Amplify | David Ruiz Jimènez | Pride andsupporting the LGBTQI+ community
In recognition of Pride month, we spoke to David Ruiz Jimènez, Accounts Receivable Manager at Deutsche Numis, to find out why Pride holds so much significance for him, how he contributes to Pride and the LGBTQI+ community more generally, and how colleagues can offer their support.
What does Pride mean to you?
Firstly, it’s the time of the year that allows me to sync with my inner self and helps me reflect on the journey I have been through. My personal journey, like many others’, has not been the easiest. During my teens, I was bullied and rejected by close friends and even my own family members just for being who I was and, growing up in Spain more than 25 years ago, there was not the access we have today to the many organisations, charities and social media support that can motivate and help you to come out to your parents and friends. While this meant I often felt isolated and alone, these experiences have given me the motivation I have today to help young people facing the same issues.
Secondly, Pride month also gives me space to be grateful for where the LGBTQI+ community is now, while encouraging me to continue advocating more loudly. Last year marked 20 years since Section 28, the law that banned ‘promotion of homosexuality’ in the UK, was repealed. It was an attack on LGBTQI+ visibility and, together, we resisted. Unfortunately, however, we are now living in a very volatile time, and while we have seen some advances in LGBTQI+ rights over the years, we are seeing huge steps backwards in many nations. Many LGBTQI+ persons face physical attacks and violence while, in a number of countries, discriminatory laws criminalise consensual same-sex relations and trans people. In a few countries, there is the death penalty for consensual same sex relations, while, throughout most of the world, trans people have no access to legal recognition of their gender.
With parts of our community still under attack, both in the UK and around the globe, Pride serves as a reminder of why we can’t go back, and must come together to keep moving forward.
How do you support Pride and the LGBTQI+ community more generally?
I help to organise the logistics for the various Prides happening in the UK, EU, USA, Latin America and Australia, getting involved with everything from social media content and speechwriting to designing accessories, banners and merchandise.
More generally, as a member of the LGBTQI+ board at the United Nations UK and Stonewall, I am heavily involved in local community work targeting young people who are struggling with social acceptance, self-harm, and family rejection. Additionally, I have also been asked to speak at international conferences on bringing LGBTQI+ awareness to the workforce and helping businesses understand the importance of fostering a diverse and inclusive culture.
Have you felt comfortable bringing your whole self to work at Deutsche Numis?
I always bring my own authentic self to the companies I work for. Deutsche Numis has been very welcoming since day one but, as a relatively small organisation, there have been times where the lack of content on, or visibility of, the LGBTQI+ community and other diversity and inclusion areas made me feel that I was perhaps not in the right place. However, with the recent integration with Deutsche Bank, I am very excited to have joined the various LGBTQI+ initiatives happening across the organisation, and I hope I can make a positive contribution.
What more do you think employers could do to support LGBTQI+ employees?
I personally feel there is more to do in helping people understand the importance of pronouns and how to use them in the workplace. For me, correct use of pronouns is key to helping all staff feel included at work and can reassure trans and gender non-conforming colleagues that they are welcome and included in an organisation.
Have you noticed any differences in attitudes towards LGBTQI + issues between employers in Spain and the UK, or between Spain and the UK more generally?
I did notice a big gap when I moved to the UK. Coming from a country where same-sex marriage was legalised in 2005, and which hosts the largest Pride event in Europe while also being a welcoming and friendly destination for LGBTQI+ at all times of the year, I found that there was a lot of work to be done in the UK. This was one of the many factors that motivated me to stay here, join local charity communities and roll up my sleeves to advocate for the importance of feeling welcome in the workplace.
We have come a long way in the UK since then and I’ve been particularly happy to see the ongoing, positive impact the legalisation of same-sex marriage has had across our LGBTQI+ communities. This Pride month, I hope we can learn from our past and keep standing in solidarity to make positive change for our communities.
David has enjoyed travelling to many countries around the world, despite others’ concerns that he may not always be welcome.
