Being the subject of bullying is never okay.

I still remember my first job in IT—excited, eager, and ready to learn. But instead, I found myself the target of subtle jabs and not-so-subtle jokes about my sexuality. People probably thought they were being clever or harmless. What they didn’t see was the effect it had.

I became withdrawn. I struggled to learn, struggled to retain knowledge, and—most painfully—struggled to be myself. They didn’t know that behind the smile was someone carrying fear—fear of being outed, fear of not being enough, fear of being seen.

That experience shaped me.

When I started Elite Energy, I made it my mission to build something different. A place where anyone—regardless of who they are, who they love, how they identify, or what they believe—could learn, contribute, thrive, and feel safe doing it.

Pride Month is deeply personal to me, but I also recognise that people have different cultural, religious, and personal perspectives. What matters most is that we treat one another with dignity and respect.

At Elite, we believe that everyone should feel they belong. That our differences make us stronger. And that inclusion is not about agreement—it’s about humanity.

To anyone who’s ever felt like they had to hide—know this: we see you, we value you, and there’s a place for you here.

With Pride,

Stephen.