Pride Wide’s work is expected to “contribute to a healthier democracy and benefit society as a whole”.
That was the comment from the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, as he welcomed guests to Speaker’s House in the UK Parliament to celebrate the launch of the Pride Wide Trust on 23 February 2026.
The Pride Wide Trust is a new, global, LGBTQIA+ charity specializing in using mainstream communication and social media to tell stories and shift public attitudes.
Addressing the audience in the historic rooms, Sir Lindsay emphasized the appropriateness of holding the event in Parliament given the institution’s role in the history of LGBT+ communities and legislation.
He noted that LGBT+ rights have long attracted cross-party support in both houses and highlighted that 12% of MPs are “out and proud”. The Speaker also proudly mentioned that he has “the gayest office in Parliament,” with 28% of his staff being gay.
A key theme of the address was the need to ensure LGBT+ voices are heard globally. Sir Lindsay stated that when democracy comes under attack, the human rights of specific groups are undermined, noting that LGBT+ people and their rights are often “the canaries in the coal mine”.
He stressed that the establishment of the Pride Wide Trust is vital because its work is expected to “contribute to a healthier democracy and benefit society as a whole”.
The Speaker concluded his remarks by thanking the guests for attending and handed over to Tris Reid-Smith, the Chief Executive of Pride Wide. You can read Tris’s speech in full here.
And Sir Lindsay’s full remarks are below:
An historic welcome for Pride Wide
Your Excellencies, Your Excellency from Belgium, Honourable Members, My Lords, Ladies, gentlemen and distinguished guests.
I’m particularly pleased to welcome you to Speaker’s House to celebrate the launch of the Pride Wide Trust, a new, global, LGBTQIA+ charity specialising in using mainstream communication and social media to tell stories and shift public attitudes. So welcome to all.
The rooms you are standing in tonight date back to 1859. Adoring the walls around you are the portraits of 46 of my predecessors, who you will have noted are all men, except for one of course; my great friend Baroness Betty Bouthroyd.
Not only are these quite magnificent function rooms but they also include a very special bedroom with a historic bed. The bed is for the Monarch to rest in on the night before the coronation. It’s a tradition dating back to William the Conqueror when the Monarch stayed in the palace nearest to Westminster Abbey.
However, we believe that George IV was the first and last Monarch to sleep in Speaker’s House. But the bed is kept in readiness should it ever be needed for a future Sovereign. I did say to the King, “by the way I’ve got your bed ready”. He wasn’t quite sure what I meant.
The only good thing about the bed is there are no mice as my cat sleeps on it on a regular basis. He is constantly in trouble.
Given the role that Parliament has played in the history of LGBT+ communities – with 12% of our MPs out and proud – especially through its legislation, it seems extremely appropriate we should be holding this event here tonight.
And I’m particularly proud to say LGBT+ rights have long attracted cross-party support in both houses and it’s vital that continues. Recently these rooms were full of MPs and house staff and role models from across the community, taking part in our annual LGBT+ History Month event.
But it goes without saying that we should all be concerned that LGBT+ people are struggling to have their voices heard, both here in the UK and around the world.
For democracy to flourish, we need that full range of voices. When democracy comes under attack, it very often undermines the human rights of specific groups and individuals. Sadly, we have seen too often that LGBT+ people and their rights are often the canaries in the coal mine.
That is why the establishment of the Pride Wide Trust is so important.
And, just to say, quite a few of these males, if only they could have come out in their time, it might have been a different story. Of course, I’m always proud to say I’ve got the gayest office in Parliament. 28% gay and getting stronger!
I hope and expect that this work will contribute to a healthier democracy and benefit society as a whole.
Can I say, thank you again for being here this evening and for listening. And it’s good to see friends I have not seen for a long time.
What I would like to do is hand over to Tris Reid-Smith, the chief executive of Pride Wide and one of its founders, to tell you about the charity and to share their vision for the future.
