"It’s about living without fear"

By Magenta Lavey, Eastlight resident and Customer Influence Committee member

Pride, to me, is so much more than just sexuality and gender – it’s a deep sense of belonging.

It’s about feeling proud of the community around me, cherishing the friendships I’ve built, and being grateful for the connections that continue to shape my life.

Pride means being a source of encouragement for those around me – celebrating their achievements, no matter how big or small. It also means standing beside them in moments of hardship – offering strength, empathy and support.

Pride is about living authentically.

It’s about living without fear.

It’s more than just an event: it’s an ongoing commitment to embracing identity, diversity and unity.

And for me, that is absolutely something to be proud of.

At Eastlight, we thrive because we embrace diversity.

EastPride, our LGBTQIA+ staff and residents network, helps ensure that all voices are heard, valued and represented – making our workplace more inclusive and welcoming for everyone.

EastPride actively advocates for inclusive policies, works to improve workplace culture and plays a key role in helping Eastlight move forward in our commitment to equality and fairness.

Most importantly, EastPride exists for our residents.

We recognise that LGBTQIA+ individuals often face social isolation and discrimination – and may feel unsafe in their neighbourhoods due to harassment or hate crimes.

At Eastlight, we want all residents – current and prospective – to know that we are a housing society that values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to helping everyone feel safe in their homes and to being a supportive hub that offers guidance and resources to all.

EastPride also attends Pride events to foster visibility and meaningful conversations – helping to promote understanding, connection and inclusivity across our communities. That’s why we’re so excited to be at Chelmsford Pride this Saturday, 21 June – and also at Braintree Pride (for which we’re the lead sponsor) on Saturday, 26 July. If you’d be interested in joining us, we’d love to see you there.

‘Safe to be Me’: Share your experience

We're looking for Eastlight residents from the LGBTQIA+ community to share their experiences with us, to help shape our services for the better. To find out how you can get involved – either by completing our short, anonymous survey or by submitting your story – click here.