In recognition of the LGBTQIA+ community across Bristol and beyond, we were excited to run a whole host of Pride-themed activities at Speed this year. From fabulous cocktail making to a dedicated Pride flag display, our mission this year was to expand our learning and have some fun along the way! Read below to explore each of our activities:
Flying the flag for Pride
The stairway to the Speed office received a colourful makeover as we provided a chronological walkthrough the history of the Pride flag, from its beginnings in 1978 to its most recent incarnation, which reflects the full spectrum of individuals across the LGBTQIA+ community.
Getting creative
With special peelable glass paint kindly provided by Thorndown, the team flexed their creative muscles with a Pride takeover of the entrance to one of the Speed meeting rooms. Artistic creations included classic rainbows, a multi-colour flower and a pair of juicy lips! This creative streak also extended to our recent hackathon, where the team spent some of the session sharing ideas on how they would extend Premier Inn’s ‘Premier Out’ rebrand for Pride. Speedsters proposed new approaches the hotel chain could take to engage with the LGBTQIA+ community beyond Pride.
Cultural highlights
Some of the most exciting LGBTQIA+ creators across music, TV and film were showcased to the team as everyone got stuck into finding their new favourite artist or show to binge. A couple of the team’s favourites included:
Music
TV
Film
Raising a drink to the gay bar
The team came together for a Pride inspired cocktail tasting session, which was run by queer-owned Espensen Spirit, exploring the origins of classic cocktails and their significance to the queer community. This tasting session was also run alongside an impactful presentation which uncovered the history of the gay bar, highlighting the importance of these locations in providing safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ individuals to be their most authentic selves.
Celebrating Bristol Pride
To top off the Pride celebrations, members of the Speed team attended Bristol Pride for a day of fun in the (very hot) sun! The morning saw team members join the Pride Parade while the afternoon and evening was all about the performers, including a selection of local drag talent and a headline performance from the one and only Carly Rae Jepsen.
As we look back on Pride 2022, there is a lot to celebrate but there is still a lot of progress to be made. As we see many rainbow logos and flags disappear for another year, we will be carrying on many of the important conversations which have been started to help us inform current and future activity. Pride is far from over!