Pride at Sense

This Pride month, we’re celebrating the LGBTQ+ community – and empowering the people we support to be their authentic, independent selves. Everyone should be able to live with a sense of pride.

To kick off the celebrations, we hosted a Pride Sensory Disco at TouchBase Pears, in Selly Oak, Birmingham. We had over 25 disabled people with complex needs dancing their way through the night. Accompanied by vibrant sensory lights, rainbow flags, tinsel and a pride-themed playlist.

We followed that up by attending Birmingham’s Pride event. We walked at the front of the parade procession with Birmingham Pride’s Mobilise Group. We wanted everyone at Sense, including volunteers and people we support to know, to they can participate in something that is accessible and inclusive.

“It is so important to organise events like this, for people to express themselves, make connections and feel part of something bigger.”
Robyn, Co-chair of our Sense LGBTQ+ Network

Stories of Pride

Watch to hear these inspirational stories about being LGBTQ+ and disabled.

Read the descriptive transcript for this video.

As a queer, disabled couple, my partner and I face ableism and homophobia combined when we go out together

In this blog for Pride Month, Jeffie explains how her queer, disabled relationship has opened her eyes to the ways homophobia and ableism intersect.

An unsmiling face featuring white foundation, blue and grey highlights and tinted glasses holds a ring that is shining harsh white light onto their face. On their chest, they have 'they/them' tattooed twice.

My life as a deafblind drag king

Max explains how being a deafblind drag king affects their performances.

Tracy, a white woman with long brown hair, is standing holding a vanilla ice cream. Someone else, who we can't see, is holding a strawberry ice creamwith a chocolate flake. She's standing in front of a river with a big old bridge over it. The weather is grey, but Tracy looks like she's having fun.

Supporting people to explore their sexuality and gender identity

Tracy shares how she and other Sense sexuality and relationships advisers support adults with complex needs with their identity.

Connor stands against a grey wall facing the camera. He is in his twenties with short brown hair and wears a navy-blue suit over a white t-shirt and white trainers.

Coming out as transgender has been shaped by my blindness

This Pride month, Connor explains the unique challenges of being both blind and transgender.

Steven being interviewed by a TV reporter.

What Disability Pride Month means to me

July is Disability Pride Month. This year, it’s prompted me to think about what “disability pride” means to me.

What we’re doing in our services

Disabled people and their loved ones are at the heart of everything we do. Providing personalised support means that we empower people to become their true, authentic selves. That way, disabled people with complex needs can have pride in who they are, no matter how they identify, or what their sexuality.

For example, our sex and relationships advisers provide the tools and information to the people we support, empowering them to explore their sexuality and identity. We’re growing this area of our work to make sure more people can get the support they need to be their authentic selves.

What we’re doing in our workplace

No one should be left out of life. We’re committed to making sure that no one is left out when they work for us, either. We’re striving for a culture where, if you work at Sense, you can bring your whole self to work, regardless of gender, sexuality or any other element of your identity.

To make this happen, we:

Have an active and enthusiastic LGBTQ+ employee network. This means that members of the community as well as allies can get together to network, campaign and celebrate.
Keep an eye on the data. Having knowledge about the diversity of the people who work and volunteer at Sense helps us to continuously improve.
Make sure we provide the right training to staff and have supporting policies in place.