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In recognition of Pride month, we spoke to David Ruiz Jimènez, Accounts Receivable Manager at Deutsche Numis, to find out why Pride holds so much significance for him, how he contributes to Pride and the LGBTQI+ community more generally, and how colleagues can offer their support.
What does Pride mean to you?
Firstly, it’s the time of the year that allows me to sync with my inner self and helps me reflect on the journey I have been through. My personal journey, like many others’, has not been the easiest. During my teens, I was bullied and rejected by close friends and even my own family members just for being who I was and, growing up in Spain more than 25 years ago, there was not the access we have today to the many organisations, charities and social media support that can motivate and help you to come out to your parents and friends. While this meant I often felt isolated and alone, these experiences have given me the motivation I have today to help young people facing the same issues.
Secondly, Pride month also gives me space to be grateful for where the LGBTQI+ community is now, while encouraging me to continue advocating more loudly. Last year marked 20 years since Section 28, the law that banned ‘promotion of homosexuality’ in the UK, was repealed. It was an attack on LGBTQI+ visibility and, together, we resisted. Unfortunately, however, we are now living in a very volatile time, and while we have seen some advances in LGBTQI+ rights over the years, we are seeing huge steps backwards in many nations. Many LGBTQI+ persons face physical attacks and violence while, in a number of countries, discriminatory laws criminalise consensual same-sex relations and trans people. In a few countries, there is the death penalty for consensual same sex relations, while, throughout most of the world, trans people have no access to legal recognition of their gender.
With parts of our community still under attack, both in the UK and around the globe, Pride serves as a reminder of why we can’t go back, and must come together to keep moving forward.
How do you support Pride and the LGBTQI+ community more generally?
I help to organise the logistics for the various Prides happening in the UK, EU, USA, Latin America and Australia, getting involved with everything from social media content and speechwriting to designing accessories, banners and merchandise.
More generally, as a member of the LGBTQI+ board at the United Nations UK and Stonewall, I am heavily involved in local community work targeting young people who are struggling with social acceptance, self-harm, and family rejection. Additionally, I have also been asked to speak at international conferences on bringing LGBTQI+ awareness to the workforce and helping businesses understand the importance of fostering a diverse and inclusive culture.
Have you felt comfortable bringing your whole self to work at Deutsche Numis?
I always bring my own authentic self to the companies I work for. Deutsche Numis has been very welcoming since day one but, as a relatively small organisation, there have been times where the lack of content on, or visibility of, the LGBTQI+ community and other diversity and inclusion areas made me feel that I was perhaps not in the right place. However, with the recent integration with Deutsche Bank, I am very excited to have joined the various LGBTQI+ initiatives happening across the organisation, and I hope I can make a positive contribution.
What more do you think employers could do to support LGBTQI+ employees?
I personally feel there is more to do in helping people understand the importance of pronouns and how to use them in the workplace. For me, correct use of pronouns is key to helping all staff feel included at work and can reassure trans and gender non-conforming colleagues that they are welcome and included in an organisation.
Have you noticed any differences in attitudes towards LGBTQI + issues between employers in Spain and the UK, or between Spain and the UK more generally?
I did notice a big gap when I moved to the UK. Coming from a country where same-sex marriage was legalised in 2005, and which hosts the largest Pride event in Europe while also being a welcoming and friendly destination for LGBTQI+ at all times of the year, I found that there was a lot of work to be done in the UK. This was one of the many factors that motivated me to stay here, join local charity communities and roll up my sleeves to advocate for the importance of feeling welcome in the workplace.
We have come a long way in the UK since then and I’ve been particularly happy to see the ongoing, positive impact the legalisation of same-sex marriage has had across our LGBTQI+ communities. This Pride month, I hope we can learn from our past and keep standing in solidarity to make positive change for our communities.
David has enjoyed travelling to many countries around the world, despite others’ concerns that he may not always be welcome.