New Joiner Spotlight- Beth Charlton

1. Hi Beth! Welcome to LGBT Great – we’re very pleased to have you. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and what brings you to LGBT Great?

I’m delighted to be joining LGBT Great as the Research and Insights Intern for the next three months! My background is in historical research; I have an MA in Queer History and I’m just about to finish my PhD which explores the spaces, social lives and communities of LGBTQ+ women in London at the end of the twentieth century. Drawing on oral histories, my thesis centres the voices and first-hand accounts of individuals to understand how women at the time lived, loved, partied and built community in the capital. Capturing a wide range of experiences across the lesbian community, my research contributes to the ongoing project of diversifying queer British history, which has so-often prioritised the experiences of cis, white gay men. Bringing my qualitative analysis expertise to LGBT Great, I’m looking forward to contributing to this year’s research project and helping to promote the importance of DEI in the workplace. Whilst I certainly enjoy historical research, I’m really excited to take part in a project which has measurable impact in the present and has the opportunity to improve the experiences of LGBTQ+ people across financial services.

2. That’s great! You mentioned your aim to diversify queer histories. Do you think intersectionality is important?

To truly comprehend the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community we must think intersectionally; paying attention to the ways in which the multiple facets of an individual’s identity coalesce to shape their personal experience is vital if we are to work towards equality and inclusion for all in the community. Intersectionality is something which I wholeheartedly embrace within my own research practice. In my doctoral research, I consider the ways in which lesbian space is racialised, classed and gendered, highlighting the barriers to inclusion that women of colour, working class people and trans women faced on London’s lesbian scene in the 1980s and 1990s. Recognising that space was not, and indeed is not, experienced or accessed equally, is an important step in producing a history that is not one-dimensional or unrepresentative. This is similarly important when thinking about DEI policies and initiatives. In recognising that different people face different discrimination, prejudices and barriers to inclusion, only then can we take meaningful action to challenge and dismantle the hierarchies which exist in society and are reflected in our places of work.

3. You touched on DEI there, would you mind telling us more about why you think LGBTQ+ DEI is important for financial services?

Absolutely! Just as in any industry, DEI in financial services is essential in fostering feelings of inclusion and belonging in the workplace. For LGBTQ+ people, a big part of this is feeling like they can bring their whole selves to work; I know from personal experience the positive impact that feeling supported, understood and fully seen by colleagues and senior leaders can have. Working on LGBT Great’s 2025 research project, I am looking forward to analysing the ways in which allyship in the workplace can help contribute towards creating inclusive environments and generate positive business outcomes across financial services. Given the current climate we find ourselves is, this research is more important than ever. Having the opportunity to contribute towards LGBTQ+ people in financial services feeling happier, more fulfilled and accepted in the workplace is an incredibly exciting prospect, and one of the main reasons I applied for this role. 

4. That certainly is an exciting prospect! Could you talk a little more about what you are hoping to achieve during your time with LGBT Great? 

I’ve already touched on this a little, but I’m looking forward to applying my research skills to a different kind of project in a new sector, gaining insights into what a career in research may look like in other fields beyond history and academia. As my expertise lies in qualitative data analysis, I’m hoping that this opportunity will enable me to gain a more rounded understanding of how quantitative data can support, uphold and enhance the research themes and findings that emerge in interviews and focus groups. Undertaking a PhD can be a very lonely experience, so I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to work collaboratively as part of the LGBT Great team toward the joint goal of producing the ‘For All: The Power of Allyship and Belonging’ thought leadership research report. Most importantly though, I hope to leave this internship with a profound understanding of the ways in which we can work to better the experiences of LGBTQ+ people at work, and the steps we can take to ensure a positive lasting impact for all.