Pride in our community

  • Blog Post
  • Talent & Leadership

June is Pride month and it’s a time to reflect on how far we have come in achieving equality and freedom for those within the LGBTQIA+ community. Pride is an encompassing term for the courage, confidence, and self-belief for members and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community. Celebrating what Pride means to them, employees of Pearson VUE share their thoughts and beliefs on what we as a society have achieved, and what still needs to be done.

PRIDE in our Community

To me, Pride is about our dedication to uplifting LGBTQIA+ voices for awareness, inclusivity, and equal rights. And while there’s a lot of work for us to still do, it’s also a time to celebrate progress made for people to love freely and live their lives with beautiful authenticity, dignity, and acceptance.

— Nancy

To me, Pride month means being free to be your authentic self, not just during Pride month but all year round.

— Emily

Pride celebrates every person for who they are and reminds us all that equality is something that has been fought for over decades. We continue to fight for those who are persecuted, harassed, imprisoned, and even executed across the world today simply for being the person they are. I proudly marched in the first Pride parade in my hometown, and this was the first experience I had of inclusivity and acceptance in my life. The strength this gave me as a young gay man was immeasurable and demonstrated the power of community for an individual. The Pride movement educates and empowers: it brings strength to those in the LGBTQIA+ community and gives hope to those who are made to feel different.

— Craig

For me, Pride Month has always been an opportunity to take a step back and look at how far queer+ communities have come in my lifetime while understanding how far we have yet to go. Especially now, when it feels like we are moving backwards for LGBTQIA+ rights, it’s even more important to have a space to celebrate queer identities, families, and communities.

— Sarah

The hope that one day, no one will have to 'come out' to their friends and family.

— Helen

Whether celebrated through personal reflection or at a parade, Pride Month to me means recognizing the diversity of sexual orientation and gender identity, and it is a reminder of the importance of the freedom to be and live as you are, and the people who work tirelessly to protect and advocate for that freedom.

— T

To me, Pride Month offers us the opportunity to reflect on the great achievements made in reaching equality, acceptance, and respect. It’s an opportunity to look back at the millions of people of the LGBTQIA+ community who lived through hardship, but pushed through and made the world a better place for all of us to live in. We all remember the phrase, “It’ll get better” — well, without those that fought for our rights, we would never be able to say or believe that.

— Greg

To me, Pride is a reminder of the difficult past faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals, but it provides a wonderful celebration and hope for the future as well. As an ally, I reflect on key events in LGBTQIA+ history and the people who paved the way, such as Marsha P. Johnson, whilst amplifying the voices of LGBTQIA+ people, ensuring that their stories are heard, as Pride is their month. It is fundamental that we learn how to tackle discrimination, educate future generations, and provide safe spaces for all, regardless of sex, gender, or sexuality, all year round, not just in June.

— Emily

To me, it means build the trust between colleagues and between our clients and partners and provide excellent service.

— Edward

It’s a time for people from all walks of life to stop and reflect on what it means to be truly accepting and accepted, and the peaceful, positive effect this can have on the world.

— Sarah

If I would have to describe Pride in three words, I would say “Integrity, Respect, and Diversity”, and then to be a little bit extra, I would add, “Unity, Equality, and Visibility."

— Alister

Pride is a celebration of all the work previous generations have done to get equality, inclusion, and representation but also a annual reminder that we still have a long way to go in making everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community feel included and be their true authentic selves.

— Heather

At Pearson VUE, we have pride in you: our dedicated employees and our vast, diverse global audiences of clients, candidates, and test centers who work tirelessly to make the world a better place through learning and certification.

Our work is about fueling progress in all areas, and celebrating and supporting Pride month is a big part of that. Simply put, at Pearson VUE, we have pride. It's the power of our diverse professions, pursuits, personalities, and perspectives that drive progress. Together, we can go far.

#PRIDE