51 from Northern Ireland

I have been involved in equality and diversity for three decades with a focus in particular of ending stigma within minority groups and the promotion of the basic human right to love whoever you want without judgement.

I am a previous chair of Cumbria Pride for multiple events but I was also responsible for obtaining charity status for the organisation along with funding the very first event as sole sponsor.

I now work to end stigma for people living with HIV on behalf of an NHS partnership organisation.

It is my honour to work with this amazing team to bring attention to equality and diversity issues in the West of Cumbria. I have the great pleasure of co-chairing the committee with my dear friend and colleague Andi Elizabeth Rutherford. Together with our team we aim to bring some vibrancy and colour to Whitehaven this summer and beyond.

Please follow us on social media #proudanddiversecumbria

I hope to meet some of you at our events 🙂

I come from an age when it was rude to ask a ladies age, so I am leaving it to everyone's imagination, be kind please 😉

I have a number of hobbies, mainly crafting, all of them really quite boring but I have a big interest in classic cars, I own 2, nothing flashy but unusual, I enjoy taking them to various shows and displaying them. I travel as far as Birmingham to show them.

I live with my dog in Carlisle, he is my main focus in life now.

When Glenn asked me to help with the Pride in Whitehaven year, he also asked me to become a Director of Proud and Diverse Cumbria, I accepted because what we represent is important to me.

Our journey last year, though hard work, was a great achievement, just bring a Pride to Whitehaven was a huge plus in the LGBTQ+ world but also to bring Diversity to everyone's attention is what we are all about

Hi I'm Laura Heaton (She/They) and I'm the Executive lead of the pride committee this year.
I've lived in Cumbria for almost 5 years, and am originally from Lancashire. I've led on and been involved with Regional and National LGBT+ and Equality campaigning and awareness work for over 10 years within Unison and have a passion for improving mental health and wellbeing in our intersectional communities. I have been volunteering with Proud and Diverse from the start and am looking forward to what we can achieve. I'm hoping we can educate and embed a change in mindset to enable equity for all protected characteristics across Cumberland.

I’m Mitchell, a committee member for Proud and Diverse Cumbria CIC. I'm passionate about our LGBTQ+ community and those from diverse backgrounds. I advocate for equality and inclusivity, both professionally and personally. Together, we serve to support and be a strong, PROUD, supportive voice for Cumbria’s DIVERSE communities.

I run my own aerospace business designing flight paths, and have an immense passion for aviation; I enjoy flying planes, and playing the piano.

I'm thrilled to be part of the Gay Pride Committee working alongside my committee members Pride in Whitehaven, a celebration of love, diversity, acceptance, inclusion, and progress!

My name is Amanda Heaton- Sutton and I’ve lived in Cumbria since I was 7. I have worked for over 15 years in the NHS and a union activist for just as long. I met my beautiful wife at a pride event and forever grateful for events that allow us to be our true selves. I work hard both in and out of work to give voice and courage to those that don’t always have it or face barriers to speaking up. I have a passion for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and am proud to be a part of this team. In my free time I can be found building Lego, going to the theatre or out geocaching with my family.

I moved to Cumbria just over 3 years ago from Lancashire. The move happened as I met the love of my life, and now wife Amanda, as I supported her to run the union stall at a local pride event. I have been involved with LGBT+ support and rights campaigning including regional and national work for trade unions and have a passion for mental health and wellbeing. I’ve worked for the NHS for over 10 years and now develop the workforce therefore ensure equality, diversity and inclusion is threaded through everything I do. I love rugby league and have been a Wigan Warriors supporter all my life. I’m looking forward to sharing my experience and knowledge across Cumbria to support others to be proud about the things that make them different.

My name is Amanda Heaton- Sutton and I’ve lived in Cumbria since I was 7. I have worked for over 15 years in the NHS and a union activist for just as long. I met my beautiful wife at a pride event and forever grateful for events that allow us to be our true selves. I work hard both in and out of work to give voice and courage to those that don’t always have it or face barriers to speaking up. I have a passion for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and am proud to be a part of this team. In my free time I can be found building Lego, going to the theatre or out geocaching with my family.

51 from Northern Ireland

I have been involved in equality and diversity for three decades with a focus in particular of ending stigma within minority groups and the promotion of the basic human right to love whoever you want without judgement.

I am a previous chair of Cumbria Pride for multiple events but I was also responsible for obtaining charity status for the organisation along with funding the very first event as sole sponsor.

I now work to end stigma for people living with HIV on behalf of an NHS partnership organisation.

It is my honour to work with this amazing team to bring attention to equality and diversity issues in the West of Cumbria. I have the great pleasure of co-chairing the committee with my dear friend and colleague Andi Elizabeth Rutherford. Together with our team we aim to bring some vibrancy and colour to Whitehaven this summer and beyond.

Please follow us on social media #proudanddiversecumbria

I hope to meet some of you at our events 🙂

I am Andi-Elizabeth Rutherford, a proud born and bred West Cumbrian, a passionate advocate LGBT+ rights and for Equality and Diversity in general, I am a proud member of the LGBT+ community, whom I have represented at both the European & UK Parliaments, and at TUCLGBT+ Conferences. I have in my role as a trade union equality rep taken an active part in promoting LGBT+, and all minorities, I am a fund raiser for the Epilepsy Society, I recently was presented with an award for my work with Home Group and the Rainbow Roofs network

A regular key note speaker on LGBT+ with a number of agencies and companies

The founder and co chair of my employers LGBTQ+ network and I work with and support several national and local organisations, and often asked to speak about my experiences, until recently I was a trustee with a “former” LGBT+ charity, a role I gave up to concentrate on forming a new organisation ‘Proud and Diverse Cumbria CIC’ to bring LGBT+ and diversity events to West Cumbria, I became the co chair of Proud and Diverse Cumbria CIC, along with Glenn Anderson my co chair’ and with a committee who have the same passion and drive to bring this long needed event to West Cumbria

I am an amateur wildlife photographer who is mad about Cumbrian Red Squirrels