices at Work
13 Plays5 days ago
This special Pride Season takeover of the FYI podcast celebrates the strength, spirit, and solidarity of the LGBTQIA+ community and ally voice at work.
Join host Sean Marcs, co-chair of BaxterStorey’s SHINE network, and guest Carley Owen, Chair of University of the Arts London's LGBT+ Staff Network, as they explore what authentic allyship looks like, why inclusion must be embedded (not just branded), and how collective voices can spark real change.
Expect laughter, honesty, personal stories, and powerful reflections.
Whether you’re part of the community or an ally in progress, this is your reminder that every voice matters—and when we rise together, we shine brighter.
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Transcript
Introduction and Pride Season 2025 Special
00:00:09
Speaker
Hi friends, though Pride Month really is 365 days a year for us, a big happy official Pride season 2025 for all of you. And welcome to our special Shine Takeover episode on FYI, the Back to Story podcast.
The Shine Network and Inclusive Culture
00:00:22
Speaker
Shine is Back to Story's LGBTQIA plus network, a part of which I have the absolute privilege of being the UK co-chair. and we're on a mission to create the most inclusive culture in hospitality.
00:00:33
Speaker
I'm Sean Marks, I go by the pronouns he they, and I'm your host for this conversation which shines a light on the power of voices at work from authentic allyship to cross-network collaboration and the important role businesses have in using their platform for LGBTQIA plus inclusion.
Meet Carly Owen and Her Role at UAL
00:00:49
Speaker
Today I'm joined by the fabulous Carly Owen. A big welcome Carly, would you like to introduce yourself? Yeah, absolutely. And I thought was an amazing intro show, so thank you for that. ah My name's Carly Owen, my pronouns are she, her, and I'm the Institute Experience Manager at the University of the Arts London, currently managing a sense programme and the wellbeing programme across our 14 halls of residence all across London, and ensuring that our students finding their community and their home with us for the amount time they're with us.
00:01:17
Speaker
Wow, and I suppose that's led to the role that you play as the chair for the LGBTQ Blastment Network. Absolutely. Yeah. I'm the chair of the LGBT staff network currently at UAL and have for the last two years.
00:01:28
Speaker
I've been a chair for many staff networks across my time in higher education. So yeah, it was a natural fit when I moved to UAL. Nice.
Carly's Personal Insights and Pride Month Traditions
00:01:36
Speaker
And I have to say, I did a little bit of digging on you because we but we hadn't officially met to before this conversation.
00:01:44
Speaker
And on your UAL page, one thing that kind of sparked my attention was that you will always be singing and have random outbursts. So wondered. Do you want me to sing?
00:01:55
Speaker
No, but i be i in love i would love that. But is there a song that keeps wanting to come out of you this Pride Month? Oh my God, what a question. I love that question. i love I've got ADHD, so there's songs going off in my head every single minute of the day.
00:02:13
Speaker
um One that's in my head of the minute, I mean, it's just this the typical one. I don't want to be stereotypical. Diana Ross, I'm coming out because I've been out for many years. So I'm not going to say it, but but um I might have to come back to that question because there's two minutes too much going off in my head right now.
00:02:28
Speaker
Oh, that's all right.
Journey into LGBTQ Activism and Personal Stories
00:02:29
Speaker
My one that I always kind of go back to is Heather Smalls. What have I done today to make you feel proud? Love that one. It's an anthem. It is an anthem. It's a very good anthem.
00:02:39
Speaker
Absolutely. So I just, you know, you touched on the fact that you have been a part of LGBTQ plus networks across your career. and And I just wondered if you could share a little bit more about what's motivated you to be a part and get involved in that way um as chair or just part of a LGBTQ plus network.
00:02:59
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. I think yeah it all started when I was back at university. That's when my kind of journey of becoming queer and becoming kind of out and proud started. So I was quite a late bloom, you'd probably say. I probably knew as soon as I came out of the womb with my jazz hands that I was always a little bit different. I wasn't like, I wasn't kissing boys like the rest of my friends were and I wasn't doing all of that stuff so it was when I got to new university I was like oh that's what it is you know i was interested in in girls and women um and that's when I came out at age 19 back then you know it was just about, and me
00:03:30
Speaker
I'm quite happy being that person. You know, I don't need to be speaking up all the time about it. I like to, I like, you and I don't need to fly the flag. And it was only when I kind of moved to London and in my first role, I was, I'll always remember it as a comment by my manager at the time.
