PRIDE AT NEXT NEWS

Our theme for Pride 2024 is Be You. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

We've already got lots of fun and informative plans for Pride this year and we can't wait to share them with you! We wanted to give you a teaser of some the things coming up:

- Physical Pride Month Newsletter 📖
- Be You collection: Pride prints 🎨
- Announcing which pride we're attending as NEXT 😍
- Pride at NEXT day 🥳

More about Be You
At NEXT, we know how important it is for people to not only be themselves at work, but to feel comfortable to do so. 

We know everyone is at their best when they are being themselves. We respect colleagues, managers and everyone we come across. Respect allows for understanding and communication to flourish. There are no egos. Just people. 

Our business is about people and being an employer for everyone in an environment where people feel respected, valued, able to fulfill their potential.

We create a positive working and learning environment, where all employees are valued for their contribution and individuality.

Be You and take it on.

Paul shares with us his story, as he’s nearly 30 months into his transgender journey!

Paul talks about moving back Down Under, LGBTQ+ legislation and his life in Sheffield.

Paul's story:

Another year has come around and I’m now over 27 months into my transgender adventure! I don’t go in for make up, but I’ve recently started using a little foundation and lip gloss. I also recently got my first ear piercings! Generally, I’ve been taking care of myself much more over the past 2 years!

As some of you may know, I’m Sheffield born, but have spent most of my adult life in New Zealand and Australia. I returned to Sheffield in July 2013 for the sole purpose of taking care of my elderly mum. She said at that time that she only had a few months to live, but over 10 years later I’m still here! Sadly, she passed away last September, at almost 95 years old. I’m now able to return to the place I once called home.

The first 8 years back in England were difficult for me. On the surface, looking at the many videos I posted on Facebook, I put on a cheerful exterior, but deep down I was deeply unhappy and longed to return to New Zealand and Australia. However, since I started my transition, I’ve fallen in love with England, and Sheffield in particular.

So, even though I’m now finally free to return Downunder, I feel some apprehension. I’ve been received extremely well here, and I have plenty of safe places to be who I want to be, and at the University of Sheffield in particular I can fully express myself during my three days a week there! 

Although Australia and New Zealand have excellent LGBTQ+ legislation, the cultures are different from the UK and different from each other. Australia has an attitude of “Fit in or leave”, and Australians tend to speak their mind freely. On the other hand, in New Zealand, diversity is more prominent and is even encouraged, but there is still a colonial “get it done” attitude that can lead to abruptness. 

As in the UK, LGBTQ+ people are spread around in New Zealand and broadly accepted. Even in my rather conservative hometown of Christchurch, I remember seeing people who were “different” walking in the streets, and in one particular pub there was a bartender who was a very “voluptuous” person in a corset and skirt, who also had a male hipster-style haircut and beard, and was full of muscles! In Australia, it’s much more common for LGBTQ+ people to congregate in specific suburbs in major cities. The most well known is the area of Kings Cross and Darlinghurst in Sydney … And of course, the “Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras” is a very famous annual event there, ‘celebrating the entire LGBTQIA+ community with over 100 community events’.

At almost 65 years old, I’m up for retirement soon, and the retirement age in New Zealand is 65 for all citizens! With regards to my move, I’m going to be sensibly cautious … I’m going to maintain a fixed base in Yorkshire and plan to spend the summers here, with the autumns in Japan, and the rest of the year in Australia and New Zealand.

Let’s see what becomes of it! In the meantime, I would like to take this opportunity to thank so many of you at NEXT Distribution for being such a wonderful work family. I expect to leave the company for the final time in April … And yes, on my final shift I’ll be performing the New Zealand Haka …

Nga mea pai katoa mo te heke mai 

All the best for the future

Paul (He/him)

Visit our Trans Community space for resources.

This festive season we raised over £2500 for the Terrence Higgins Trust, our Pride at NEXT partner. With the LOVE Collection bauble being the highiest sold festive charity bauble from the Charity range. Thank you for anyone who bought a bauble! 

Click here to find out more

Manchester independent book store Queer Lit has recently got an upgrade, and is now holds the biggest collection of LGBTQ+ literature in Europe!

Shop Queer Lit online here.

As the British sci-fi series celebrates its 60th anniversary this November, the flagship BBC show is also marking another major milestone after casting its first queer Black actor to play the Doctor. Find out more here

Just Like Us helps schools to discuss and celebrate diverse families and, in line with the national curriculum, promote equality and tackle bullying and discrimination against all protected characteristics.
Click here to read more

Andrew Jurd our Pride at NEXT Chair and committee member Charlie Driver attended a star studded fundraising evening celebrating Paul Gambaccini’s 50 year broadcasting career, hosted by our charity partners Terrence Higgins Trust!
Find our more here

We're proud to announce that the LOVE Collection has raised a whopping £3955 for Terrence Higgins Trust so far in 2023.

Keep shopping the collection so we can raise more money to help end new cases of HIV by 2030! Shop the collection here

The movie, based on the Renaissance World Tour, which got under way in May