Respect Magazine - December 2022

Well, what a year it’s been! From having three Prime Ministers in as many months, to the loss of Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II, 2022 has certainly been one for the history books.

Speaking of history, this year marked 50 years of Pride in the UK. I’m sure many of you were able to celebrate at one of the Pride events which took place. Co op supported 23 events this year and for the first time we attended London Pride, which was a HUGE affair.

Though it feels like it’s been a big year for LGBTQ+ people, the recent and tragic shooting at Club Q in Colorado serves as a reminder of how there is still much more to do, in helping LGBTQ+ people feel safe and protected in the community.

The launch of this issue of the magazine just so happens to coincide with World AIDS Day, so we’ve used it as an opportunity to raise awareness. We also caught up with the Co Chair’s of Aspire to learn more about the network, which we think you’ll find interesting.

Obviously not forgetting about the time of year we ’re heading in to we wanted to lighten the mood with some fun, so make sure to checkout our festive games and our panto feature.

Finally, I want to share that although we continue to face hardships, LGBTQ+ people and our allies within Co op and beyond are a strong and brave community. As we move in to 2023 we’ll continue to fight for equality and stand up for what’s right, as we’ ve always done!

Sponsor Spotlight

By Dan Sayers Yates

Rebecca Birkbeck

Since joining Co op back in 2017, Rebecca has been key in helping to deliver the community pillar of our Co op vision, ‘Co operating for a fairer world’ as our Director of Community & Member Participation. As a new addition to Respect, we wanted to learn more about her role and how Respect can help shine a light on our LGBTQ+ activity in the community.

I joined the Co op just over 5 years ago as the Director of Community Engagement, I was previously a management consultant and then CEO of London 2012 charity, the Join In Trust, charged with delivering the social legacy of the Games, mostly around volunteering in local sport. I wanted to come back into the private sector, somewhere where the values and ethics meant that community would sit at the core of the business. I targeted the Co op and landed my dream job!

What

Networks like Respect play a crucial role to support our colleagues. I’ve been thinking a lot about allyship recently and am excited that, by becoming a sponsor, I can hopefully play a meaningful part by listening and really valuing what colleagues have to say.

What more do you think Co op can do to create a safer workplace for LGBTQ+ colleagues, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or trans status? How do you think Respect can support this?

I think we’re all clear that we want to create a safe workplace for everyone, but sadly we

know that it is not always true for all groups. LGBTQ+ colleagues are among those still facing challenges in and outside the workplace. I am here to listen and to learn what we can do to continue to change this.

It’s important that everyone can live their life openly and without fear. If it’s left purely to people within the LGBTQ+ community to stand up and make this point, I think it feels a bit lonely and like it is their issue, rather than an issue for society as a whole. I’m hoping that acting as a sponsor of Respect is way of demonstrating meaningful support

How do you promote allyship and inclusion, be that in your role or in your personal life?

I’m lucky that in my role I get to meet so many of the community groups supported by our members. Last year I spent time with members of Young Rainbow Minds in Hackney where they spelt out the negative impact of the pandemic on their mental wellbeing, all the more so in cases where young people were not in the position to be fully open with their families.

What made you decide to join Co op?

motivated you to become a sponsor for the Respect network?

Why is it important for people not within the LGBTQ+ community to show allyship towards the LGBTQ+ community?

Some of the group observed that this was a particular challenge for them as they were also part of a minority ethnic group. Something which may resonate with us too as we bring conversations together across our colleague networks. I also previously spent a lot of time with a close friend in Jersey, where prior to 1990, same sex sexual activity was still a criminal offence. It felt important to be a visible presence alongside him, but I didn’t realise at the time that this was allyship.

As you’re heavily involved in the great work Co op does with local causes, is there anything that can be done to support more LGBTQ+ causes specifically?

We’ve used our community wellbeing index to base our community strategy on the missions which we believe can have the most impact in communities. They provide access to food, access to mental wellbeing support and access to opportunities for young people, and they’ve come to the forefront through the pandemic and the recent cost of living crisis.

Although we don’t define by audience, inclusion is a key part of our work. We have LGBTQ+ causes like Young Rainbow Minds who are delivering against one of these missions and benefit from our member’ s support, as well as many groups in our local community fund. I am keen to speak with the network about how we get the word out so that other groups are aware that their application would be welcomed.

If you’ve ever been to Pride, do you have a favourite memory to share?

I have been to Pride in London and in Manchester to cheer on friends in the procession but have never taken part. I’ m hoping to put that to rights next year!

Respect will work closely with Rebecca and our other network sponsors, to help us achieve our vision in helping to create a safer workplace for colleagues regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or trans status.

Pride! 50th Anniversary in the UK

This year has been quite momentous for the LGBTQ+ community in the UK, in that we celebrated 50 years of Pride. On 1 July 1972, the first ever UK Pride was held in London, an event that sparked rallies and events across the country that still continue to this day.