00:03:45
Speaker
And I'd come to you them and say, oh, can you just talk to this person? You it would have been a little bit difficult to mind if you kind of approach them and just say, come on, let's try and work better together. And then a comment that was came back to me was, Carla, because you're fat, because you're Northern and because you're queer, you're going to have to try harder to get people to like you and to be successful in London.
00:04:04
Speaker
And I was like, wow. I was like, Wow. So what we say to you in our back was like, well, since... when is my sexuality or my weight or and he anything stop me from sending an email or stop me from, you know, being good at my job?
00:04:17
Speaker
And I think it was from that moment, I left the job by swiftly after that, don't worry. yeah it was It was after that point, I was like, um okay, so people are just seeing these little parts of me and they're judging based off that.
00:04:29
Speaker
And I was like, this isn't okay and I need to make a difference. so from that point and that's when I started to become very open in every work setting about my sexuality, who I was and what I fought for and then that's what's led to me being chairing different institutions up and down the UK and leading me to UAL now which you've got the highest demographic of LGBTQ plus students and staff so I feel very home and unspaced in this community.
Creating Supportive Environments and Daily Commitment to Pride
00:04:53
Speaker
Wow and i and what an experience to have and you know But it's catapulted you in the direction of that you've created and that you can now create spaces where people don't have to experience judgment in that way.
00:05:07
Speaker
Of course. Absolutely. absolutely that's good but You just don't want that at all. I never wanted anybody to experience what I experienced. So yeah, it's been a massive, like you said, catapult for doing the things that I do now and advocating. So have a list of roles you need to keep us right.
00:05:22
Speaker
And it's interesting because, you know, that's similar to you, I think I first came, I came out quite young, I was 15. I was like, let's get this over and done with. oh but but At the time, I didn't feel that a need to kind of wave a flag or wear that on my chest or anything like that and until...
00:05:38
Speaker
There was the situation where I realised the importance of why we need to stand on a platform and advocate and speak up for and create spaces for queer voices, LGBTQ community members to see something that they relate to and they can feel safe within. Absolutely, absolutely.
00:05:56
Speaker
So tell me little bit more about how you do that in the role as chair of the network at UAL. Yeah, I think your introduction said it all. There's a lot of people that just think Pride's a day or it's the Awareness Month, but it's about embedding it in every day.
00:06:12
Speaker
Pride is everything we mean that we live every single day. It's our life. And I think it's about embedding and embodying it in everything that you professionally and personally. So it's updating the dreaded P word for policies that everyone's so scared of, making sure that the policies and everything were just represented and embedded all the way throughout.
00:06:30
Speaker
And it's making sure that it's ongoing and it's loud, that it's active, that it's unapologetic and it's just making sure we're at the center and LGBTQ plus is at the center of ah of all the things that happening right now. And I think we do it in lots of different ways. You know, we started our own podcasts.
00:06:46
Speaker
We're a part of many prides up and down the yeah UK. We work regularly with community engagement. We're doing an art of trans joy exhibition. sha mobile Wow. it Trans in the city and the British LGBTQ plus awards.
00:06:59
Speaker
So that community engagement and organizations that are already doing masses of amazing work, working with them is just and elevating what we can do for our students, for our community and and for the wider community as well. So and there's so much more that we're doing. I think it's, one thing that stuck with me is is not afraid to get it wrong, that you don't do anything at all.
00:07:19
Speaker
And I think that's what so many businesses get so scared of, whether it's mispronouning or misgendering or that they just go, oh, okay, we're not going to do it because people are going to get offended. And it's so far away from that. you know They see us as so scary.
00:07:32
Speaker
when we really thought we just thought we were the same writers as everybody else. So I think it's that thing that I've tried to instill in all the staff and all the departments across the universities. Don't be afraid to get it wrong you don't do anything at well but you don't do
Allyship and Community Engagement
00:07:45
Speaker
anything at all. You know, we're still here and we'll still back you and we'll still support you and everything. So I could go on a a long time about this, but there's just a few things that we've done. And obviously pairing up with you today do this podcast is fantastic and another way that we can spread the good word across our organisation.
00:08:01
Speaker
And I love that. love how you've tapped into the power of collaborating cross-business, cross-platforms, uniting voices around the common cause. And how can we amplify the voices in order to do that?
