PRIDE SPOTLIGHT: Mike Jennings, AC Process Coordinator, UK & Ireland

To celebrate Pride Month this June, we are shining a spotlight on the stories, motivations, and recommendations of our LGBTQ+ community members and allies. We aim to celebrate the diversity within our workforce and the unique contributions of our employees.

In our fourth instalment, we had the pleasure of speaking with Mike Jennings, AC Process Coordinator at PPG Architectural Coatings UK & Ireland .

1. Tell us more yourself:

I have worked at PPG for almost four years, and I have just moved into the Process Coordinator role in the Customer Support team within the Commercial department.?

I live just down the road from the PPG Birstall site with my fiancé James and our 20+ koi carp.

2. Why is Pride so important to you, and how will you be celebrating Pride Month?

Pride is a wonderful opportunity to remind ourselves of our connection to our community while honouring the struggles we have overcome in the past and recognising the work still to be done.??

I will be celebrating by preparing for the upcoming Leeds Pride on Sunday 21st July and donating to a good friend participating in the Total Warrior mud run to raise money for Mermaids, a charity that supports young trans people and their families.

3. What motivated you to join the LGBTQ+ ERN, and why should others consider joining?

Outside of work, we can choose to engage with other community members to feel connected and share experiences. For me, it was important to also have this connection in the workplace and feel like part of a group. Knowing that I had the support of others within PPG who could understand and relate to my background was crucial, should I need it.

4. What can allies do to support the LGBTQ+ community?

An essential part of being an ally is being open to learning and listening - having an appropriate curiosity about LGBTQ+ struggles, viewpoints, and stories.?

Allies should have the confidence to call for equality and equal rights and push back against discrimination and prejudice, even in situations that may not benefit them directly.

5. Are there any LGBTQ+ literature, films, or TV shows you would recommend?

For gay, cisgender men, I strongly recommend the book Straight Jacket by former Attitude magazine editor Matthew Todd, which I found incredibly helpful in identifying and overcoming internalised homophobia.?

To experience other voices in the community, try the TV series Pose, which follows African-American and Latinx dancers and models competing in the 80's New York City ball culture, or the Netflix documentary Disclosure, which examines how Hollywood movies and television have portrayed transgender people throughout history and how this has impacted their lives and mainstream perceptions of the community.