Reflecting on Pride Month 2026
June 2026 was Pride Month, providing an opportunity to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, recognise the progress that has been made towards equality, and reflect on the role we all play in creating welcoming and supportive environments.
Pride Month traces its origins back to the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York, a landmark moment in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. What began as a protest movement has grown into a global celebration of identity and inclusion, with Pride now recognised in many countries around the world.
For us, Pride Month was an opportunity to reinforce our commitment to building a workplace culture where everyone feels respected, valued and able to be themselves. Guided by our RIALTO values, and particularly the principle of ‘Respect’ (the ‘R’ in RIALTO), we believe that inclusion should be reflected not only in what we say, but in everything that we do.
Our offices showed solidarity
Throughout June, our offices embraced the spirit of Pride with colourful displays of support. From flags and bunting to Pride themed decorations, our workspaces were transformed into vibrant celebrations of diversity and inclusion.
Across in our Brighton office, a simple but powerful message was displayed that truly encompassed everything we believe in: everyone is welcome here.
These visible signs of support helped create spaces where colleagues could come together, start conversations and celebrate the diversity that strengthens our business and wider community.
We got creative together
Our Harlow and Ipswich offices hosted Pride themed craft club sessions, giving colleagues the chance to get creative.
From colouring activities to handmade rosettes inspired by Pride flags, teams enjoyed taking part in activities that encouraged conversation, collaboration and creativity. While the activities themselves were enjoyable, the real value came from the connections they fostered. Bringing people together in an informal setting created opportunities for colleagues to share experiences, learn from one another and strengthen relationships across teams.
We enjoyed sweet treats with a purpose
In London, colleagues enjoyed selection of Pride themed treats, including rainbow biscuits, colourful cupcakes and a fantastic rainbow sponge cake.
The treats were supplied by Hummingbird Bakery, with 10% of proceeds supporting ‘akt’, a charity dedicated to tackling LGBTQ+ youth homelessness. By supporting a business initiative linked to a meaningful cause, colleagues were able to celebrate Pride while contributing to an organisation making a tangible difference in the lives of young people.
Pride Music Bingo brought teams together
One of the highlights of the month was our Pride themed music bingo, which brought colleagues together across our offices for an afternoon of fun, laughter and friendly competition.
Featuring iconic Pride anthems and feel-good favourites, the sessions gave teams an opportunity to connect outside of their day-to-day roles while celebrating Pride in a relaxed and inclusive atmosphere. Participants enjoyed themed cupcakes, prizes were awarded to winners, and everyone who took part received a small gift to mark the occasion.
Anthony Tapsell got involved with Essex Pride
Anthony Tapsell, a Payroll Senior in our Harlow office, volunteered at Essex Pride. Having volunteered for the past two years, Anthony has played an active role in helping organise and support the annual event. Through his volunteering, he has built lasting friendships within the LGBTQ+ community, and, this year, was invited to join the Essex Pride committee.
Through growing societal acceptance and Essex Pride itself, Anthony has found a strong sense of support and belonging after struggling to be open about his identity while growing up. His involvement with Essex Pride has also helped spark Affinia’s ongoing professional relationship with the organisation, further strengthening our commitment to supporting inclusion both within our business and in the wider community.
Looking beyond Pride Month
While significant progress has been made, Pride Month remains an important initiative. In the workplace, it serves as a reminder of the importance of creating environments where everyone feels respected, supported and able to be themselves. True inclusion is built through everyday actions, open conversations and commitment.
This year’s celebrations brought colleagues together in a variety of ways, from creative activities and social events to community engagement and education. More importantly, they reinforced the values that underpin our culture and our belief that everyone should feel empowered to bring their whole selves to work.
We would like to thank everyone who took part in this year’s Pride Month activities and helped make the celebrations so meaningful.
Because when people feel they belong, everyone can thrive.