00:08:14
Speaker
What led you to connect that actually... it is better to work together than work in isolation. Of course, you know, I'm only one part of the acronym and the demographic of our community. You know, yeah I only have my experiences to draw and, you know, I don't identify as trans or a gay man or, so I think it's important that we pull everybody into that, who's had that, has that lived experience to give them the safety skin to give them the platforms to feel like they can express that and whether that's being at UAL, whether that's in an art form, whether that that's in an exhibition like we're hosting tomorrow, whether that's ah joining a Pride campaign with us, whether that's joining our top podcast.
00:08:53
Speaker
We try to do it in very different platforms. platforms and avenues so people feel as comfortable as they can to share what their lived experience is and we've had so much positivity from it we've received six awards along this year while working in lgbtq plus rights and that is just staggering to me i'm so proud of my team and so proud of the university that has backed this so i just want to continue to do this and continue to grow our organizations and who we work with so thank you for being a part of that no of course and and and What an incredible achievement to be recognised in that way.
00:09:27
Speaker
um Of those six awards, is there one that you're most proud of? Oh, wow. God, wow. I mean, I think there was one, you know, for myself personally, I won Role Model of the Year few months to ago for the work that i'm doing within UAL and the higher of education. and And I think that was ah a massive shock to me. you know, we've done a lot as a university and we've been recognised a lot as a university.
00:09:51
Speaker
But to be personally recognised... You know, and it was very, it wasn't expected at all. That really has hit home. And I think that even spurred me on just to keep on going. You know, it is being recognized, even though sometimes it feels like you're fighting a fight alone or it feels like you're not being seen and, you know, you want to be doing so much more. So I think that for me really, really was a good moment for me.
00:10:13
Speaker
That's incredible. big congratulations for that. Thank thank you. and And you're right, because I think, you know, whenever you're starting a movement or you're transforming a direction or influencing a new way of thinking or seeing the world, it's not instantaneous. It is a slow burn to get to that kind of the top of that mountain. and And it's how do you keep yourself motivated and encouraged that you're doing the right thing to continue to go up to that goal that you have in front of Absolutely.
00:10:42
Speaker
Yeah. Now, you mentioned there that staff and people who may not be part of the community, you know, may be scared of getting it wrong. And I suppose for me, there's always that, well, is there positive intent as long as there's positive intent? And that's a great thing.
00:10:56
Speaker
In what ways are you trying to make sure that particularly in the current climate that we're in where some voices in the community feel like that they can't speak up as much as they would have before, how do we and ensure that they still continue to feel as though they have a voice and can use that voice to speak up for the rights that might be challenged right now.
00:11:18
Speaker
Absolutely. I think we have to say that I'm sure you'll agree that it's not always down to us. It shouldn't be down to us to always shout and advocate. We have to get allies on board to make them safe environments, to make them safe working spaces for across any business. And I think what what I've done is a very kind of famous quote, and I'm sure you're familiar, is that it's being comfortable with being uncomfortable and making sure that ah bosses, our senior managers are asking questions and that we're asking questions of them and making sure that they understand the facts and the history behind why we're advocating so hard and pushing for these right now.
00:11:54
Speaker
And I remember a conversation i had with my now manager yeah and it was like, well, Carly, I know what gender I am. Why does it matter? I know I'm a her, I know I'm a she, what does it matter? but But it's not about you. It's about the perception that you give to others. And if that makes somebody feel comfortable that you open a meeting with your pronouns or you wear a badge, it doesn't affect you, but it can make a whole lot of difference to somebody else to know that they're in a safe space. And they suddenly went, oh my God. And then from that day, everybody's email signatures have changed, pronoun awareness training had trickled out all across the department. We're now at around 600, 700. So I just think it's that.
00:12:31
Speaker
It's just that education piece, isn't it? And that being open to answering the questions that they have. And that's just transformed our department currently to just being a lot more open and safe for the community.
00:12:43
Speaker
Yeah, and it doesn't cost anything to do that. No, absolutely not. But the value that has on people hearing that is huge. And the impact that it has on them knowing that of you and they then feeling comfortable to share about themselves is enormous.
00:12:59
Speaker
i like Do you have a story about unexpected allyship that had a real impact up for you? Oh, wow. I mean, I think that's personal and professional. you know i think to me, go that like oh where you go i be yeah um I think more recently, I think with everything that's happening at the minute, as we know, it's a trans and non-binary and intersex community and the the horrible things that happening in our society right now. stripped them of their rights.
