What Pride Means to Me: Mel’s Story

My name is Melissa Smith (she/her), and I’m a Senior Talent Acquisition Partner at So Energy, where I’ve proudly worked for almost two years.

I’m sharing my story this Pride Month to reflect on my journey as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, and to honour the progress, resilience, and joy that Pride represents, not just for me, but for so many others.

What Pride Month Means to Me

For me, Pride Month is about visibility, courage, and, above all, love. It's a time to celebrate how far we’ve come, to honour the resilience of those who paved the way, and to recognise the work that still lies ahead. It's about standing in solidarity, showing up for one another, and reminding the world that love knows no boundaries.

For those of us in the LGBTQIA+ community, Pride isn’t something we just turn on in June. It’s something we live every single day. It's in how we walk through the world, how we love, and how we continue to exist openly and authentically, even when it’s difficult. Pride Month shines a light, but the pride we carry within us continues all year long.

Pride is about creating space for ourselves, for each other, and for the generations to come.

My Story

I first came out when I was 18 years old, sitting down with my parents and telling them who I really was. While my friends were dating boys, I knew deep down that I wasn’t like them. I had realised during my school years that I was attracted to women. Coming out was both terrifying and freeing. But I was lucky. My family accepted me completely. There were no ifs, buts, or maybes—just love. I know how fortunate I am, because many in our community don’t receive that same unconditional acceptance from the people who are meant to love them the most.

Since coming out, I’ve grown into my identity with confidence. I have a loving family, an amazing circle of friends, and the most supportive partner I could ask for.

Hayley and I have been together for four wonderful years, and they’ve truly been the best of my life. We've had so many adventures together, bought two houses, travelled extensively, and spend our weekends enjoying life with our two dogs, Buddy and Bertie.

But like many queer couples, we’ve experienced moments that remind us there’s still work to be done. From being stared, laughed at, shouted at, or most significantly spat at for holding hands in public, to being asked if we’re sisters (despite the obvious difference: I’m 5’9” and blonde, she’s 4’8” and ginger), these interactions may seem small, but they’re deeply symbolic of broader societal assumptions and prejudices.

Even everyday things like booking a holiday require an extra layer of caution and research. We have to make sure we’re travelling somewhere safe, where we can simply be ourselves. That mental load is invisible to many, but for us, it’s part of life.

One of the most emotional and complex journeys we’re on right now is starting a family. We’ve been exploring fertility treatment, but the financial barriers and the lack of inclusive support for LGBTQIA+ couples within the NHS can feel overwhelming. Growing up, there was little to no representation of what families like ours looked like. It was only in 2010 that same-sex couples could both be legally listed on a birth certificate, and not until 2014 that same-sex marriage was legalised in England and Wales. These aren’t distant milestones, they’re part of our recent history.

What’s especially painful is that, even now, the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals and families are still debated in political settings, as if our love, our lives, and our futures are up for public discussion. Whether it’s access to fertility treatment, inclusive education, or the right to exist without fear, LGBTQIA+ rights are far too often treated as political bargaining chips rather than basic human rights.

It’s disheartening to watch legislation or rhetoric emerge that attempts to roll back the progress we’ve made, or to see queer and trans lives become talking points in culture wars. When your identity is debated on the news or in Parliament, it sends a message that your existence is conditional, that your family doesn’t fully count and that weighs heavily, especially when you're planning a future for a child you haven’t yet met but already love.

Still, we remain hopeful. We dream of raising a child in a world where our family is not only legally recognised but respected and celebrated, and most importantly seen as normal. A world where our child doesn't have to search for representation or question whether their family belongs. We know we’re not alone in that hope, and we’re grateful to be part of a community that continues to fight for that future.

What So Energy Means to Me

Working at So Energy has given me the space to show up as my full, authentic self. That kind of support and inclusion isn’t just empowering. It’s transformative. It impacts how I connect with others, how I lead, and how I show up every day.

Our LGBTQ+ affinity group offers a safe, welcoming space for sharing, listening, and learning. It reminds me that inclusion isn’t just about policies. It’s about lived experience. And I’m proud to be part of a company that truly understands that.

If there’s one message I’d like you to take from my story, it’s this:

Pride isn’t just a season or a rainbow logo. It’s a lifelong commitment to equality, safety, and respect. For queer individuals, Pride is an everyday act of courage and authenticity.

This Pride Month, I invite you to go deeper. Be an ally not just in words, but in action. Listen to stories. Challenge assumptions. Stand with the LGBTQIA+ community in meaningful, everyday ways. Together, we can build a future where everyone is free to live, love, and thrive, authentically and unapologetically.

If I could tell my younger, Bristolian self one thing, it would be this: You’re going to grow into the most confident, authentic version of yourself. You’ll fall in love with a short ginger girl from Kent, raise two adorable dogs, and live in your dream home in the countryside. You’re going to be okay. You’re going to thrive.

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