Celebrating Pride Month

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Celebrating Pride Month

Throughout June, Pride month is a celebration of people coming together in love and friendship, to show how far LGBTQ+ rights have come.

At Caledonian Sleeper we are shining the spotlight on our LGBTQ+ Caledonian Sleeper colleagues David Bree (Sleeper Team Leader) and Dougie Bree (Sleeper Train Manager) who recently celebrated their marriage to talk about their journey, love and what pride means to them.

Can you tell us how you both met?

Both: We were both Cabin Managers at our previous flying jobs. So, it was work that brought us together.

You recently tied the knot. Tell us a bit more about the day and how it feels to be married now?

Both: We did. The 25 September 2021 was our big day where we wed at Glenskirlie Castle. We worked hard whenever we could to save up to have exactly what we wanted, and it all went perfect.

June is dedicated to celebrating the Pride movement and how far LBGTQ+ rights have come. What does Pride mean for you both?

Dougie: Pride for me is about acceptance. Being allowed to be who you are without prejudice.​​​​​​

Davie: Without pride we would not have made the progress we have, where we are mostly in a society where everyone is accepted. It is a remarkable time of the year to bring everyone together.

Above: Davie and Dougie on their wedding day in September last year.

How has it been to be part of the LGBTQ+ community at Caledonian Sleeper?

Dougie: Caledonian Sleeper have a great LGBTQ+ community spirit between all the staff and I think that’s great. It’s not just us within that community that celebrate and enjoy it which is brilliant for allowing people to be who they are.

Davie: Being part of Serco means you can be yourself it does not matter, gender, sexuality etc, you are invited to be you, acceptance is not a question you are accepted be who you wish to be, you will have support across the full board.​​​​​​​

What is the main reason LGBT+ people do not come out in the workplace?

Davie: Coming out in the workplace means feeling comfortable within yourself, not worrying about prejudice, acceptance or what people think. It’s about having the courage to live happily and be able to be yourself.

Dougie: I think people like to be a bit private, work is just work at the end of the day. I do think people are more accepting nowadays but I still think people might prefer to keep work and life separate.

If you were to give anyone struggling to be themselves openly one piece of advice, what would it be?

Dougie: Speak to likeminded people. I think it can be difficult and daunting at first, but it was the best move I made when I came out and was able to be myself and be accepted.

Davie: My advice to anyone struggling would be to look at where even I have come from to the happy life I now lead, and anyone can.​​​​​​​

What can organisation’s done to ensure LGBTQ+ community members feel included in the workplace?

Davie: Even to celebrate pride month and to have it mentioned will ensure that the LGBTQ+ community are recognised, and this really matters

Dougie: I think by talking about LGBTQ+, Pride events is a great way for community members to feel they matter and included and by exactly this… being asked to tell our story.

We have often heard the tag line of “love is love”. What does this mean to you both?

Dougie: ‘Love is Love’ for me is about someone meeting their soulmate, the person (no matter who they are) they chose to be partnered with or fall in love with.

Davie: Love is love – whether you are gay, straight, bisexual

Thank you to Davie and Dougie for sharing their story of love, acceptance and pride.

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