The 50th anniversary was bound to be a big deal and it didn't disappoint! Co op supported 23 Pride events all over the country, which was our biggest celebration yet! If you managed to attend then you’ll have first hand experience of how electrifying the atmosphere was.

From marching in parades to dressing stores and our hearses, colleagues truly showed what it meant to be proud. We’ ve created a montage of some of our favourite pics, so why not check it out here

For some Pride is about making a political statement, with this year being no different. For us we wanted to use the event as an opportunity to raise awareness on the issues LGBTQ+ people continue to face in society.

Earlier this year the UK government proposed to ban conversion therapy, with the legislation excluding trans and non binary people. Transphobia in sport was brought to the forefront of conversations again, after trans athlete Lia Thomas won first place in the 500 yard freestyle race at the National Collegiate Athletic Association swimming championships, sparking debate for supposedly having an unfair advantage.

More recently controversy has surrounded the World Cup, with the host nation Qatar coming under fire for their laws on homosexuality.

By Dan Sayers Yates & Sean Walsh

These are just a few examples of why Pride is so important and still needed. Saying that, a lot of progress has been made, so naturally it felt right for us to also shine a light on this during the Pride parades too.

Representation of LGBTQ+ people in the media took a huge step forward in 2022, with the gay romcom ‘Bros’ being the first movie of it’s kind to be released by a major film studio. Slovenia also became the first post communist country to legalise same sex marriage in October, taking the total number of countries to 32.

To put that in to perspective there are 195 countries in the world, which means only 16% have so far introduced legislation providing same sex couples with equal rights. I think you’ll agree there’s still a fair way to go and no just where marriage is concerned.

Race equality within the community needs addressing urgently, as does non binary and trans inclusion. We also need to look at what is happening in the wider world and set the example. One thing I can be sure of though is that the Co op is great at showing what the true meaning of Pride is about.

Here’s to another 50 years!

Reviews

By Sean Walsh

Are you looking for something new to keep you entertained during winter? Then we’ve got you covered. Here are some of our suggestions on the LGBTQ+ media that we’re currently binging at the moment...

But it's not all serious! There are quite a few laughs to be had, in particular with Marcus who seems like he’d be great fun to have a night out with if unpredictable!

This is the first book in the trilogy by Rory Michaelson, which follows Oscar Tundale, a gay man who leads an unextraordinary life as a nurse on a children’s ward. With his friends Zara and Marcus, he embarks on a journey that takes him from his humdrum life to something truly unbelievable.

There are all manner of adventures taking place over a very short space of time which include a variety of ‘lesser known monsters’ (see what I did there?) as well as some more familiar monsters, such as a doppelganger. I know if I see anyone who looks like me, I’ll be running for the hills! But enough of my mirror anxiety…

A strong sense of a found family runs throughout this story too, which for some people in the LGBTQ+ community is really important. Portraying the good and the bad parts of any family, it depicts turmoil, unity and the importance of sticking together.

If you’re not sure what we mean by the term ‘found family’, then read on to page 22 to find out more

Lesser Known Monsters is a fantasy story which shows that you don’t have to rewrite a genre to be inclusive. The characters cover a cross section of the LGBTQ+ community, but what’s really uplifting is that their sexuality or gender identity isn’t the defining point in their story, it’s merely a part of the subtext.

There’s romance and passion thrown in too, but I shan’t spoil it too much. A very good read, and worth the time if you are into fantasy.

Novel: Lesser Known Monsters by Rory Michaelson

Television Show:

Dead End: Paranormal Park is a family animated show that centres around Barney, his dog Pugsley and Norma who go to high school together and apply for a job at a theme park. The park is owned by the reclusive actress, Pauline Phoenix, who is voiced by the legendary drag queen Coco Peru (you should watch her YouTube channel immediately)! Think Dollywood, but with more spooky goings on!

Barney is trans, and has issues with his family because of this, as not all his family understand what he’s going through. Norma is Pakistani American and autistic, and is trying to gain a bit more independence, as her mum is quite overprotective.

Whilst working at the theme park, it becomes apparent that all is not as it seems. There are people walking around who are behaving strangely, people vanishing as well as the odd demon.

There are lots of laughs to be had and whilst it is a family show, adults can still really enjoy it. Particularly Courtney the demon, who is absolutely hilarious!

There are a lot of takeaways from this series such as love is love, not everyone shares their problems and disabilities are not always visible. There are some demons that can be slayed if you reach out for help, which serves as a helpful metaphor too.

The show is really good at highlighting the stories of young trans people in particular, and how families don’t always ‘get’ them. However, with a little bit of patience and communication, there can be reconciliation and love.

This has to be one of the best podcasts that I’ve listened to in a long time.

