_Eras: Understanding the past. Building the future.

At Knight Frank, Pride Month is more than a moment in the calendar, it’s an opportunity to reflect, honour, and act. This year, we’re marking Pride by sharing a series of powerful personal stories that celebrate LGBTQ+ history and spotlight the voices of our colleagues who are helping to shape a more inclusive future.

June 12, 2025

Why these stories matter

LGBTQ+ history is layered, often painful, and at times still hard to talk about. But it’s vital we do. From the harm caused by Section 28, to the deep fear and stigma of the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1980s, to the lack of safe spaces many faced then and now, these experiences continue to influence how LGBTQ+ people move through the world today.

Our campaign is about bearing witness to those realities and recognising how far we’ve come. Each story shared is a milestone: a reflection of where we’ve been, and a signpost to the progress still to be made.

Take, for example, one colleague’s account of living with HIV and the enduring psychological impact of the UK government’s “Don’t Die of Ignorance” campaign. Although medical treatments and public understanding have progressed, the stigma remains. New diagnoses among heterosexual men and women in England have risen since 2021, a stark reminder that we can never stop educating, listening, and challenging assumptions.

The invisible weight of exclusion

The workplace should be a space where everyone feels safe to be themselves. But for too many LGBTQ+ individuals, it still isn’t, including here at Knight Frank. We acknowledge that some colleagues have felt the need to hide their identity, to filter their language, to carry the quiet burden of not being seen. We’re committed to changing that.

Inclusion isn’t a policy, it’s a culture, and it has to be lived daily. That’s why we’re taking active steps to build a workplace where authenticity is met with acceptance, and difference is treated with dignity.

We’re introducing leadership support guides, including Coming Out at Work and Transitioning at Work, to equip our leaders with the knowledge and empathy to support their teams. We’re investing in workshops to deepen understanding of LGBTQ+ identities and lived experiences. We’re fostering conversations around inclusive language. From using correct pronouns to embracing preferred names and respectful pronunciation, because how we speak shapes how people feel.

We’re also measuring sentiment through colleague surveys, ensuring we stay accountable to the culture we’re trying to build. Because what gets measured gets better.

A ripple effect of allyship

Allyship weaves through every story in this campaign. These aren’t just LGBTQ+ stories, they’re human stories. They call on every one of us to listen with humility, speak with care, and act with courage.

By amplifying voices that have too often been overlooked, we’re inviting meaningful conversations that shift culture not just within our walls, but beyond them.

Looking ahead

To those who have shared their stories with vulnerability, strength, and honesty: thank you. You are helping build a workplace and a world where others feel safer to do the same.

We hope these stories make someone feel seen. We hope they foster allyship. Most of all, we hope they remind everyone that understanding the past isn’t just about reflection, it’s the foundation for building a better future.

Watch the Eras campaign videos and discover more about LGBTQ+ inclusion at Knight Frank.

Support is available

If any of the topics raised have affected you or you’d like to talk to someone, the following organisations can help:

Switchboard: A helpline supporting LGBTQ+ people.
Terrence Higgins Trust: Support for HIV and sexual health.
National Suicide Prevention Helpline: Free support for anyone in emotional distress.