“We don’t live single-issue lives” – Audre Lorde
As we mark LGBT+ History Month in the UK and Black History Month in the USA, this is the perfect time to honour the legendary Audre Lorde – a Black lesbian feminist, poet, and activist.
Long before intersectionality became a key concept in DEI, Lorde was living and articulating it. She challenged the idea that struggles for equality could be tackled in isolation – arguing that oppression is interconnected, and so must be our fight for justice.
Lorde’s words are powerful reminder that people cannot be pigeonholed. To focus on one characteristic is not enough.
No two human experiences are the same, and we must recognise how race, sex, gender identity, disability, neurodivergence, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and other human characteristics (protected or otherwise) intersect to form unique profiles of privilege and marginalisation.
Lorde’s legacy pushes us to go beyond surface-level representation and build workplaces where every part of a person’s identity is included and valued, because only if we acknowledge the complexity of human beings can we create systems that actually work for them. Which Black and/or LGBTQIA+ trailblazers inspire your work in DEI?
Ausome Charlie 