Tig Notaro (One Mississippi, Star Trek: Discovery) and Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm, RV: Runaway Vacation) watch a different documentary every week and then discuss it.

It sounds simple enough, but they get so distracted and off topic you glean very little information about the actual documentary, and it is just truly hilarious listening to them!

Cheryl valiantly tries to get back on topic but usually ends up down a rabbit hole of her own creation whilst Tig just doesn’t seem to be that bothered what they talk about (in a funny way!).

All this is happening whilst the mostly silent producer Mr Thomas is frequently asked to Google something completely random. It’s very fun even on serious topics and it truly helps me get through my Monday mornings, when the episodes come out. If you’re a podcast enthusiast then this is a must!

Dead End: Paranormal Park (Netflix)

Podcast: Tig & Cheryl: True Story

World AIDS Day has taken place every 1 December since 1988. It’ s an internationally recognised day, dedicated to raising awareness of AIDS and to mourn those who have lost their lives to the disease. AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is the name used to describe a number of potentially life threatening infections and illnesses that occur when your immune system has been severely damaged by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). Health officials, charities and individuals use the day to educate people on AIDS prevention and control. In the past contracting HIV, which can lead to AIDS, was seen as a death sentence especially during the AIDS epidemic in the 80’s, however

By Haydn

What is World AIDS Day?

It’s an opportunity for people to unite in the fight against HIV and show support for those living with the virus. Founded in 1988, World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day.

Why is World AIDS Day Important?

It’s so important as it reminds the public and government that HIV has not gone away. There’s still a need to raise money, increase awareness, fight prejudice, and improve education. Globally, there are an estimated 38 million people living with HIV, ofwhich over 105,000 are inthe UK.

Despite the virus only being identified in 1984, over 35 million people have died of HIV or AIDS related illnesses, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in history.

Thankfully, since it’s discovery scientific advances have been made in developing HIV treatment, with laws now in place to protect people living with HIV and the level of understanding around the virus being higher than ever.

Although, each year in the UK over 4,000 people are diagnosed with HIV with many not knowing the facts about how to protect themselves and others. Stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV and AIDS also remains a reality for many people living with the condition.

How can you show your support?

To show your solidarity with the millions of people living with HIV / AIDS worldwide, most people wear a red awareness ribbon on the day. This has become a universal symbol, which you can order online here

Get tested! This is the only way to find out if you have HIV. Free and confidential tests are available from NHS sexual health clinics, charity testing services, many GP surgeries, pharmacies or online for self testing at home. If you’re living with HIV, starting treatment early means you can live a full, healthy and productive life.

Why not do some fundraising? There are lots of ways you can get involved, check out some ideas at the Terrence Higgins Trust website.

with modern day medicine many people living with HIV can continue to live a healthy life without fear of spreading the virus.

Rothwell

George House Trust

By Haydn Rothwell

Each year George House Trust provides direct support to over 2,000 people living with HIV, through a dedicated team of passionate staff and volunteers. They offer a range of services which focus on wellbeing, building emotional strength, confidence, knowledge and skills through person centred counselling, peer mentoring, group work, 121 advice, befriending and life coaching.

George House Trust also use organisational and collective community voices in campaigning and influencing activities, working to enact real changes for some of the most disadvantaged people living with HIV. With In honour of World AIDS Day we spoke with Darren Knight, Chief Executive at George House Trust, to learn more about the work they do and why knowing your HIV status is so important.

We partner with a range of organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors, to ensure that people can live well with HIV as we know that we can’t do what we need to do alone. One critical factor in our support is the selfless contribution of 100 volunteers, who enable us to provide the quality services we offer.

Can you tell us a little bit about George House Trust and the work you do?

George House Trust’s vision is for a world where HIV holds no one back and we provide information, advice and support to people living with and affected by HIV. Established in 1985 by six gay men in response to the HIV epidemic, we’ ve evolved over the years thanks to the remarkable medical and social changes.

We now provide a wide range of targeted services that give people the help they need, whether it’s following a new HIV diagnosis or for someone who’s been living with HIV for a while. Everything we do is built around inspiring people with HIV to live healthy and confident lives.

Although there’s been transformational changes around HIV, particularly in that people on effective treatment can’t pass it on through sex if they have undetectable amounts of HIV in their blood (more widely known as ‘undetectable = untransmittable’ or ‘U=U’), often education and social attitudes haven’t kept pace.

Massive progress has been made, but some people living with HIV still face much discrimination and sometimes rejection from people close to them. HIV stigma is still a real issue and here at George House Trust, we ’re able to provide the vital support needed to combat that.

George House Trust

World AIDS Day gives us the opportunity to remember those people who have died, to reflect on the progress made and to build hope for what we can achieve. It shines a light ontheglobal inequalities around HIVas well as the local inequalities, providing a platform for activism, challenge and change.

