Clare Reddington CEO
on Mon 1 JuneMore Than a Rainbow
Posted on Mon 1 June
Pride is more than a rainbow flag. This June, Clare Reddington, Watershed CEO, reflects on what year-round support for LGBTQ+ communities looks like at Watershed - and why speaking up for Queer and Trans rights matters more than ever.
June is Pride month across the UK – Bristol’s very own brilliant Pride starts on 27 June, runs into July and includes Queer Vision Film Festival
Pride Month is a celebration of LGBTQ+ communities, it commemorates our contribution to history and society and takes place around the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots, a series of gay liberation protests. This year it is particularly important to celebrate and speak up for LGBTQ+ communities – the UK is a shocking 22nd place out of 49 European countries in The Rainbow Map. A decade ago we were top – things are not doing well.
Watershed is extremely proud of our LGBTQ+ staff members, partners and communities. Supporting queer culture and inclusion is much more than just a rainbow flag on the stairs – it is an all year round mission. Here’s some of what it looks like at Watershed:
- We have an amazing 14 year partnership with Pride and Queer Vision.
- We regularly partner with Bristol Butch Bar on screenings, parties and events.
- In March 2025, 20% of our Board, 39% of our leadership team and 43% of our employees identified as LGBQA (compared to 6% of the population). 5% of our employees identify as Trans.
- 36% of our creative community identify as LGBQA and 5% identify as Trans.
- Our inclusive and award winning (gender neutral) toilets are free for everyone to use at any time.
- We provide free space for LGBTQ+ community groups to meet – Queer Tech Bristol, Queer Reads Bristol, Trans Resistance Action Network and Bristol Queer Parents regularly use our venue. We are hosting a Trans+ Designathon on 20 June centred around joy.
- We stand up for Trans+ rights: our open letter to the EHRC was signed by 2400 people in the culture sector and we are part of the Third Sector Against Transphobia steering group.
- We are a registered Bristol Safe Space.
- Our venue code of conduct and HR policies are very clear that we count transphobia and homophobia as harassment and they wont be tolerated.
This Pride month I don’t just want to just see RAINBOWS. I hope to see all my culture sector CEO colleagues speaking up publicly for Trans rights and identities, supporting LGBTQ+ community groups, checking in on their LGBTQ+ staff and thinking about when and how they might need rest and respite in an increasingly terrified world.
Sending love out there xx
Post inspired by @penForman