Nautilus marks June 2021 Pride Month with member events and LGBT+ support survey

Nautilus International invited members and maritime professionals to celebrate Pride Month, which takes place every June around the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in the USA.

The Pride in Nautilus network met ahead of the union's Equality and Diversity Forum (EDF) online at 13:00 on Friday 25 June 2021. The Forum meeting then took place at 14:00, celebrating Pride Month and International Day of the Seafarer.

The Nautilus EDF heard from guest speaker Captain Thomas Lindegaard Madsen, who is a maritime LGBT+ champion and employee-elected member of the board of directors at A.P. Moller-Maersk Group.

The Union also launched a survey for LGBT+ members to learn about their experiences in the maritime industry and find out whether Nautilus can do more to support them. It is hoped the responses will help to improve to the Union's response to LGBT+ issues as well as increase attendance in the Pride in Nautilus network.

• Nautilus survey for LGBT+ members is now closed)

Nautilus was represented at other celebrations taking place during the month, and members were welcome to join Maritime UK's Pride in Maritime Network meeting on 23 June from 14:00-16:00.

'International Day of the Seafarer and Pride Month provide the perfect combination to celebrate the diversity of the UK maritime sector,' said Debbie Cavaldoro, Nautilus head of policy and strategy. 'It is a great privilege to be able to welcome Capt Thomas to our EDF meeting as he is such an interesting speaker who has used his social media presence to talk about being "out" in maritime and provide support to other LBGT+ maritime professionals.'

The Maritime UK Pride in Maritime Network is celebrating its one-year anniversary, and due to the incredible response from the industry and high attendance at meetings, senior leaders from across UK maritime were invited to an inaugural roundtable event in London on Tuesday 29 June 2021.

Chaired by the Union’s international organiser Danny McGowan, this high-level meeting sought to establish a conversation amongst employers about the steps they can take in collaboration with the Network and Nautilus, to ensure that LGBT+ people can be confident of enjoying long and successful careers in maritime.

The annual Pride in London march was postponed in 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions. The Union will be represented at the event for the fifth year running. For more information about this and other Pride events, contact dmcgowan@nautilusint.org.