World AIDS Day also provides us with an opportunity to raise the profile of the shared ambition to end new diagnoses of HIV by 2030, which is absolutely achievable in the UK. It also gives a platform to ensure that people living with HIV have what they need to live healthily and confidently. Importantly, World AIDS Day is about looking forward and sharing optimism for the future.

The most important thing that we ask for World AIDS Day is that people wear a red ribbon and be ready to have the conversation about how HIV has changed and to tell as many people as possible about ‘Undetectable = Untransmittable’.

How has current treatment helped?

Treatment has been phenomenal in the HIV response; it keeps people alive. As medicines evolve, we’re seeing some incredible developments that will help people to better manage their condition, including the advent of long lasting injectable HIV medication. There continues to be a global inequity in relation to access to medication. Recent issues such as the war in Ukraine demonstrates how vulnerable the global fight to end new transmission of HIV is and how much more there is to do.

Can you tell us more about U=U?

U=U is the simplest of messages, once you know what it means! The goal of HIV treatment is to get the viral levels down to an ‘undetectable’ level, meaning that the amount of HIV is undetectable. Basically, it means the levels of HIV are so low, that they can no longer cause any damage to the body, and HIV will not be transmitted through sexual contact. For HIV the science is clear:

What can people do to prevent HIV transmission?

There are a number of things that you can do, but the first one starts with you and it’ s quite simply to ‘know your HIV status’.

There are many options for testing that work around busy lives, so whether you go to a clinic or order a test to do at home, it’ s simple and you’ll have all the support you need if it’s a positive diagnosis.

PrEP is available for some people who are at higher risk of contracting HIV. PrEP stands for Pre exposure Prophylaxis and allows people to take medication in order to prevent HIV from being able to take hold in someone ’s body if they are exposed to it.

How can people get involved with

House Trust and World Aids Day?

George

What can people do to help fight the stigma around HIV?

There are many things that people can do, but the most important thing is to know your HIV facts. HIV is a chronic long term health condition which can be managed with medication and people living with HIV can expect to live a normal life expectancy. The ways that you can help tackle HIV stigma:

1: Know your HIV facts here

2: Talk about HIV as a health condition, just like other long term conditions such as diabetes. It’s manageable with treatment and you can’t pass it on (U=U)

3: Wear a red ribbon, everyday on your work lanyard, on your favourite jacket or on your work bag. It’s a really simple ask, but it does make an impact

The easiest thing is to make sure you’ re wearing your red ribbon to show that you stand with us, along with HIV organisations, and those people living with HIV or who have those lost their lives to it. Wearing a red ribbon demonstrates your commitment to tackling HIV stigma and raising awareness.

You can make a donation here to George House Trust to support our vital work for a world where HIV holds no one back. Or, if you ’ve got time and skills, why not have a look at our volunteering opportunities here.

Allyship

An aspect of LGBTQ+ life that doesn’t always get talked about much are the people around us and how they may feel a bit left in the dark. When we come out and tell those important to us, it’s an incredibly emotional and often confusing time for us, but the same could be said for those who we come out to, who might struggle with what to say, but want to be supportive.

There are many resources for people who want to learn more on what life is like for LGBTQ+ people and how you can support the community by being an ally. We have a lot of the same issues as heteronormative people, although some are very different. Oftentimes the best and most simple thing you can do is to show empathy. There ways to do this, which we’ve outlined for you:

By Sean Walsh

1) Be an active listener: ask open ended questions to get a feel for someone’ s experiences. It’s a great way to show you’ re engaged in a conversation. Just be mindful of what you ask. A great tip around this is to just think about what you’d be comfortable with someone asking you.

2) Validate their experience: accept the individuals emotions and adopt these are your own, this can help them to feel accepted and provide a safe space for them to really open up and share their story

3) Be supportive: sometimes actions speak louder than words, so why not show you care through an act of kindness and support. Physical cues can be comforting and helpful in providing reassurance

You don’t need to be LGBTQ+, to be part of the community...

We’ve outlined some helpful resources to check out, for those interested in learning from an ally perspective or has had someone come out to them recently and wants to know more. Or if you’re LGBTQ+ and want to understand part of the community you’re unfamiliar with, it's all good to know!

The charity helps by providing support in helping you to understand the experiences, as well as enabling children and young people to explore their gender identity. Whatever the outcome, Mermaids is committed to helping families navigate the challenges they may face.

FFLAG is a national voluntary organisation and registered charity, dedicated to supporting parents and families and their LGBTQ+ members. Offering support to local parents’ groups and contacts in their efforts to help parents and families understand, accept, and support their lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans members with love and pride. FFLAG volunteers are parents of lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans children supported by other volunteers.

