Members of our Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging group are joining the Pride marches in London and Leeds this year, this is just one of the ways we showcase that Stowe is a firm that celebrates inclusion and creates a safe space for our colleagues and clients.
Though inclusion is an integral part of our culture and values every day, June is a month when there is a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. As we approach the end of Pride 🏳️🌈 month, we are delighted to share a powerful personal story from one of our colleagues on the power of being an ally.
Why I am a passionate ally for LGBTQ+ by Holly-Rose Wright
June marks Pride Month, a time to celebrate, support, and honour LGBTQ+ communities around the world. It commemorates the 1969 Stonewall riots in the US, a pivotal moment that sparked progress in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.
Pride represents love, acceptance, equality, and awareness. It encourages people to be proud of who they are, regardless of who they love or how they identify.
As a proud ally, I’ve always supported the LGBTQ+ community. My sister Phoebe, a confident and inspiring lesbian, has taught me what true empowerment looks like. Our family has always created a safe space for her to be herself, but I’ve witnessed first-hand how society hasn’t always done the same.
Even in 2025, homophobia, whether subtle or displayed as outright discrimination, persists. Phoebe has faced everything from microaggressions, such as side glances in a room when she walks in wearing a suit, to damaging remarks that shook her confidence. As her older sibling, I feel fiercely protective. I see it as my duty to shield my sister from the harsh reality that there is still a lot of work that needs to be done by others to accept and ensure the LGBTQ+ community is heard, accepted and treated with dignity. There is nothing worse than seeing others disrespect or attempt to make any person feel small or invalid. That being said, I’m also in awe of how she’s used adversity as fuel to champion love and equality.
It has been a privilege for me to have been a part of Phoebe’s journey, to watch her grow into a fabulous and hilarious individual who accepts and loves who she is as a person. I have been, and always will be, a constant support in her life, whether that be a shoulder to cry on or her biggest supporter. She is incredibly resilient, intelligent and open to her identity, and always happy to educate those who need it or even ask for her views and life experiences.
It’s heartbreaking that not everyone has a support system. That’s why allies matter. Whether you’re family, a friend, or simply someone who cares, you can be a safe space for someone who needs it. No matter who you are, if you can be an ally to someone from the LGBTQ+ community, you can become their safe space and create an accepting environment.
To me, being an ally means offering kindness without judgment. It’s saying: ‘I hear you, I see you, I am proud of you and I will always love and support you’. In today’s world, it is becoming imperative to seek out ways of supporting queer people and fight against the hate which threatens them, steering a course towards compassion, understanding and equality.
At a time when LGBTQ+ rights, especially for trans people and drag performers, are under threat, allyship is more vital than ever. It’s about standing together, leading with compassion, and making space for everyone to thrive. It is so important to say, ‘I know that I don’t understand what it is like to live your story, but I am always here to listen and support you if you want to share it with me’.
I am proud that colleagues from Stowe Family Law LLP will proudly attend Pride events in Leeds and London this year, to show we stand with the LGBTQ+ community 🌈
