For Pride month, we’re spotlighting allyship and the role it plays in supporting LGBTQ+ communities. We spoke to Clare O’Driscoll, Communications and Campaigns Officer, and an active ally whose actions – both in and outside of work – show the difference allies can make.

Where did your support of the queer community develop from?

There have always been queer people in my life.

As a child, I had friends with two mums, and my mum was an excellent role model – very outspoken about LGBT issues. I remember her challenging homophobia and standing up for queer people. Once, when I was seven, a couple of teenage boys were caught kissing in Highbury Fields toilets, and the police started victimising them. My mum defended them and said they’re not doing anything wrong, leave them alone! I’m so proud of her for that.  

My secondary school was quite liberal, and I remember calling out homophobia among other students. A teacher, who was gay himself, told me I’d handled it brilliantly, which meant a lot. 

I also have two gay brothers. Seeing how hard it was for one of them to come out – even knowing we’d support him – really stayed with me. The fact he had to sit us down at all broke my heart.  

How have you supported LGBTQ+ people through your work?

When I worked at Age UK Camden, I supported communications for an older LGBTQ+ service as it expanded. I met incredible people, including many older queer people whose experiences were very different from mine.  

We supported people who had faced things like imprisonment, psychiatric treatments and chemical castration just for being gay. 

I’m still friends with someone who recently turned 90 and now lives in LGBTQ+ housing. He can talk openly about his partner, rather than having to hide his identity. That kind of safety and dignity is so important. 

What does being a good ally to queer people look like in practice?

Calling out discrimination, whether that’s in public or it’s more subtle by guiding conversations. It’s about respecting people’s pronouns and choices and being inclusive in everyday actions.  

In my work, I make sure to include queer voices and references. For me, allyship means recognising people, listening, and not being afraid to challenge others.  

How can we make workplaces more inclusive for LGBTQ+ people?

Training is essential. People are often worried about using the wrong language, so they avoid the conversation altogether, but it’s usually just a lack of knowledge and that’s easy to fix.  

Small changes make a big difference. For example, asking ‘do you have a partner?’ rather than assuming gender. 

The council’s LGBTQ+ Forum is fantastic – networks like that really matter. It’s also important to go beyond awareness days and actively celebrate queer staff and history. 

Things like rainbow lanyards have a real impact. They signal safety and allyship, which, in a hostile world, can mean a lot. I saw firsthand at Age UK Camden how visible inclusion encouraged people to access services. 

Outside of work, I’m intentional too. I say to my children ‘if you have a boyfriend or girlfriend’, and I’ll say that openly around others to normalise it. I don’t change what I say depending on the audience – I’ll always speak up. I want my children to know they can be who they are and will always be loved.  

What advice would you have for becoming a good ally to queer people?

Educate yourself, be honest and curious and stay open-minded. It helps you grow and understand the world better. 

And sometimes, it’s as simple as just minding your own business and being kind! 

We asked Liam, Clare’s brother, if he could share what her allyship has meant to him. Here is his response:

Growing up in Islington in the 80s and 90s, I didn’t have the Heartstopper school experience that I hope some younger people have today. Without being able to fully explore and express my identity as a young teenager, it was even more important that at home my sister Clare gave me the reassurance that I was a good person – that there wasn’t anything wrong with me simply because I was gay. My sister’s unconditional support has helped me deal with various ups and downs in life. I think that’s the core of Clare’s ally ship to the LGBTQIA+ community, and other communities too. She believes in the basic goodness and shared humanity of people. She uses this belief and her resources to do things like campaign for older LGBTQIA+ people when she worked for Age UK Camden. She also helps individuals in her local community on a more personal basis to access safe care home support for older LGBTQIA+ folk. 

Her allyship isn’t just performed during Pride month. Her allyship is sometimes loud and sometimes quiet. But it’s a life-long dedicated commitment to helping others in the same way she’s helped me. 

Editor’s note: Thank you to Miles Rhys Edwards, Co-Chair of the council’s LGBTQ+ Forum, for creating this blog.