I’d also recommend watching Schitt’s Creek (currently on Netflix). Not only is it a FABULOUSLY FEEL GOOD show, it handles dealing with conversations about sexuality well. Plus, Catherine O’Hara as the character Moira Rose is truly iconic.

Mermaids supports Trans, Nonbinary, and Gender Diverse children and young people (up to the age of 20), as well as their families and any professionals involved in providing their care.

FFLAG (Family and Friends of Lesbians & Gays)

Mermaids

Schitt’s Creek (Netflix)

Know your Network

By Dan Sayers Yates

Having recently won the ’Succeeding Together’ award at this year’s Being Co op Awards, we spoke with Kerry Jary and Debbie O’Reilly to talk to them about their roles as Co Chairs of the Aspire network.

Kerry: I’ve worked with Co op for nearly 7 years, from starting as a Customer Team Member in a Food store, to Store Manager and now in the Support Centre where I specialise in marketing our talent development offers to support colleagues. When I started work in management roles, there were very few female role models and it was difficult to find opportunities to develop. I started volunteering with Aspire to find likeminded colleagues and help support others by using my own lived experiences.

Debbie: I've worked in Logistics for over 18 years and in every role I've done, I'm often the only woman in the room. It's really important to me that other women are open to pursuing roles they want and that they’ re not put off by the lack of diversity or because they don’t see anyone similar in the role. Aspire pushes boundaries and I want to do that too!

’

Kerry: It’s so important to work cross functionally across all colleague networks, it increases education, understanding and enables further support for colleagues, more than we could if working in silo.

So many of us cross over more than one network and we should be open to sharing skills. For example, as well as being a Co Chair of Aspire, I also volunteer in Respect. This gives me a better understanding of our LGBTQ+ colleagues and how we can support them in Aspire. Promoting each other’s events and successes is a great starting point as well as looking for opportunities to involve other networks within our own campaigns.

Debbie: I'm a member of two networks as well Aspire and Respect and I can really see the benefit of us working closely together. First and foremost together our voice is stronger, especially when we campaign for change.

Allyship is a big focus for Respect. What is Aspire doing in particular around it?

Kerry: Allyship is vital in supporting the creation of a fair and equal society and workplace for all colleagues. Just because something isn’t happening to us doesn’t mean it isn’t happening to someone we know. We’re all responsible for creating a world where everyone feels valued and respected. That is why our doors at Aspire are open to all colleagues, not just women. We value the opinion of everyone on matters that effect women, their friends and families.

Tell us a bit about your background and why you chose to get involved with Aspire?

Why

s it important that Co op networks work together? What will help us do that more?

Having the perspective of allies helps us understand where more education is needed and balances our conversations with a different viewpoint. All our colleague networks ultimately have shared values and objectives and we want colleagues to feel able to be a part of as many networks as they wish without the need to align to just one or have to pick. This is one reason why our first focus for 2023 is increasing our ally membershipwithinournetwork.

“Allyship is vital in supporting the creation of a fair and equal society and work place for all colleagues”

Debbie: I completely agree, that it is a massive focus area for Aspire. The biggest hurdle I foresee is that people are not really sure what it means to be an ally. We are aiming to be more descriptive about what an ally would do for us, which hopefully will help inspire more people to join the network and help us to support more colleagues.

There’s history between Trans and women’ s rights, with some feminists taking a more hard line view. What are your thoughts on this?

Kerry: Firstly, I think it is vital to understand that advocating for rights in one space does not take away rights from another. You can support women’s rights and trans rights as I do really it’s about ‘human rights for all”. As a network we champion the rights of and issues faced by, all colleagues who identify as female and have recently amended our strategy to make this far clearer that when

we refer to “ women”, this does not just mean those born biologically female. With the likes of JK Rowling and the anti trans tweets she posted in 2020, we’re hearing the same narrative being resurfaced again that somehow trans rights and single sex spaces are taking away from our biological identity as women. I can categorically say that it’s not. Trans women are women and we should all be entitled to live being seen, being respected and without any judgement.

Debbie: I'm completely supportive of trans rights and believe that anyone who identifies as a woman, should have the same rights regardless of whether you were assigned female at birth or you or not. People should be able to live their authentic selves, without fear of prejudice or discrimination.

What are Aspire’s priorities for 2023?

Kerry: We’re really looking forward to 2023 and the start of some amazing collaborations with our fellow networks. We’re looking at key events across the year with our inclusion calendar, to find opportunities to work together more. This is so important for our colleagues and it provides a great opportunity to share more perspectives and challenge each other’s thinking. Our second priority is to increase awareness of our network to frontline colleagues and allies, to enable us to support even more colleagues.

“

I can really see the benefit of us working together. First and foremost our voice is stronger together, especially when we campaign for change”

Know your Network

Is there anything Respect members could do

Coming Out!

