Welcome to the It Gets Better UK Blog!
Charlotte Phillips-Lynn (they/them) is a Senior Operations Analyst in the Dividends and Corporate Actions sector for Bath-based Secci. They identify as queer and non-binary and are also one of our incredible Regional Ambassadors for the South West!
Thank you so much for your time Charlotte!
1. Tell us a bit about yourself and your background?
I’m Charlotte, I’m 28 and I live in Bristol with my wife and cat (stereotypical, right). I grew up in Windsor and moved to Bristol when I was 19. I identify as Queer and non-binary and use the pronouns they/them - I am also hard of hearing and wear hearing aids to help this.
My ‘9-5’ is working as a Senior Analyst for a company based in Bath, time is split between home and the office, but still within the company I am constantly driving openness and education into the LGBTQIA+ community. Outside of work I love swimming, going to the gym, watching motorport, rugby, football and learning about things that interest me. Food is a big one for me, I’m gluten free so I enjoy trying new things – I write reviews about it on my instagram (yourglutenfreegaybestfriend) as well as lived experiences of being queer and head of hearing.
2. How did you get involved with It Gets Better UK?
I felt like I wanted to give back to a community, in which I felt like I could help. I’d seen the role for regional ambassador, and was contacted to say I should go for the role. After a few interviews later I was successful, a good way to start 2022. Sharing stories of lived experiences is a huge thing for me, and I'd seen this being done via videos.
I attended my first opportunity at Pride in London this year to hear from the general public what they wanted to say to their younger self. Some of the stories people told were heart-breaking, but so empowering how they’d come back from where they were.
3. Tell us a bit about your own mental health experiences and being LGBTQ+?
I sometimes become drained with the social construct of gender and living in a very heteronormative society. Whilst being regularly misgendered, using the toilets is a panic inducing event as to whether I’ll be physically removed from them. Coming out is received well most of the time these days, but you never know how someone will react. With rights and recognition acts being analysed here in the UK, elsewhere in the world some countries are deadly especially for gender diverse people.
4. What do you think LGBTQ+ people can learn from your experiences?
If I share my lived experience – you can too. Everyone has their own story, their own journey, their own background. Sharing stories are powerful. Educate people on inclusive language, pronouns and derogatory terms. So the saying goes, it takes 1 person to change the world – Start with you.
5. If you had one message for LGBTQ+ people what would it be?
I hear you, I see you, you are loved.
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