What it means to me that my employer made it into the Stonewall Top 100:
I have always been passionate about diversity and inclusion, partly because I am #autistic and bisexual and hence I identify as a member of an intersectional minority group.
In our family there are gay, bisexual and gender-fluid young people, some of whom are also autistic and/or have #ADHD. My hope for them is that they grow up knowing how normal it is to be LGBTQ, that they are accepted in society and afforded the same opportunities as cis/het people.
Sadly my son (nicknamed Iggy) died last April aged 15. We later learned that Iggy had been struggling to cope with being autistic and gay. I have noticed there are few visible LGBTQ role models in our village and in his school. My daughter Izzy and I have made it our mission to spread the message of acceptance in his memory.
#Stonewall inspired me after my son’s death, with their top ten tips about how to be a positive visible #LGBTQ role model. Their work is not about paying lip service to #diversity and #inclusion – it saves lives.
I am privileged to feel safe to be my authentic autistic self, and to discuss Iggy’s legacy.
It is OK to be gay. Different is OK
Ausome Charlie 