By Haydn Rothwell

As we reflect on the year, 2022 saw the LGBTQ+ community grow, in that many high profile people took the step and publicly shared their own LGBTQ+ status with the world. Check out our round up of these brave individuals here...

Janelle Monáe

In April, Grammy nominated singer, actor and author Janelle Monáe, opened up about their gender identity by confirming they identify as nonbinary, although continues to use both they/them and she/ her pronouns. Prior to this Monáe revealed in 2018 that they are pansexual and when discussing their attraction to others, talked about seeing people’s energy first before seeing their gender expression, which in their view “opens you up to fall in love with any beautiful spirit”.

Also in April this year, the successful singer songwriter Emeli Sandé revealed that she is in a relationship with another woman. Though she hasn’t labelled her sexuality as yet, Sandé “guessed” that she could identify as bisexual. Upon sharing the announcement many fans showed their love and support, with Sandé adding “Thank you so much for your acceptance and kind wishes. Feels like a huge weight has been lifted”.

In June Australian actress and comedian Rebel Wilson revealed in an Instagram post, a picture of her and her girlfriend, stating “I thought I was searching for a Disney Prince but maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess #loveislove”. As beautiful as this is, unfortunately it later transpired that a newspaper was planning to run a story about the relationship and gave Wilson a deadline to comment on it, effectively forcing her to come out before she was ready to do so on her own terms. In November, the actress revealed that she is a mum after welcoming daughter Royce Lillian via surrogacy.

Rebel Wilson

Emeli Sandé

Ellia Green

In August, Ellia Green the Australian rugby Olympic champion, came out as a trans man in a video for the Bingham Cup's International Summit which was aimed at tackling transphobia and homophobia in sport. On the announcement Green said, “I promised myself that when my rugby career ended, I would continue to live the rest of my life in the identity and the body that I know I am meant to be in”. In doing so Green became the first Olympian to come out as a trans man.

Another revelation in August, when French singer songwriter Chris opened up about his gender identity and his new stage name through a TikTok video. The artist, who also identified as pansexual, has spoken of the long journey in his gender queerness, having previously used they/she pronouns. Chris shared with fans that he has been presenting as masculine in his personal life over the past year and acknowledged the change has been “a long process”.

August saw indie actress Jena Malone, also known for her roles in the blockbuster ‘Hunger Games’ series, came out as Pansexual in a post on Instagram. When discussing her coming out, Malone was quoted as saying “It felt so nice…I’ ve been thinking about it for a while”. Growing up with two mothers and also having a sister who is queer, Malone is fortunate to be surrounded by an accepting and queer inclusive family.

Jake Daniels

In May Jake Daniels, a footballer for Blackpool FC, came out as gay. In doing so he became Britain’s first active openly gay male professional footballer. Blackpool FC have since stated that they are working closely with Stonewall to support Jake in sharing his identity with the world. More recently Daniels has been vocal in FIFA’ s decision to host the World Cup in Qatar a country where homosexuality is illegal.

Jinkies, it’s official! Velma Dinkley, the crime fighting character from Scooby Doo, came out as a lesbian In October. The latest film ‘Trick or Treat Scooby Doo’ shows Velma seemingly falling for her fellow character Coco Diablo. Velma’ s sexuality has been questioned by fans for a long time now, but this is the first time that it has been openly portrayed by the creatives behind the franchise.

Jena Malone

Chris (Formerly Christine and the Queens) Velma

Loneliness

By Sean Walsh

You may remember that the theme of Mental Health Awareness Week this year was ‘loneliness’. The pandemic brought a lot of focus to the fact that there are a lot more people in the world who struggle with loneliness than you might think. It can affect people of all ages, across every community. Loneliness can affect someone at any time, but according to Mind 36% of people are too embarrassed to admit they feel lonely during the festive period.

The Mental Health Foundation reported that one in four adults experience loneliness either some or all of the time. This is a huge amount of people who are dealing with loneliness, with their mental health also affected as a result. Those with other mental health issues can find that these issues are exacerbated by this. The Foundation offers practical advice on their website, which include small things that you can do to help cope and also boost your self confidence. You can access more information here.

In 2018, the Co op Foundation established the ‘Lonely Not Alone’ campaign, targeting loneliness in youth. Now in its fourth year, they provide great digital resources which so far over 3 million people have accessed. It aims to get young people (under 25’s) feeling more confident and asks people to share their stories to show that you may feel lonely right now, but you are not alone and there are a lot of people who feel the same way. Learn more about the campaign here.

Colleague Story

Loneliness. Where do I begin? For me it often starts with the feeling of worthlessness and emptiness, which my intrusive thoughts try make me think that by talking about it I’ll be a burden or bother to others.

I talk openly about my feelings to my friends and colleagues, who are more than happy to give me a reassuring hug or even just sit quietly together for five minutes, which makes a huge difference.

