Anna Brown Shares Her Story for Lesbian Visibility Week: “Coming Out Constantly Is Tough”

By Anna Brown, Business Analyst at Enterprise Rent-A-Car

I made the decision to come out as a lesbian the day I went for my first interview in branch at Enterprise Rent-A-Car. I didn’t know how I would bring it up, but I knew walking in the door that I owed it to myself. I needed to know that my potential employer would be supportive and safe of my place in the LGBTQ+ community.

Coming out in the workplace is never simple and, sat with some of my future colleagues, I knew I’d found people who would back my corner – real allies. There was an openness, not just in their words, but in their expressions and tone that made me feel safe to be myself. It felt natural to talk about my partner, now fiancée, in a way that I hadn’t experienced previously.

"Coming out constantly is tough, and it can take its toll on anyone."

This was perfectly encapsulated when, on only my sixth day at Enterprise, I was invited to walk in Birmingham Pride with my new team by an Area Manager. That invitation meant that I met over 40 people from all different job roles and departments who wanted to know about my experience and share their own. I joined our regional LGBTQ+ committee that same week; an invaluable network of people committed to advocating for more diversity, equality and inclusion.

Five years into my career and I now have a pivotal role in organising our attendance at Birmingham Pride, and this year I have arranged for us to be an official sponsor. I’ve found my voice, and I want to give this platform to more people in our community. My allies consistently check in to make sure that we are doing everything possible to make our workplace an inclusive space. Together, we are breaking down the barriers that still inherently exist in the UK workplace.

Anna Brown

Coming out constantly is tough, and it can take its toll on anyone. We get asked questions that aren’t always appropriate, not just from colleagues but from clients too. Navigating these waters was a test for me. My courage was challenged every time I was asked, “Have you always been…you know…like this?” Every time someone assumed the wrong gender for my fiancée or asked who wears the pants in our relationship.

"I often get told that I’m the first lesbian that someone has met."

I struggled to find my feet for the first year, but eventually, my confidence grew. I decided that I wanted to be the person that anyone could reach out to and ask questions. I wanted to always give an educational, honest answer and wanted anyone to feel safe in their curiosity. Working in Birmingham, I often get told that I’m the first lesbian that someone has met, and my perpetual coming out is met with a flurry of questions from many new colleagues. What I tell these teams every time is that I would always rather you ask the question about gender, sexuality or anything else, as long as it comes from a place of curiosity and care. I have been an educator in my group, an advocate for five years for not just virtue-signalling but genuine progress towards a more egalitarian corporate relationship.

If your company is having a corporate Pride event this year, it should not be just a party. It is a chance to advocate for those people who don’t have a voice and to give a platform to marginalised communities. This is what I am striving to create this year at both Birmingham and Manchester Pride. A culture of inclusion must pervade everything we do, and this is my goal.