Celebrating Birmingham Pride with Agrespect

Celebrating Birmingham Pride with Agrespect


MDS staff and Trainees were given the fantastic opportunity to walk in the Birmingham Pride Parade last month, all thanks to Agrespect.

Agrespect

Agrespect aims to promote and support diversity in rural and agricultural communities. The organisation gives a platform to LGBTQI+ people to be open and live authentic lives in their community. Working in partnership with organisations throughout the industry, the platform spotlights spaces that are welcoming and safe. At MDS, we are proud to support Agrespect and help to ensure a diverse and accepting leadership pipeline within agriculture.

Birmingham Pride

Agrespect kindly invited MDS representatives to attend the Birmingham Pride Parade. MDS team member Tom Divers, and Trainees Libby Richards and Alex Muxworthy were all able to attend the event to celebrate and support diversity in the countryside. The MDS reps were able to walk alongside Agrespect’s impressive rainbow MF 8S’ Sassy Ferguson’ tractor through Birmingham’s city centre.

Group 48 Trainee Libby Richards loved the event:

“It was an absolute honour walking with Agrespect! I met some amazing people who are all at the forefront of advocating LGBTQI + representation in agriculture. Agrespect is so important because it enables, includes and supports the rural LGBTQI + community.”

“MDS covered all of our travel expenses, and Tom Divers introduced us to the Agrespect community, showed us a great coffee spot, and walked with us all the way.”

Group 49 Trainee Alex was also able to attend:

“For my first large scale pride event, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience! There was such a large turnout. It was both overwhelming and so empowering to see so many people celebrating pride. The atmosphere was so exciting, friendly and inclusive. Being in the parade with a charity that continues to work towards an inclusive and diverse world was a great opportunity.”

Thank you

We want to thank Agrespect for inviting MDS and for their ongoing work in ensuring rural communities and industries are safe and accessible for everyone.