In 2013, Reading Pride received feedback from members of the Transgender and Asexual communities who shared that they did not feel fully welcome at Pride. It was clear something needed to change. In response, Reading Pride hosted its very first Trans Picnic, which included a dedicated changing area and an asexuality space—small but meaningful steps toward greater inclusion.

In 2014, key liaison roles were established: Christina Dearlove became Trans Liaison, Kerry Kleis took on the role of Asexuality Liaison, and Beth Wright became Pansexual and Women’s Liaison. That same year, Kerry and Beth proposed a motion at the Reading Pride AGM to formally include the “plus” in the charity’s mission statement. The motion passed with a significant majority, marking a pivotal moment where inclusion became a central focus of Reading Pride’s work.

Eight weeks before Reading Pride 2015, Christina and Kerry had the idea to take their liaison work even further by creating a year-round local social network. The aim was to provide ongoing events and support for lesser-represented parts of the LGBT+ community and their allies. After countless meetings and a great deal of hard work, MyUmbrella LGBT+ officially launched at Reading Pride 2015. The original logo—designed by Adam Newman—became a lasting symbol of that vision, for which we remain incredibly grateful.

The following spring, Christina and Beth attended the first UK Pride Network Conference in Manchester. While there, it became clear that many Pride organisations across the UK struggled to understand the needs of lesser-known LGBT+ communities, with some even openly hostile to the idea. Over time, however, many acknowledged the need for support, and this sparked MyUmbrella’s growth beyond Reading. Today, we support and advise Pride organisers across the South and the wider UK. Sadly, in 2016, Beth stepped down from the organisation.

By 2019, MyUmbrella had grown into a team of four. Alongside running local social events, we began attending Prides across the UK and delivering inclusion training for blue-chip and global organisations, helping them better understand LGBT+ communities and how to be genuinely inclusive. We also partnered with Shout Out LGBT Radio to launch our monthly podcast, Under The Brolly, and opened an online shop offering LGBT+ merchandise and our Guide to LGBT+. That year alone, we supported 21 Pride events, travelling over 4,000 miles by road and 1,000 miles by rail.

In March 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of Pride events nationwide, MyUmbrella launched Under The Brolly LIVE! livestreams. Staying connected, entertained, and mentally well felt more important than ever during lockdown.

As restrictions eased, we returned with a refreshed, pre-recorded season of Under The Brolly, welcoming a new host, Hannah Phillips—a trans YouTuber, influencer, and campaigner working closely with the Tavistock Centre—who brought renewed energy and perspective to the show. A new edition of the Guide to LGBT+ was also developed.

In 2024, MyUmbrella returned to the road, attending Prides and festivals across the region. In 2025, we proudly relaunched our in-person social events, Under the Umbrella, continuing our commitment to visibility, inclusion, and community connection. We were also thrilled to welcome Steph Hyde as our new Social Media and Content Manager. Steph has been creating engaging, fun, and innovative content, helping us connect with thousands of people each month and keeping the community vibrant and informed.