Emily Dyer

As the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director of Research Services I come into contact with a wide range of people every day. I am a firm believer that everyone should be treated with respect, understanding and empathy both in and out of the office. I have always been vocal about equality in my personal life but I realised that this support could be put to better use if I stood up and became a visible ally at work. It’s vital that our LGBT+ friends and colleagues know they have a safe place to go should they require support or understanding.

The Stonewall LGBT+ Allies course provided me with valuable tools and language as well as shining a light on the challenges faced by the LGBT+ community every day. The course included some shocking statistics and some invaluable exercises that helped me to understand what it might be like to feel that it is not safe to express who you are. This freedom of expression is something that many of us take for granted but that should be available to all, no exceptions!