FAROUT: Empowering, Inspiring and Celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month at FARFETCH

myGwork spoke to FARFETCH’s Customer Service Advisor Inês Retorta on the importance of honoring LGBTQ+ History Month at work, and what the month means to her both personally and professionally.

Hi Inês, thanks for chatting to us! To start with please tell us a bit about yourself?

Hi everyone! I’m a Customer Service Advisor at FARFETCH. I’m 29 years old, proudly from Lisbon, Portugal. My role as a Customer Service Advisor is to create meaningful relationships with our customers, listening and understanding their needs. Somewhere in high school, I learned to listen to myself, finding my place in the LGBTQ+ community. Here I felt that I belonged, something that continues to be so important and meaningful today!

Why is LGBTQ+ History Month important to you?

Celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month is extremely important as we're celebrating the long journey that goes way back to Ancient Greece and Egypt, for example. We're celebrating the path of this amazing community that is bigger than some people are aware! Celebrating all the incredible milestones in History for LGBTQ+ is raising awareness for our community and for all its people, including me. We are also educating the community around us. With this particular month, it's important to remember that we're not using History to justify ourselves or the LGBTQ+ community’s need to exist, but to tell a story and all our stories!

What will you be doing to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month this year?

It's great to participate in campaigns and initiatives like this, and use my voice as an LGBTQ+ member to share my story and empower a special month for the community! This year, I do believe I'll go the extra mile in celebrating this month by being able to share it with my colleagues in our FAROUT (LGBTQIA+) people community at FARFETCH. Also, gather a few friends, watch some movies...

Which LGBTQ+ people from history who are important to you? Why do you think their stories are important?

My first and best example would be Harvey Milk, of course! His name made the history books by being the first openly gay elected official in California and one of the first in the United States. For me, Harvey Milk, as many others, is a synonym of courage for standing out from the crowd in a time (1977) and field (Politics) where the LGBTQ+ community had no place at the table. Harvey shows me two things: how your character and not your sexual orientation will define your path; and how important it is to own your true self, despite any challenges faced.

Do you think LGBTQ+ people are represented in history books enough?

Not at all. I’ve studied history at an advanced level back in high school, and I think LGBTQ+ history is poorly represented. Somehow it still feels taboo to talk about that at school openly. Still, I believe we will get there, as we create more and more forums where the topic is discussed openly and society gets more educated over the importance of normalizing and telling the stories of LGBTQ+.

Were you taught about LGBTQ+ history in school?

Just a bit. Although there was a lack of representation in books, I was lucky enough to have a professor who raised awareness and taught us about the story of many LGBTQ+ people across History. Even though it was not part of the curriculum, I’m glad I have learnt a few things.

Name three LGBTQ+ people alive today that you think will be remembered in LGBT+ history?

I believe Hannah Gadsby ends up being my biggest reference, along with Neil Patrick Harris. Hannah is a comedian who actively pursues LGBTQ+ rights, and Neil is proudly married, father of two, who charmed Hollywood with his talent, shining a light on the LGBTQ+ topic seamlessly. I believe he’s living proof that love always wins. I’d also say Lady Gaga, she has always fought for equality, and her song ‘Born This Way’ says a lot about the journey of being ourselves and having our place in the world - which is an important and inclusive message.

Do you think it’s important for workplaces to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month and why?

Definitely! I think it's crucial to celebrate not only LGBTQ+ History Month but the entire community all year round and Diversity & Inclusion as a whole! I believe it is not just about celebrating a specific date but incorporating these celebrations into all the efforts in achieving diverse representation in the organization and fostering education and empathy while mitigating biases and prejudices. Being part of a company like FARFETCH, which is truly committed to building all the foundations needed towards these goals is amazing. An exciting and simple action the FAROUT people community is taking this month is launching an LGBTQ+ library in our office in London! Being able to be welcomed in our FAROUT people community, where I get to share and celebrate with my colleagues is truly inspiring and shapes my entire journey at FARFETCH.