Pride and progress: why the work of the Out Standing Diversity Forum matters all year round

As Pride Month shines a spotlight on the LGBTQ+ community, it is an important time to celebrate, reflect, and recommit. For those of us in adult social care, Pride is not just a parade or a symbol; it is a powerful reminder of why inclusive spaces matter. It is also a time to recognise the ongoing work of organisations like the Out Standing Diversity Forum (OSDF), whose mission is to create real, lasting change for LGBTQ+ people who live, work, and access care and support services across the UK.

The OSDF, launched by The Outstanding Society (OS), is the first cross-sector forum of its kind in adult social care. Its purpose is simple but deeply important: to ensure that LGBTQ+ voices are heard, represented, and supported, not only during Pride Month, but every day of the year.

From frontline care workers to registered managers, policy leads to people with lived experience, the OSDF brings together individuals from across the care sector to tackle inequality and build environments that are safe, respectful, and inclusive.

Last year’s roundtable event in Birmingham marked a significant moment. It brought together a diverse and passionate group of people from across the sector to explore what meaningful LGBTQ+ inclusion really looks like. The conversation moved beyond tokenism and box-ticking, towards tangible outcomes, with a shared ambition to develop accreditation frameworks, training modules, and sector-wide standards that reflect the realities of LGBTQ+ lives in care.

However, inclusion is not a one-off event. It is a commitment. That is why the OSDF will be hosting a second roundtable this year. This next step is vital. It will be a working session where we take stock, revisit what has been promised, and share responsibility for what must come next. We will explore what progress has been made, what challenges remain, and who will lead on taking actions forward. Progress needs accountability, and this roundtable will focus on exactly that.

Pride Month offers a powerful opportunity to highlight LGBTQ+ voices and experiences, but the truth remains: Pride must extend beyond June. For LGBTQ+ people who receive care, work in care, or access adult social care spaces, the need for safety, dignity, and belonging is constant. That is why the work of the OSDF is so essential. It continues throughout the year, advocating for change, influencing practice, and holding the sector to a higher standard.

Everyone deserves to feel respected, valued, and understood, not just in their communities, but in the care and support they receive. This is not only an LGBTQ+ issue. It is a care issue, an inclusion issue, and, at its heart, a human one.

As we mark Pride Month, let us celebrate how far we have come. But let us also be clear: the journey continues. Thanks to the growing momentum behind the Out Standing Diversity Forum, real progress is happening. Together, we are building a future where everyone in adult social care can feel they truly belong — not just for a month, but always.

You can find out all about The Outstanding Society and the OSDF at The Outstanding Society learning lounge at the Care show in Birmingham