Around the world, June is recognized as Pride Month, which is a time to celebrate LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) culture and support LGBTQ+ rights. Celebrating Pride is an important part of any employer’s diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) initiatives.
Ways to celebrate Pride Month in your workplace may include:
1. Educational Initiatives
Have a lunch and learn (or series of lunch and learns) and/or bring in speakers to discuss workplace inclusion. Topics can include the importance of using gender-neutral language at work; the correct use of pronouns; and supporting transitioning co-workers. You can couple this with more formal anti-harassment training and unconscious bias training.
2. Sharing Pronouns
Encourage workers to share their pronouns in meetings and in written communications. When members of management and your human resources team include their preferred pronouns in their email signatures, for example, it communicates to all – including prospective employees – that you have an inclusive culture.
3. Support LGBTQ+-Owned Businesses
The Company can do this, for example, by ordering meals, drinks, or desserts from LGBTQ+ eateries and circulating a list of local LGBTQ+-owned businesses that your employees can patronize. And, if you love a business, let the community know by posting about your positive experience with the business on social media.
4. Donate Time and/or Money to Worthy Causes
You can support the LGBTQ+ community by donating to a worthy cause. Start by looking for global or local non-profit organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community for the charity donation activity. Well known charities that support the LGBTQ+ community include The Trevor Project, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and Lambda Legal. If you do not have a budget to support a charitable donation, plan a corporate volunteer day for an organization that addresses issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community.
5. Have Some Fun
Other fun ways to celebrate Pride Month may include decorating the office, changing Zoom backgrounds to a Pride theme, having a rainbow dress-up day or having a Pride themed office party.
6. Evaluate internal Policies and Procedures
Perhaps most importantly, employers should take this opportunity to evaluate whether they can do a better job at being inclusive when it comes to their own policies, practices and procedures. Pay particular attention to hiring procedures, anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies, dress codes and bathroom usage policies. c
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in June of 2022 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
