Sydney WorldPride may have come to an end, but at BresicWhitney, being proud never ends. Our people share why being an ally is important to them.

Will Gosse, Chief Operating Officer.

On allyship being a conscious choice.
“My conscious allyship and advocacy started when two of my closest friends came out to me as gay as teenagers.  I’d known one since I was 3 and the other since I was 8. To be trusted at such an important juncture in someone’s life was humbling.

“I was also fortunate to grow up in an environment with an incredibly strong female influence, which I believe helped make my perspective more rounded and accepting of others. We should look at others for what they are… people. Not just in the workplace, but in society overall, we’re conditioned to label and the sooner we get away from this the better. Everyone’s different and the world is better for it.”

On the significance of Sydney hosting WorldPride.
“Sydney has felt alive these last few weeks. Walking down Victoria Street between Oxford Street and Kings Cross has felt like Manhattan. There’s a spark in everyone, bright and full of love. There’s an energy I haven’t felt since long before COVID, an excitement and enthusiasm in Sydney that’s palpable.

“An acknowledgement from the WorldPride organisers of Sydney’s global role in the queer community, both past and present, is significant. It’s an acknowledgement that celebrates the future and memorialises the past of the people that call our city home.”

Thomas McGlynn, Chief Executive Officer

On leading with inclusion and diversity.
“It’s no secret that one of the things that makes BresicWhitney great are our people – their diversity in identities, genders, ages, orientations, race, life stages and more. While some are rightly proud to show up as their authentic selves, for others this can take courage. Businesses have a responsibility to create and nurture environments that allow individuals to do this, and find that pride, wherever they are in their journey. Having a culture that welcomes and allows every single person to achieve what they’re aiming for not only in their careers, but in their lives, is really important to us.”

On the perspective of fatherhood.
“Last year my partner Anji and I welcomed our baby boy Louis. As any parent knows a fundamental shift takes place within you and how you perceive the world when you have a child. Of course, you don’t have to be a parent to be an ally – far from it. However, knowing that I can show and teach him that he’s free to be who he is and love who he loves, is something I’ll never take for granted. So both as a parent and a business leader, I feel a significant responsibility to be a life-long ally for the LGBTIQA+ community.”

Brad Papaellinas, Sales Agent.

On family truth and connections.
“My older sister Natalie her partner Deb, and my nieces Romi, Jasper, Harlow and my nephew Xander are a huge part of my life. Having such important family members as part of the LGBTIQA+ community has made me a part of the community by proxy. I’m definitely an ally, but to be honest, I don’t view is like that as much as how grateful I am to have the beautiful family I do. That experience has shaped how I feel towards other people that are brave enough to love who they love, even when that’s not always an easy choice to make. During Mardi Gras, Natalie, Deb and the kids were part of the rainbow babies float and it seemed like such a fitting celebration of love. Sydney is great at throwing a party and I can’t think of a better reason to do so.”

“I love being part of the BresicWhitney community of allies. A huge part of it is accepting and being interested in, and embracing, our differences. As humans, we’re all unique and all in this together.”

On living free from burdens.
“I know growing up wasn’t easy for many people in the LGBTIQA+ community, or for their family and allies, to express who they were or how they felt. The world has changed a lot in recent decades, however the importance of showing up and being there for others will never change. If my nieces and nephews grow up proud and free from the burdens of previous generations, then I’m a happy man. At the end of the day love is love and we need more of it.”

Charline D’Anastasi, Executive Assistant.

On unity.
“Unity is so important, and for me, that’s a big part of what being an ally is about. Everyone deserves to feel loved and valued for who they truly are. We as humans have a lot of love to give, and being able to give and receive love is a huge part of the experience of being human!

“For a great deal of people at BresicWhitney, pride is something really close to their hearts. Given the amount of time we spend at work and with our colleagues, it’s a non-negotiable that a workplace is somewhere you can be your true self. Appreciating this also allows me to connect with my colleagues on that deeper level, which plays a role in the enjoyment and fulfillment I gain from my work.”

On loving love.
“For Sydney to have hosted WorldPride shows the breadth and depth of support, celebration, and acceptance within our city. So many wonderful diverse people and communities call Sydney home, and I think the events over the last month shed light on how much love there is in the city. I love, love, and I love to love.”

Chantelle Collin, Head of Property Management

On supporting diverse teams
I am an ally for many reasons, first and foremost to help build a society in which LGBTIQA+ people have the same freedoms and opportunities that others do. Our Property Management team is one of the most diverse in the industry, with a number of our people being proud members of the LGBTIQA+ community. A team can’t, and shouldn’t ever, be built on diversion or judgement and part of what I believe makes our team great is our connection with one another, and our differing orientations, identities, experiences and perspectives.

On creating a safe space.
A workplace should be one that’s not only physically safe, but emotionally ‘safe’ for its people. Many of us are dealing with heightened stress levels in either our working and/or personal lives following the pandemic and now with the changing economic climate. Part of being an ally for all our people is to lead in a way that continually reminds them that their whole selves are welcome at work, including the spectrum of emotions that makes us all human!