FTL talks to Proud network at Kearney

Thursday, 23rd June was a very exciting day for us at FTL. Prior to the pandemic Kearney had got in touch with us with a view to holding a session at their offices in collaboration with their PROUD network. Timothy Mallinson who is an Associate of this management consultancy business has been working hard to put this together and at last the day arrived. Alongside me were my colleagues on the Steering Committee of FTL who run the FTL-T section. David Wheeler and Gill Glendinning who both have trans children.

It was a double barrel afternoon with one session from 12.30 - 1.30 and then an identical one from 2.30 - 3.30. This allowed as many people as possible who wanted to attend to be able to fit it into their work day, either in the meeting room where we were based or via the internet.

As always we introduced ourselves and said a little about who we were, how long we had been with FTL and what we do to help parents going through difficult times with their LGBT+ children.

The audience was made up of both LGBT+ people and also straight personnel who wanted to know how best to support colleagues who were negotiating sometimes a difficult path if they didn’t present as straight.

Kearney are the most supportive company, hence the PROUD section run by Anita Jagdev-Harris and Timothy.

How about this for a view from where we were…

After we had given our personal accounts we were open to a Q and A session and both Anita and Tim acted as moderators. Each session had about 35 in the room and a similar amount connecting via the internet. Lots of personal and inquisitive questions and as a team David, Gill and I were able to respond with knowledge and humour. Humour is very much part of how FTL works. Life is not straight forward and when one is dealt the extra card it can sometimes be difficult to put your hand in order.

Towards the end of the session I said that people very often ask a colleague ’so, how are you?’ and sometimes it is a bit of a throwaway line. I said that it would be good to say, if you really felt that things were not good for that person to say ’no really, how are you’. That can occasionally open up a conversation where if that person is struggling they feel that are truly being listened to.

Kearney also gave us a wonderful donation which will go into our bank account and allow us to continue with the work that we do supporting the families and friends of our LGBT+ children.