UNTIL WE’RE ALL FREE TO BE OURSELVES, NONE OF US ARE, SAYS CHLOË DAVIES

CHLOË DAVIES

Let me begin by introducing myself. My name is Chloë. I recently turned 36. I’m a mother to two sons – Miles, two, and Theo, who is 11 months old. I work as relationship and experience manager for Diversity Role Models. I am bisexual and I am a Black woman.

I have other roles, and I will touch on those shortly, but when Phyll asked me to write a piece for this historic issue of DIVA magazine, which recognises the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community in all its glory, I suddenly felt that, surrounded by women I know and admire, I would actually get the chance to really come out for the very first time.

While rocky at times, I have a wonderfully supportive family who accept me as I am and don’t care that I’m bisexual – they just love me as Chloë. But, to my knowledge, I am the only LGBTQ person in my family, and that – at times – can be a very lonely world.

My dad ensured that as a young Black girl growing into her womanhood my core grew strong. He told me, aged nine: “You’re Black and you’re female. It will be harder for you than most, so please don’t grow up with a chip on your shoulder.”