00:13:25
Speaker
um That has impacted our organisations, I'm sure it has, you and it's led to many difficult conversations we're having to have around our policies. And of bad decisions have been made. We're being rectified right now, which is great. But it was a ah meeting that was had when this whole legislation and Supreme Court and EHRC came out.
00:13:46
Speaker
And we usually pull in, I'm not sure about you, Sean, but we usually pull in around 30 to 40 every time it goes. We've been teaching. plus network meep. And on this call there was 250 people that joined this call that were I'd say 25% 30% were part of the network. The rest were allies. And they spoke so eloquently to say the reasons as to why we needed to fight this, why we weren't going to be listening to what this Supreme Court decision was saying right now, you know, and what were the steps we were going to take. And I think to me, again, it goes back to that thing of when you're fighting the fight and it's a slow burner and you're doing these events and only 10 people might show up or 50 people might show up. To have 250 people just be on that call and advocating for the community, some who were allies, some who I'd never met before, a but majority was just incredible. And I felt, I think that's, I felt even more at home here at UAL.
00:14:42
Speaker
Yeah, that's absolutely incredible. and yeah And you perhaps in that had lots of people who may have been passive allies before, but have become more active in their allyship, which ultimately is, know, allyship is a verb, it's not a label.
00:14:54
Speaker
We want to be active allies. ah Yes, absolutely. Yeah, I think that's what it is. I think they I've seen so many people come forward now. What can we do, Carly? Where are we protesting? Can I join Client? You we've done Client for many years, but...
00:15:07
Speaker
I think this year it's going to be extra special and even bigger than than years gone by. So that's really been that classic to active. I've seen know a massive shift at UAL definitely. Amazing. and We're very excited to be joining you.
00:15:22
Speaker
ah I'm sad that I can't be on the bus because I'll be holding two of our children up on our shoulders. We'll be looking out to you. We'll be looking out to you. But we'll be waiting.
00:15:34
Speaker
And I think that... There's just such power in that active advocacy and I'm excited to see what Pride is like this year for that reason. i think yeah when challenges come up, that's when we rise the strongest and allies come out and they really help lift us up to help lift and change what needs to be changed in order to rectify wrongdoings that have been done.
00:15:57
Speaker
in law or in ways of thinking that have been negatively impacted us. The other thing that I am seeing though is, you know, I'm actually noticing a lot of ah companies who don't have representation absolutely like they did in former years for lots
Corporate Support and the Role of Education
00:16:13
Speaker
of different reasons. I think that there's an important message there around if you're going to stand up, if you're going to use the rainbow flag, you need to be active in showing up for the other community when we need you.
00:16:25
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely, 100%. You can't just be putting on a rainbow logo every once in a minute. You have to be. Let's go back to what I said, embedding it in everything you are and everything you stand up for, all your policies, all your mission statements, all your visions.
00:16:40
Speaker
You have to be represented. um Yeah, and it's it's really funny. There's so many memes in there and graphics at the minute of all the companies gone by that have stripped and I'm not doing it anymore. It's so sad to see, but you all the people that are coming...
00:16:54
Speaker
from the from the background now showing their active allies, you know, it really re-instores faith a little bit once when you're seeing all the negativity. And I think what I feel most for is for the employees within that company who are bound to be either have a network or be part of the community and you don't feel that they can be represented in that way. ah report it What advice would you have for a network where an organization may be too afraid to step up and step out at the moment? so
00:17:24
Speaker
ah What would you say for them to encourage or to influence their business? I think it's about, it's it's just educating. I think people, when they see the word Supreme Court, when they see EHRC and all these legislations are legal and all of that, everybody panics and goes into a panic. it's about going back to the roots of why LGBTQ plus activism started and educating them in that. So why did the riots happen back in 1969?
00:17:53
Speaker
What percentage of our population is LGB anti? You know, it's 3.8% of the population LGB. 0.5% are trans. We're a tiny, tiny demographic.
00:18:05
Speaker
And I think people think it's much larger. know, did a presentation last week and people are like, 60%, the queers are taking over, you know, 60%. I was like, that Absolutely not. We have a tiny, tiny part of that, but we are the ones being attacked the most.
