As we celebrate Pride Month, Julie Evans, Chief Property Officer, talks about the importance of LGBTQ+ visibility and recognition.
Why did you volunteer to be the Executive Sponsor of Curo’s LGBTQ+ Resident Engagement and Colleague Groups, and what does that mean in practice?
I’m a gay woman, and I think it’s important for a senior leader in the business who is out and proud to support our work in this area. It sends a visible signal to colleagues, customers, and to people who might be considering working with us that we welcome diversity of all types. It shows that sexuality is no barrier to career progress at Curo.
As part of this role, I participate in our LGBTQ+ Colleague Engagement Group, where we discuss issues such as how we can better capture the views of customers and the unheard voices in our sector. I don’t think we currently understand how many LGBTQ+ customers we have, or what they need. But if we don’t understand their requirements, we can’t shape our services to suit them. Our new vision is that ‘Everyone feels proud about the quality of our homes’, and it feels pertinent that LGBTQ+ pride is part of this.
Why has Curo taken the HouseProud pledge, a scheme that all social housing providers can sign up to, to demonstrate their commitment to LGBTQ+ resident equality and support?
It’s a visible commitment to improve the experience of LGBTQ+ customers. We hope that having this overt badge will help customers who have felt reticent in the past to share their experiences of their neighbours and communities. We want it to give them confidence that we’re welcoming.
Recent research from HouseProud found that one in five gay men reported modifying their home in some way – for example, moving pictures or books – to hide their sexual orientation from a visiting repairs operative or housing officer. Have you ever witnessed anything like this?
When I was younger and less confident, I did similar things myself. I have moved photos and haven’t corrected people when they’ve assumed my partner was a man. I suppose I felt a sense of shame that I had absolutely no reason to feel. If you’re gay, there is nothing to be ashamed of.
Unfortunately, there will always be prejudice in the world. But you should expect your landlord to treat you with equity. An LGBTQ+ person should never feel afraid or embarrassed in one of our homes.
What are the aims of the LGBTQ+ Resident Engagement Group?
We want to give LGBTQ+ residents the opportunity to help shape our services and policies. This will help us to be a better landlord. We’d like customers to take ownership of the group and for it to be completely led by them. My colleagues and I can play our parts by sharing our experiences and advocating on behalf of customers. We don’t want people to suffer in silence if they are experiencing discrimination.
We’re conscious that we have Extra Care and Sheltered homes for older residents - and we don’t know if some of these are LGBTQ+ customers. The older generation may have faced more discrimination and may be more likely to hide their sexuality. We’re keen to work with them and address these issues. There has been too much ignorance. We need to know what their experiences are.
I have been personally very lucky because my family and friends accepted me for who I am. We now have gay marriage and equal rights. But you do hear horror stories. When I first met my partner, she said that we must never be complacent nor take for granted the rights that we now have. The political rhetoric that surrounds us can be challenging. For example, we have a responsibility towards transgender customers to understand their lived experiences so that they don’t have to hide who they are.
What would you say to a customer who was thinking about joining the group but felt a bit nervous and didn’t know what to expect?
We’d love you to come along. It’s a great chance to meet new people and make friends. But if the thought of joining a group is putting you off, you can have a chat with one of us first. And if you don’t want to join the group, you can still let us know your thoughts and experiences.
For more information on the LGBTQ+ Resident Engagement Group, email pride@curo-group.co.uk