I feel no one wants to know or they are too busy with their lives to stop and have a quick conversation with me. It's hard to explain to others how you feel or even try and rationalise it.

“Take everything at your own pace you can't hurry yourself out of these feelings, little positive thoughts and changes every day slowly build up and

But I and many others are proof that this feeling does pass. The intrusive thoughts are only temporary, no matter how hard or lonely they may feel at the beginning. I often try and focus on putting one foot in front of the other when loneliness hits me hard at first.

I look for small things that bring me joy; whether it be memories of happy times, going for a walk somewhere new, rainy days under a blanket with a good book or one of my favourite films.

There is no shame in feeling lonely and many people experience it, more than you think. I can assure you that people really do care about you and would rather have you around, no matter on your mood or what your internal dialogue may be trying to convinceyouof. Don’t suffer alone!

The only other thing I’d really like to add is that in your darkest moments try and repeat to yourself that YOU are enough! You're not a burden or a bother to anyone and you’ re certainly not alone. I can guarantee that you've made a difference to someone's day, even if it was just a simple smile or laugh. Hold these thoughts in your head because they play a really important part in helping you to recognise the impact you have on others.

Katie Ellis (she/her), lives n Plymouth and works as a Team Leader in our Regent Street Food store. Here Katy has kindly offered to share her views on her own struggles with loneliness...

LGBTQ+ Online Communities at Christmas

By Rebecca Smith

Through the pandemic, many people experienced an online Christmas; co ordinating the family and trying to get our technically challenged relatives on Zoom, so that they could spend the day together in some capacity. For many people at the time, particularly those in the LGBTQ+ community, the internet and online platforms provided a way to build their own families, which might be the only way they’re able to celebrate with others at Christmas.

Twitch, YouTube live, and the general idea of livestreaming are not new, in fact Twitch.tv has been around for over a decade, but some of the adaptations they’ ve made to expand their inclusivity are relatively new. These have allowed creators to find like minded viewers and grow a community where they can discover and expressthemselvesfreely.

With the rise of livestreaming, demand has increased for a platform that allows for more equal communication 24/7. Currently, the most used social platform is Discord, which allows its users to house their communities in servers that can either be open to anyone or invitation only.

Twitch started as a platform to stream gaming but has gradually expanded to include a wide variety of activities such as creative pursuits, cooking food, travel and outdoors, fitness, and even just chatting where it’s purely social.

This diversification in subjects led to an equally varied group of creators, which has eventually meant the inclusion of mechanics like tags to allow for streamers to communicate their sexual and gender identities so that viewers can search using those terms.

This easy to moderate and closed social home has helped a lot of LGBTQ+ friendship groups flourish, because it gives them control over a safe space where they can discover, share, and even experiment with who they are. Over the festive season, safe spaces like this can help people escape potentially unpleasant family situations or even be a social lifeline if family celebrations aren ’t possible.

Clyde Glitch

Between social apps and streaming platforms, online communities now have a variety of ways to celebrate the festive season together too.

A smaller, more close knit group may choose to keep it within their community, a set up that more closely resembles the Zoom Christmases of the pandemic. Sometimes a secret Santa or gift exchange might be organised, and actual Christmas Day will generally be just friends hanging out together.

A more musically inclined person may make the day into more of a concert, with interaction in between songs. On the other hand someone may choose to stream a hiking adventure or a live cook along, to give a feel of a shared festive meal.

The amazing part of these celebrations is that they’re often spread across many countries, so people often jump in and out of the call throughout the day meaning it’ s not constrained by time or geography.

Typically, they involve a lot of playing online games together, watching films and generally enjoying each other’ s company, much like your traditional Christmas. Although this type of get together can have much more of a community feel to it. Imagine your local community centre having its doors open all day for anyone to come in and chat over mulled wine, that’ s what it can feel like.

It’s a truly limitless way to engage with people and for creators with a smaller viewership, as most LGBTQ+ streamers tend to be, it’s a great way to build genuine and close friendships which can make all the difference when finding people to celebrate Christmas with.

These platforms have allowed queer people to connect with each other no matter how isolating they might find their living situation to be. It’s important to recognise what a crucial lifeline these communities can be for people, especially around what can be a very difficult and intensely lonely holiday for some.

Creators may spend the day interacting with viewers by chatting, or playing interactive games where everyone can participate, or they could make it more about the entertainment aspect for streaming.

New Year = New You

As we come towards the end of 2022, some of us will start to reflect on the last 12 months and think about setting a goal, in the hopes of accomplishing something personal in the new year. The tradition of setting resolutions dates back to ancient Rome, with January named after the Roman god Janus, depicted with two faces: one looking forwards and the other looking back.

