Celebrating Diversity: Centrica's Commitment to Pride
We believe our differences and identity should be embraced and celebrated. As part of our ongoing support for the LGBTQ+ community, in 2025 we launched our market leading Trans Inclusion Policy. This policy amongst other support and guidance provides colleagues who wish to transition whilst working at Centrica, reasonable time off for medical procedure. This policy is the first of its kind for the Energy & Utilities industry and will have a truly game changing impact on our trans colleagues.
This policy is part of our ongoing commitment to support and elevate the voices of our LGBTQ+ colleagues. 2025 marks the 10th year of our LGBTQ+ ERG, the + Network, who have been shortlisted for multiple awards in recognition of their great work.
What is Pride?
In June 1969, the Stonewall riots were sparked by a police raid on the Stonewall Inn in New York City. These important protests changed gay rights for a lot of people in America and around the world. That’s why today we celebrate Pride in June.
In this country, the first UK Gay Pride festival took place in London on 1st July 1972 when 2,000 people gathered to celebrate the lesbian and gay community and support equal rights. Back then, life was very different. Until 1967, just five years before that first parade, homosexuality was still a crime. Even after it was legalised, there was still a long way to go until gay people won the same rights as everyone else.
Now, over 50 years on, thankfully a lot has changed, and everyone has the same rights under UK law, regardless of their sexual orientation. Today, instead of being a protest march demanding equal rights, Pride is a celebration of a diverse community and a celebration of people coming together in love and friendship.
Celebrating Pride not only shows how far LGBTQ+ rights have come, but also how there's still work to be done in some places. Pride month is about acceptance and equality. It’s a time for us to celebrate the work of LGBTQ+ people as well as learning about LGBTQ+ history and raising awareness of issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community.
It also calls for people to remember how damaging homophobia was and still can be. Pride is all about being proud of who you are no matter who you love.
What is Pride Month?
Pride Month in the UK, celebrated every June, honours the LGBTQ+ community, their history, and their contributions to society. It is a time for raising awareness about the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals and promoting equality and inclusiveness.
Throughout the month, various events such as parades, festivals, and educational activities take place across the country, celebrating progress made towards LGBTQ+ rights and highlighting ongoing issues like hate crimes and discrimination. Pride Month encourages everyone to stand together in support of the LGBTQ+ community.
Pride month is more important than ever with 35% of LGBTQ+ staff in the UK hiding their sexuality at work. This is exacerbated by hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people surging by 112% over the last year.
Pride is for everyone
Our + network is open to everyone whether they are part of the LGBTQ+ community or want to be an ally to those who are. What is important is that they share a common purpose in building awareness to create an open and inclusive place where colleagues feel respected, valued and are empowered to make a change.
What Pride means to me
Being an ally to the LGBTQ+ community, I’m here to help make a difference for our LGBTQ+ colleagues. I want to enable representation by amplifying voices where I can and continue to educate myself on all that matters to the community by not being afraid to ask questions. I’ll be that supportive shoulder for whoever needs it, whatever and whenever it’s needed. Pride to me means joining in to celebrate and reflect with the community and help organising it all!
To me, Pride Month is an opportunity to bring to shine a light on the contributions of LGBTQ+ people to our company, culture and society whilst recognising how far we still have to go to reach equality. Pride month becomes more and more pivotal every year and it’s so important for companies to progress past rainbow washing and performative action and dig deep into what inclusivity really means. Following recent attacks on our community it is more important than ever for LGBTQ+ people and allies alike to come together. I am proud to lead our LGBTQ+ network and building safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people at Centrica and British Gas.
Updated on 5 June 2025 by:
Steven Waggott
+ Network Chair