With the Proud @ Every Age campaign, we celebrated what it means to live and work authentically as an LGBTQ+ person at every stage of life. The campaign was created to elevate voices that are often underrepresented in conversations about technology, careers and inclusion but with a focus on older LGBTQ+ professionals.
Our aim was to ensure that the storytelling came with personal reflections, photographs, and authentic lived experiences that we could publish across 10 weeks.
During the campaign the key themes which carried throughout included LGBTQ+ visibility across generations, ageing and authenticity, the impact of technology on peoples lives and careers, inclusion and belonging in the workplace, mentorship and advocacy, preserving LGBTQ+ history while inspiring future generations and maybe most importantly demonstrating that ‘Pride does not fade with age’
We wanted to celebrate older LGBTQ+ professionals and activists, challenge stereotypes around ageing, promote visibility and inclusion, foster intergenerational connection, and showcase how technology, identity and belonging evolve over time.
The Voices We Heard From
1. Tim Brady
A telecoms professional whose career began when being openly gay at work was often unsafe. Tim’s story explores moving from concealment to authenticity, using “quiet advocacy” and supporting others throughout his career. His central message is that pride evolves rather than fades with age.
2. Peter Tatchell
One of the UK’s most recognised LGBTQ+ activists. Peter’s inclusion brought a historic perspective to the campaign, highlighting decades of activism, visibility and the importance of continuing to challenge inequality across generations.
3. Tyler Hemmen
A senior telecoms leader whose story focuses on authenticity, leadership, personal growth and the value of employee networks and community. Tyler represents the link between professional success and being true to yourself.
4. Satia Rai
Satia’s story contributes an important intersectional lens on identity, inclusion and representation within technology and LGBTQ+ communities.
5. Sue Sanders
A pioneering LGBTQ+ educator and activist whose work has transformed understanding of LGBTQ+ inclusion in schools and society. Her story highlights campaigning, education and the enduring importance of visibility.
6. Nicola Martin
Nicola reflects on two parallel journeys: the rapid evolution of technology and the slower, more personal journey towards inclusion. Her story emphasises authenticity, visibility and using influence to lift others.
7. Ivana Bitunjac
Ivana’s story demonstrates the value of visibility, resilience and belonging within the technology industry while representing contemporary LGBTQ+ leadership in tech.
8. Jonathan Blake
One of the most historically significant figures in the campaign. Jonathan is well known for his role in the story behind Pride and for being among the first people diagnosed with HIV in the UK. His story links activism, community support and LGBTQ+ history to modern generations.
9. Rebecca Jones
Rebecca’s story focuses on leadership, authenticity and creating opportunities for others while navigating the tech sector as an LGBTQ+ professional.
10. Joanne Lockwood
The final story in Series One. Joanne’s story centres on authenticity, courage, lifelong learning and the belief that visibility has no expiry date.
These voices successfully included former and current technology professionals, telecoms industry leaders, LGBTQ+ activists, community advocates, diverse lived experiences across generations and long standing LGBTQ+ activists and changemakers.
The result was a ten‑week collection of stories demonstrating that experience, authenticity, pride and impact continue throughout every stage of life.
Every person featured in this campaign benefited from someone who opened a door, offered support, or created a safer space. You can also do this, if there is one main take away then maybe it can be that you’ll commit to doing the same for someone else.
This first series of Proud @ Every Age may be ending, but the conversation is not. Follow Pride Matters in Tech, connect with Older Queer Voices, and help us ensure LGBTQ+ experiences across every generation remain visible, valued and heard.
We will share news soon regarding our plans to celebrate this campaign with an in person event in London sometime in September so keep those eyes peeled.
In many ways, the campaign delivered exactly what Pride Matters in Tech and Older Queer Voices set out to achieve: connecting generations, preserving LGBTQ+ history, amplifying underrepresented voices and proving that Pride truly does not fade with age.