A few events that Building Equality have hosted in celebration of LGBT+ History Month
Building the Future
A professional networking event, in Leeds, celebrating LGBT+ History Month.
The event took place on Wednesday 6 February to celebrate and reflect on diversity and inclusion in the construction industry.
We welcomed Amanda McKay, Major Projects Quality Director at Balfour Beatty and trans role model, who recently featured in the Financial Times’ OUTstanding Top 100 LGBT+ Executives.
Amanda spoke about her extensive career and explained why diverse and inclusive teams are vital to business. She shared her vision for the future and how networks like Building Equality are advancing the image of the construction industry.
We welcomed guests from across the construction industry and associated professions, as well as the Lord Mayor and members of Leeds City Council.
Building Equality, Diversity and Inclusion into the Built Environment Supply Chain
A professional networking event including keynote speeches and panel discussions, in Manchester, celebrating LGBT+ History Month.
The event took place on Thursday 21 February to explore cross-industry collaboration as a means for building truly inclusive workplaces in construction.
The evening celebrated the great improvement that has been made within many individual organisations, and discussed how Building Equality seeks to achieve more through working together.
That by working together, with the whole supply chain, we can improve the practice, culture, and image of the building industry.As part of the evening, we welcomed The Proud Trust to provide a platform for them to share the amazing work they do and their goals for the future.
At this event we also recognised the organisations and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to this cause.
Networking for Change (not strictly history month but history nonetheless)
This event, in Manchester, commemorated, and celebrated, 50-years since the Stonewall Riots.
The event took place on Thursday 27 June was an opportunity of cross-industry and cross-network collaboration and sharing best practice on LGBT+ inclusion.
The Stonewall Riots spearheaded the LGBT+ social movement, advancing the rights and lives of LGBT+ individuals. This event brought together like-minded organisations and individuals to Build Equality; to drive LGBT+ inclusion in the built environment.
We paid homage to the unforgettable trailblazers of LGBT+ rights and liberation Marsha P Johnson and Sylvia Rivera – both outspoken advocates for LGBT+ rights and prominent figures in the Stonewall Riots.
The evening discussed how far we have come in the 50-years since the Stonewall Riots but also how far we need to go for Equality and Acceptance. Touching on how the Building Equality Toolbox Talk and poster campaign can push LGBT+ inclusion in our industry and beyond.
We had the pleasure of inviting Sparkle – The National Transgender Charity as our keynote speech.
We explored Trans awareness and inclusion in construction – ensuring people from across the Trans spectrum feel empowered to embrace who they are, so that they can positively define their future and alter public perceptions.