Burberry supports Pride

Burberry is proudly reaffirming its long-standing support for the global LGBTQ+ community this Pride month, forging new partnerships and continuing support for organisations dedicated to driving meaningful change.

Burberry was one of the earliest adopters of the UN Standards of Conduct for Business, designed to eliminate LGBTI discrimination in the workplace and beyond. To further our commitment to this work in our own business and our wider communities, Burberry is supporting three charitable organisations operating across the LGBTQ+ community: UK Black Pride, Stonewall and long-standing charity partner the Albert Kennedy Trust.

• Promoting unity and cooperation, Burberry’s donation to UK Black Pride will help to increase UK Black Pride’s capacity to provide resources, events and outreach in the black LGBTQ and QTIPOC communities. This is the start of an ongoing partnership that will see both organisations working together on increased advocacy and inclusion initiatives at Burberry and beyond. 
• Burberry has joined Stonewall’s Global Diversity Champions programme, becoming the first organisation in the luxury fashion industry to participate. This will allow us access to Stonewall’s expertise and resources to make workplaces more inclusive for LGBT staff and customers. In addition, Burberry is making a donation which will go towards supporting the charity’s initiatives globally. 
• Burberry is continuing its long-standing support of the Albert Kennedy Trust, the UK’s national LGBTQ+ youth homelessness charity. Burberry has partnered with akt for over three years, with this donation going towards the charity’s COVID-19 relief fund. 

Notes for Editors

Burberry and the UN Standards of Conduct for Business

The UN Standards of Conduct for Business promote equality for the LGBTI community globally. These include eliminating workplace discrimination, making sure operations do not contribute to discrimination against customers, suppliers or members of the public, and working with partners to address discriminatory practices across the supply chain.

Charitable Donations

Founded in 2005, UK Black Pride is Europe’s largest celebration for LGBTQ people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Middle Eastern and Latin American descent. UK Black Pride runs an annual celebration during Pride month, as well as a variety of activities throughout the year in and around the UK, which promote and advocate for the spiritual, emotional and intellectual health and well-being of the communities they represent.

Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, Co-founder and Executive Director of UK Black Pride, said: ‘We are thrilled to accept Burberry’s donation to UK Black Pride. We are a grassroots movement led by a team of hard-working and passionate volunteers, and Burberry’s donation is a wonderful recognition of the work we do to provide safe and brave spaces for the communities we represent.

‘This also marks the beginning of a long-term partnership between UK Black Pride and Burberry that enables both organisations to work hand-in-hand to ensure the inclusion and representation of black LGBTQ and QTIPOC communities at Burberry and beyond.’

About Stonewall

• Stonewall is Britain’s leading charity for lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality, working to create a world where every single person can be accepted without exception.  It was founded in 1989 by a small group of people who wanted to break down barriers to equality.
  
• Stonewall continues to campaign and lobby the government to change laws to ensure everyone, everywhere, is free to be themselves. Stonewall works in partnership with a growing network of nearly 800 organisations to help create real change for the better. 
• It campaigns to eliminate homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in communities, and empowers LGBT people and their allies to be role models wherever they live, work, shop, socialise or pray.

Kate Williams, Head of Private Sector Memberships at Stonewall, said: ‘This year, the Black Lives Matter movement in the US and around the globe is an important reminder that Pride was, and still is, a protest to fight for our fundamental rights. There can’t be true LGBT equality without equality for black communities.  

‘We’re delighted to welcome Burberry to our Global Diversity Champions programme. We’ll be supporting them to make changes which will positively impact their employees and clients and work with them to embed LGBT inclusivity across their organisation. We know that people perform better at work when they can be themselves, and that organisations like Burberry can be an important ally in the fight for equality for everyone.’

About Albert Kennedy Trust

• akt is the national LGBTQ+ youth homelessness charity, providing safe homes and better futures for LGBTQ+ young people.  Almost one quarter of all young people facing or experiencing homelessness identify as LGBTQ+, and 77 per cent of those cite rejection or abuse from their families because of it. The charity was set up in Manchester in 1989 by straight ally and former foster carer Cath Hall, and a group of founding members, and has since opened its doors in London, Newcastle and launched a new service in Bristol in 2019.  In 30 years, akt has provided over 250,000 nights off the street and supported over 50,000 LGBTQ+ young people at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness. 
  

Lucy Bowyer, akt Director of Services, said: ‘Our Covid-19 relief fund has enabled us to respond quickly and flexibly to the needs of young LGBTQ+ people who are facing increased hardship during the pandemic. Burberry’s amazing help has meant that we can keep young people connected to our online support by providing them with data top-ups, so they feel less isolated from their communities. It has helped us to help young people fleeing hostile homophobic, biphobic and transphobic living situations and move safely into alternative accommodation. We are so grateful to Burberry for their continued generosity so we can find practical solutions to help LGBTQ+ young people navigate through this crisis.’