Pride Month - Together we Shine
At C&A, we want to inspire everyone not just to look good, but to feel and do good, too. We stand in solidarity with LGBTI+ community and support equal rights for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Although LGBTI+ rights have come a long way, true equality is still a distant dream. Exclusion starts early on: LGBTI+ young people around the world face bullying in schools, lack of access to jobs, and experience discrimination every day. This carries on later in life. In celebration of this year’s Pride Month, we want to turn the spotlight on the LGTBI+ community and their amazing allies who support them on their journey. Watch these inspirational stories of true allyship and find out what you can do to become an ally for change!
#DoAsAlliesDo
Meet Nora & Evin
Sisters
These two have had a very special relationship since day one. They are not only sisters, but also best friends and can talk to each other about anything. Evin realised early on that she was a girl, even if no one else knew yet. Nora has always supported her in being who she is and doing what feels right for her. So she also supported Evin in her gender confirmation process.
Meet Linda & Ghaffar
Best Friends
Psychologist Linda and nurse Ghaffar have been inseparable since their first vacation together. They met through a mutual friend in Hamburg before he came out as gay about five years ago. Linda has stood by his side from the beginning and has always encouraged him to be himself.
Meet Volkan & Gio
Best Friends
Gio and Volkan met in a student dorm in Hamburg in 2018 and have become very close friends. In 2020, Gio came out as non-binary and decided to have a mastectomy surgery in 2022. Although they now live in different cities, their friendship hasn't changed and Volkan joins Gio as ally at events in the LGBTI+ community.
Meet Herbert & Laura
Father & daughter
Laura didn't tell her friends and family until she was 27, when she had a girlfriend for the first time. She didn't have a classic coming out because she was lucky that her sexual orientation wasn't questioned much. She thought some people would treat or perceive her differently after coming out. But she is very happy that this was not the case at all.
What is allyship?
Allyship is actively contributing to a culture of equity and inclusion. An ally understands that changing attitudes and behaviours cannot fall onto those among us experiencing social exclusion. An ally knows that their position, the identity group they belong to, or simply having the advantage of being a bystander, means they are the ones that can change things. And we all have advantages we can use to support someone else – in our private lives or at work!
The Truths of Allyship
1. We learn and grow: Being an ally can create discomfort for you or people around. But not taking action at all can be more harmful than not acting perfectly. Allyship is a learning process. And we all are here to learn.
2. Allyship is humble: You are a powerful voice alongside those who experience prejudice or discrimination but you don’t promote yourself nor the actions you take. You don’t aim to be a hero, but shed a light on the need of fairness, amplifying LGBTI+ voices. You always speak for yourself and human rights values.
3. Reaching across identities make most difference: True allyship reaches across identities and their intersections, promoting equity for those without the same privilege in society.
Allyship at C&A
We are committed to building an inclusive organisation where everyone can become their best self. Internally, we have an ambitious 2028 Equity, Inclusion & Human Rights Strategy, and an LGBTI+ Equity Roadmap, focusing on structural and cultural change. We offer allyship education to our co-workers to start a movement of solidarity and togetherness across differences. To find out more about our approach, click here.
We also show our support to the LGBTI+ community with our dedicated Pride Collection.