00:18:19
Speaker
And was like, that needs to change. And it's it's educating them on why that is, the stats, the facts, the impact that that has, you know, the stats that we find LGBTQ plus individuals are more at risk of depression and anxiety and suicide and all these things.
00:18:35
Speaker
It's educating them on that. And that's when I see a real shift. So it's not just scaring them. with We have to change the policy because Supreme Court says it's, well, actually, no, this is why we're doing it.
00:18:46
Speaker
It isn't just stems from this year. It's been years of it. So I think education has been really key and in turning a lot that around for me. And then, as we said before, partnering with people that are already doing this work so well.
00:19:00
Speaker
There are so many organizations out there. I'm just wanting to help for free. People scared that it's going to cost But there's so much free resource out there. And I'm happy to share that with you Sean after and we can put it in links and stuff on the podcast as well.
00:19:14
Speaker
Absolutely. and And you already mentioned those organisations that you're working with at UAL to yeah yeah partner with and and amplify the work that you need and in spaces that you might not have the experience to speak to in the strength that another will be able to. Absolutely.
00:19:30
Speaker
I think with what you just said there around starting with those statistics, it's mind-blowing how small those percentages are when you consider the power of balance that the media has put on to amplifying or magnifying, you know, what is actually a very small, tiny part of the population. Small, yeah. and So I actually think that's a really good starting point, starting with some of those numbers, because actually that's that really shifts perception from what it currently is to what the reality actually is.
00:19:59
Speaker
Absolutely.
Activism and Global Challenges for LGBTQ+ Rights
00:20:01
Speaker
And highlights, I suppose, to people, to businesses, why now more than ever, when we're silent, it's not neutral. It's actually harmful because it could potentially lead to changes like what has been made. so And I think that's something to say around, you know, where fast forward five more years and everything, you know, is potentially in a better place than what it is currently today.
00:20:24
Speaker
the importance of keeping our finger on the pulse to ensure that we don't continue to go backwards. Because i think it's when we stop looking forwards that we start going backwards. Absolutely, couldn't agree more, Sean. And I think I get asked this question all the time, it's looking back what you just said, you why isn't there straight line?
00:20:41
Speaker
You know, there's 64 countries that criminalise the LGBTQ plus community. And that is increasing day by day. So it doesn't just stop once this one legislation gets sorted or this community feels a little bit better than they did yesterday.
00:20:56
Speaker
It's continuing to push forward because until, you know, I don't think it's illegal anywhere in the world to be straight. Until we've got that saying, we keep pushing forward and we keep advocating for the rights that we just deserve.
00:21:13
Speaker
We absolutely do deserve. And I think it can be a scary place to think that the rights that we have today ah are tender but yes um and so you know even as a as a you know gay dad of two kids through syrupy you know having to go through the legal process in the uk to be seen as the legal parents to our two children there's it's scary for my family situation that there's something that could happen in the future that could change the outcome of some of those legal ways forwards as we've seen happen in other countries so absolutely so
00:21:45
Speaker
I absolutely think that, you know, we need to, as you say, we need to keep making sure that we're standing firm and standing strong and continuing to power forward. It's more than just a flag on a building or or or a symbol or a sign. and it It has power.
00:21:59
Speaker
Absolutely. What is, I suppose, one mantra, quote, or mindset that fuels your advocacy? So your commitment to the cause. Yeah. and I think ever it goes back to, and it's caught in another amazing activist, was Martha Pete Johnson, wasn't it, back in 1969, when they said, it's no pride for some without liberation for all of us.
00:22:21
Speaker
And that's what I stand by. You know, we can't live in a world that is fair and equal when there's parts of our... community that are being you know strict of their rights just normal just what they should be living their lives as and until we're all free from that then you know there isn't liberation for us all and we need to keep fighting for that so Marsha P Johnson's quote always lives with me rents me in my head alongside all my singing and songs but that's one of the one of the but one of one are the quotes that sticks with me you know quite obviously
00:22:52
Speaker
That's a a really powerful quote and I think actually speaks to not just allyship, cross network, cross business, out outside the community, actually speaks really strongly to allyship within the community, that we all representatives of the acronyms need to be in allyship with one another to be able to lift each other up because we don't exist without one.
00:23:12
Speaker
We don't. we don What is one of your wishes for the future for LGBTQI's political inclusion in the world? Oh, wow. I mean, that's just what we keep saying, that it's not criminal.
