Everyone at IKEA has a story to tell

What's your 'Bursting with Pride' story?

"My boyfriend David and I have been together 11 years and we both work at IKEA. The big news? After postponing it for two years — this year we're getting married in style!"

Have you faced any difficulties or barriers due to being LGBTIQ+?

"On a professional level, I've always felt good. In my personal life, until I started university I did feel very different because I was gay. But that feeling then faded."

Do you consider IKEA to be an inclusive place?

"Very! At IKEA, we say that everybody is equal. And we really are. We have very clear values; we are tolerant and respectful. And anybody who wants to join IKEA must be as well. We accept each other as we are. I've always felt happy and accepted at IKEA. Always comfortable and free to tell my co-workers about my personal life and be myself. It makes me happy because I know they really care about us and are happy that we're happy."

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​What would say to your past self? And to your future self?

"Believe in yourself more, and be more confident. Don't let people underestimate you, don't let anything scare you. And to my future self, keep enjoying yourself and don't let anything or anyone hold you back."

What is missing from society that would enable us to be proud of who we are?

"Respect, equality, compassion and empathy. I also think it's really important to ask open questions, without making assumptions or judgements. If people assume you have a girlfriend because you're a man, that could make you feel restricted and stop you from showing who you really are."

What does a true home mean to you, Manu?

"To me, a true home is somewhere you can be free without worrying about who you like or love. Somewhere tolerant."

Tell us your 'Bursting with Pride' story: 

"I've been open about my sexuality for 30 years and it was difficult and complicated. Thirty years ago, things were very different and people who showed their true selves were considered brave. Brave people who lived through horrible situations that made me think I'd spend my whole life hiding for fear of rejection. At work, when I was at other companies, I didn't show who I was. It was also difficult with my parents – they struggled to accept it as their mindset was more conservative.

Thankfully, that's all in the past now. Now, I feel free and happy,  and I speak openly with everybody around me."

Do you consider IKEA to be an inclusive place?

"For sure! I was wary when I first started, but I soon realised that IKEA was nothing like what I'd known up to that point. I quickly felt a sense of peace and a weight lifted from my shoulders when I saw how much acceptance and freedom to express myself there was, it was completely amazing. It doesn't matter what religion you follow, who you vote for or your sexuality. It's just another detail... like you liking the colour blue!

I love talking, and I speak about my relationships totally naturally. That makes me happy.  Just like a co-worker might tell me what she did with her boyfriend at the weekend, I do the same whenever I have a date. At IKEA, it's totally normalised for people of the same sex to love each other, and you never hear any rude comments."

​​​​​​​What do you think makes us an inclusive company?

"The IKEA values themselves imply respect for other people and humility, which are key to being inclusive. They are values that make us special and we must never lose them. When I speak to my friends they think it's a good place to work because of how they look after us.​​​​​​​"

What would say to your past self? And to your future self?

"Relax! You're going to be happy and you're going to be able to live! There are only a few tough years, you'll be doing great soon! To future me... that I hope everything that we're doing today helps us to live in a society that doesn't differentiate between people."

What is missing from society that would enable us to be proud of who we are?

"Empathy and respect are key. In fact, if I could change one thing in this world, I'd eradicate selfishness, because I think it's the root of a lot of bad things in society.

What does it matter whose hand you hold? Or who you vote for? The important thing is that you're a good person and you don't harm others."

What does a true home mean to you, Marga?

"A true home is one where all its members feel free and can follow their heart, without needing to hide."

Tell us your 'Bursting with Pride' story

"At 17, I admitted that I liked men, and I did it in a small, very conservative town in Jerez with 500 inhabitants. I decided, by myself, to start a journey to bring visibility to the LGBTIQ+ community and to inspire other people to discover who they are and how they feel in a rural environment. That's how I started to collaborate with local associations and organisations, and I spoke at various Pride events, giving a voice to the community in a rural area.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

We even have a carnival dance group. People were scandalised when we first went out with our banners and in drag, but we're constantly growing: both LGBTIQ+ and non-LGBTIQ+ people, and both women and men."

Do you consider IKEA to be an inclusive place?

"I've been working at IKEA for 12 years and in all that time I've never seen different treatment based on whether someone's gay or straight. What's more, at IKEA I've always felt really loved and supported. I feel free and more myself than ever here, in every department and with all my co-workers, bosses and customers. I think it helps that IKEA is an open-minded company that is more progressive currently. You feel that within the company and it can be seen from the outside."

​​​​​​​What would say to your past self? And to your future self?

"I'd tell my past self why I suffered so much, and I'd tell my future self I'm proud of him and everything he has achieved. Because this journey that started 17 years ago is now supporting and helping other people and families."

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​What is missing from society that would enable us to be proud of who we are?

"Freedom of expression, respect and empathy. To make the world more inclusive, everyone needs to be able to act more naturally and normally, without being compared or needing to give explanations."

What does a true home mean to you, Antonio?

"To me, the IKEA store represents the idea of a true home that we aspire to. A true home is one where you feel good and welcomed, and where nobody is treated differently, because we're all equal and we can all be as happy as one another."

What is your 'Bursting with Pride' story?

"I am lesbian, and as soon as the law was passed 16 years ago I happily married my wife and now we have a beautiful five-year-old daughter.

My wife and I are active members of the association of LGBTIQ+ families in Barcelona. Why? Because we think it's vital for our little one to be able to see examples of families like her own and to grow up normalising the reality of diverse families. Our example is something that we try to 'infect' others with.​​​​​​

I think you have to get involved with things these days to ensure that LGBTIQ+ people are respected and equal. The visibility and vindication of our community has become a really important part of life for our family and those around us."

Have you faced any difficulties or barriers due to being LGBTIQ+?

"I've been in various situations where my sexual orientation has been judged.  Without going into it, I've been offered therapy to "cure" me of my sexual orientation and I've been labelled as ill for loving who I love."

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​What would say to your past self? And to your future self?

"I wouldn't have much to say to my past self because every step I've taken in life has led me here and I couldn't be more content. I'd send courage and love to my future self."

Do you consider IKEA to be an inclusive place?

"Yes, I think so. Since I started at IKEA, I've felt calm and glad to be working for a company that ensures the well-being of the community and takes steps to act as an example to companies that don't do that. We have a global integration plan for LGBTIQ+ people, we have trans co-workers on our teams, and on 17 May, International Day Against Homophobia is observed across the company...

I also think that IKEA has made small, normalising gestures that are customer facing. For example, the STORSTOMMA bags that are being re-launched this year in a more portable size are a big hit. There are also the ENEBY fronts for Bluetooth speakers in a special rainbow edition. I've got one of those speakers and it's my star product. Music is a vital part of my life and I couldn't be happier with it."