Historically resolutions were influenced by morals, like being kind to others, but these have evolved and nowadays it’s common for us to consider things like looking after our wellbeing, improving our lifestyle or achieving a financial goal. All are equally great, however the more meaningful a resolution is the more likely you’ll stick to it.

We thought it would be worth sharing more about some of the great resources and benefits Co op has available for colleagues, which may help you achieve a resolution. Or if resolutions aren ’t your thing, don’t worry, you may find these helpful either way.

By Dan Sayers Yates

Health & Fitness

YuDoctor provides all colleagues and their immediate families with access to unlimited and confidential health services 24/7, through the websitehere or via the helpline on 0345 319 0484. If calling, you must quote the Co op policy number (101500), which you'll need to confirm your eligibility. The servicesthey provide include:

Mental Health Support: A dedicated team are available to provide the right support and treatment. They’ll talk to you and get to the bottom of your condition to then recommend the right solution for you. Whether it’s to help you cope with stress, anxiety, trauma or depression.

Nutrition Consultation: This service gives you access to nutritionists who can offer specialist advice on weight loss, pregnancy, food intolerances and much more. You’ll receive a personalised plans and weekly menus to support you in reaching your nutritional goals.

Second Medical Opinion and Complex Case Support: There’s a network of over 50,000 medical specialists with expert knowledge and experience. If you need a second opinion on a complex medical case or if you’re struggling to get a diagnosis, they can provide recommendations for treatment onmany conditions.

Health Check: Access questionnaires to help you take proactive steps to manage your lifestyle. You can learn about your cardiovascular profile, with screening programmes to suit you and a personalised report, with tips on improving your medical conditions and habits.

Fitness Programmes: Designed by sports coaches and nutrition experts, four or eight week online programme are available to support your fitness goals. So, whether you ’re training for an event or just wanting to lose weight, you’ll get a personalised weekly menu and daily exercise routine.

Financial Support

Colleague Membership: For just £1 you can sign up to be a member here. As a colleague you ’ll benefit from discounts on products and services across Co op. To help with the cost of living over winter, the 20% discount colleague members receive on own brand food (excluding alcohol) and household items has increased to 30% until March 2023. For every £1 you spend 2p will go into your own Co op Membership account, not only that, but the same amount will also be given to communities, meaning you’re giving back to local causes too.

Wellbeing

If you’re trying to avoid overdraft fees, credit card fees or payday loans the Wagestream app allows you to access up to 30% of your earned wages before payday. You can also use it to budget and track your wages throughout the week, as well as build up a rainy day savings fund straight from your pay. If you’re looking to improve your financial wellness it provides educational resources too, so click here for more info.

YuLife is a great app, which provides ways for you to keep motivated and focused, through different activities designed to improve your mental and physical wellbeing. Many colleagues rave about YuLife and the positive impact it’s had on them. You can even earn YuCoin which you can use to claim rewards from lots of well known brands. You can click here to sign up. If you’ve any questions, you can also check out these FAQ's

StepChange Is the UK’s leading independent debt charity and has partnered with Co op to provide colleagues with the best possible help with debt. They offer confidential independent advice online or over the phone at 0800 138 1111. You can talk to them about your finances, they’ll then work out your budget and give you a personal action plan to help you manage your debt. Why not try StepChange’s 60 second test here for a health check on your finances?

Lifeworks is another confidential service available 24/7 to you and others in your household, who need support or just someone to talk to. If you’re in the UK, you can call 0800 069 8854 free, alternatively you can access the website here. You can call for practical guidance and counselling on a whole range of topics like: health and wellbeing, personal and work related issues, money and debt, caring responsibilities and legal matters.

Panto!

By Haydn Rothwell

Over the festive period, some of us like to get into the spirit by going to see a pantomime (or two). Whether it’s a big production at a well known theatre, or a smaller local showing, pantomimes are eccentric and a great way to have fun with the family. They give us an excuse to be a little silly and let’s face it who doesn’t want to see Widow Twanky getting a cream pie in the face?

Originating in Italy, pantomime eventually made its way to British theatres during the 18th century. They started out more as comedic dance and song routines with no spoken dialogue because no theatres without royal patent were allowed to have purely spoken dialogue.

This aspect of panto wasn’t possible until mid 1800’s when the restriction was lifted, which is when word play, puns and audience participation was incorporated. Nowadays shows are inspired by children’ s fairy tales and features a huge dose of slapstick comedy, songs, and dancing.

Gender role reversal is also one of the fundamental characteristics of a panto, which of course we live for! If you’ ve never been to one before you’ll be encouraged to sing along to the music and jeer at the performers with the classic “it’s behind you!” and “ohyes, it is!” chants.

Although this may be daunting for some, it’s part and parcel of the experience and what makes it so special.

To get you excited for the pantomime season we ’ve created a fun quiz. So why not have a go and see if you can guess who the celebs on the next page who’ve starred in some of your favourite panto’ s