00:23:25
Speaker
It's not criminal to just be who you are anywhere in the but world. shouldn't have to be Googling if it's safe to go to countries or Googling where we can get married in the world, just that it's normal for us to walk down the street holding our partner's hand, who we love, holding our kid's hand that we got through surrogacy, IVF. You know, that's what I want in this world. And I think that's not ah not an extreme ask to ask anybody.
00:23:49
Speaker
No, I don't think so all. Wish for the same and want the same. I want to be able to travel to any country with that fear persecution for just walking off the plane as myself.
00:24:04
Speaker
ah Absolutely. Having a cheapest dog in a bar, that's all we want. That's all we want, a cheapest dog in a bar. What? That's it, that's all I want to do without being knocked out or maybe my son-of. So, you know, that's that's part of it. But professionally, I just want everybody to be embedded in this and not be a fleeting thing.
00:24:24
Speaker
As you said, always pushing forward with it. Being ahead of it. No, proactively being ahead of it, not reactive. And that's really important is that, you know, how do we shift that from us, the businesses, being reactive to being proactive? You know, at that story, we want to go above and beyond what the law recognises. you know, for example, there are nine prepared characteristics, but actually there are a lot of other reasons outside of those that are legally protected that people get discriminated against for.
00:24:52
Speaker
And so as I think that mindset of going above and beyond what's legally expected and required can really help you to continue to push forward. 100% absolutely. Yeah, it's above the policies. It's what we do with them aligned with what we do above and beyond.
Future Hopes and Upcoming Pride Events
00:25:10
Speaker
This has been a fantastic conversation. Thank you so much. but Thank you. No, thank you. What are you most looking forward to doing to celebrate Pride Month yourself? Oh, well, we've got the exhibition tomorrow, which is 20 pieces of but trans joy. and And they're going to get picked. And the top three will get picked and shown at the British Airways UBTC Plus Awards coming up later eighty this month.
00:25:34
Speaker
And then we're prepping for our Pride float on the 5th of July, Trans Plus Pride and UK Black Pride. So, It's cry, cry, cry. Cry, cry, cry. Never will stop while I'm still around. So that's what I'm expecting. How about you, Cheryl?
00:25:49
Speaker
Well, we kicked it off by watching Kylie. um like And she was absolutely incredible. She was everything you wanted, Eddwell.
00:25:59
Speaker
And then it's just getting involved in all the different events that we're going to running at Back to Story across the different regions. And then for us as a family, our daughter, her middle name is Rainbow. And so she thinks that it's all about her.
00:26:11
Speaker
Which I love. um restow And rightly so. i mean but but So I think that for us as a family is going to be really incredibly special and...
00:26:23
Speaker
Ultimately, i would love that feeling that happens on Pride Day for London to be every day. That share and freedom of expression, fun and the The un- like like the and apologetic joy of being, i would love that feeling to resonate every single day
Closing Thoughts and Call to Action
00:26:49
Speaker
of the year. And that's the thing that love Summer and Pearson to be able to walk into. And you're part of the reason why I i do what I do it in the workplace. Absolutely.
00:26:58
Speaker
Brilliant. Well, thank you so much. Do you have any final words before we sign off? ah No, but no, no. I don't know if that helps. Maybe. Maybe it's just show up. Be that active ally. Don't be past this.
00:27:10
Speaker
If you don't know the answers, find our clients, find the networks, find people outside of the businesses that can help you. And let's all you knowll do this together. Let's all make it better for each other.
00:27:23
Speaker
What a great thing to end on. So ah big thank you, Carly, for having this conversation. but i no sure That was amazing. Thank you very much for that. Wow, what a conversation and what a powerhouse of a voice at work Carly is.
00:27:41
Speaker
i am still unpacking and digesting everything that we yeah discuss together and I really hope that like me, you have walked away from this with a feast of ideas to take away and really see this as a call to action.
00:27:55
Speaker
ah call to action to use the power of your voice to reach out and collaborate and connect with others, and to tap into and build the power that we have when we use our voices together, the collective voice, remembering that in order to truly shine, we must rise together.
00:28:11
Speaker
Have an amazing Pride season, everybody, however and whenever you are celebrating it, and may it be filled with unapologetic joy, and may you continue to get to be yourself every day of the year.
00:28:24
Speaker
Thank you so much for tuning in. Till next time, keep shining.