Bradford at Night’s Post

When I was first coming out as a queer, I couldn’t wait to attend my first Pride parade. It was like a rite of passage, some kind of official ritual I needed to go through to be a true, card-carrying member of the LGBTQ+ community. Years later, as I started to understand my gender identity and came out as transgender, Pride month lost its sheen for me. Especially as I learned firsthand that, just because something is queer-friendly, doesn’t mean it is trans-friendly. I shied away from dancing in the streets with my friends and opted for smaller, more personal celebrations of Pride. Some years I didn’t celebrate at all. After all, Pride for me was every day. I didn’t need a month to celebrate it, I was finally living it. My safety became the number one concern for me. It seemed as if more and more protestors were showing up at Pride events. Their signs larger, their megaphones louder, and their hate bolder. Pride feels different now. As anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-transgender legislation has loomed in the past few years and the eradication of our community has become a political platform, I often have to choose whether I want to be safe or I want to be visible and free. That is a question I ask myself every time I step outside my house, not just in June. My relationship with Pride is complicated, but what isn’t complicated is the feelings of pride I experience every day as my authentic self. I often think back to my first Pride, where I was who I am unabashedly for the first time, in front of thousands of strangers, without a care in the world. -- SJ Janjua, https://lnkd.in/eztvAu-Y On The Inclusion Solution blog, we're exploring the question: What does Pride mean to you? 💬 Comment below with a few words of what Pride means to you, and follow along on theinclusionsolution.com as we continue to feature voices from the LGBTQIA2S+ community.

Every June, cities and communities across the globe come alive with vibrant colors and celebrations in honor of Pride Month. This annual event commemorates the Stonewall Riots of 1969, a pivotal moment in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Pride Month is more than just a celebration; it’s a powerful reminder of the progress made and the work still needed to achieve full equality. The parades, festivals, and events provide a platform for visibility and acceptance, inviting everyone to join in the celebration of diversity and the fight for equal rights. Yet, Pride Month is also a time for reflection. While we celebrate the strides made toward inclusivity, we must acknowledge the challenges that persist. Discrimination, prejudice, and violence against LGBTQ+ individuals remain significant issues. Pride Month offers an opportunity for allies to educate themselves, advocate for change, and support the LGBTQ+ community in meaningful ways. By participating in Pride events, sharing stories, and fostering open conversations, we can all contribute to creating a more inclusive and accepting society. Incorporating Pride into our daily lives goes beyond the festivities of June. It involves continuous support for LGBTQ+ rights and recognition of the community’s contributions. From workplace policies that ensure equality to educational programs that promote understanding, there are countless ways to make a positive impact. Let’s use the energy and spirit of Pride Month to fuel year-round efforts toward a more just and equitable world for everyone.

As we continue to champion diversity and inclusion, it’s heartening to see so many companies celebrating various communities and their significant milestones. Recognizing LGBTQ+ Pride Month and other cultural holidays is a testament to our progress. However, it’s disheartening to notice that many companies still overlook Juneteenth. This day is a pivotal moment in American history, marking the end of slavery and the beginning of true freedom for African Americans. To our minority employees, this silence speaks volumes. It feels like our strides towards equality and recognition are incomplete. Celebrating Juneteenth is not just a nod to the past but a step towards a more inclusive future. Please ensure our commitment to diversity and inclusion is reflected in acknowledging all significant events, especially those deeply meaningful to our minority communities. We have come so far, but there’s still work to be done. #Diversity #Inclusion #Juneteenth #Equality #Progress

June is Pride Month. A time to celebrate being queer, being your authentic self, being you at maximum volume. I have looked forward to, and loved Pride month for over 30 years - I attended the first Pride event in Grand Rapids and loved it! I have really struggled this month to find that joy, that thrilling sense of being authentic, that enjoyment of celebrating how fabulous our queer community is, and seeing others enjoying it too. Now I feel frustrated that we are still, 30+ years later, having to fight to be seen, fight to justify our existence, fight to be respected, and fight to stay alive. I live in a community that is extremely diverse, yet we are still such a divided community. I live in a community that has many resources, yet not everyone has equal access to them. I live in a community that has celebrations for so many different cultures, yet there are still protestors at EVERY Pride event shouting hate at us. We will continue to be dazzling, continue to be fabulous, and continue to fight to be accepted, but it's exhausting, it's beyond frustrating, and its not making our community better. Let's move beyond the morality and values statements and get back to basic human respect and dignity. If we can start from a place of dignity and respect for ALL, then maybe we can move forward and become a stronger, more vibrant, and healthier community. If you or your company truly want to ensure LGBTQ+ community members are valued, respected, and affirmed please go beyond hanging a Pride flag during June. Ensure your executive leaders understand why this is not only good for your LGBTQ+ staff and community but also good for business 12 months of the year - not just during June. Invest in training for your staff so they know how to build a safe and affirming environment for everyone. Be an ally/advocate/accomplice all year, not just during June. Educate yourself on LGBTQ+ issues and speak up when you hear someone saying things that are not true. Exemplify kindness - it costs you nothing to be kind to others, but it costs others a lot (sometimes their lives) if you are cruel. Happy Pride Month.

Happy Pride, everyone! 🏳️🌈 As an LGBTQ+ founder, I'm proud of the strengths we bring to the table; at work, and in our lives. We've had to navigate societal barriers and find novel solutions just to live authentically — and that's even more true for the trans, Black, and Brown members of our community. Our ingenuity is a powerful force — we think outside the box and embrace risk. LGBTQ entrepreneurs expand possibilities for everyone, yet there's a massive underinvestment in our ideas. Less than 1% of VC funding goes to LGBTQ+ founders, which is especially stark when coupled with the fact that only 0.5% went to Black-founded companies and ~2% to women-founded firms in 2023. Nearly 10% of Americans identify as LGBTQ+. This Pride month, let's celebrate the trailblazing spirit of LGBTQ+ innovators and recommit to dismantling the systemic barriers that still hold us back. Our community's creativity and determination can fuel transformative change — but only if we get a true seat at the table (and are listened to). It's time to double down on investing in LGBTQ visions for a more equitable world!

So now what? Pride Month is over, and the queer community have started to go back into hibernation now most of the bigger parades have ended, right? Corporate rainbow logos go back to normal, after their brief foray into colour. But what happens next? Do the commitments to LGBTQ+ inclusion go on the back burner til next June? Do rights and “amplification” only matter when it's convenient/profitable? Protests are important and we should never forget Pride is one. I’m always glad though when the distraction of parades is over and I am able to focus back in on trying to create sustainable change, because in most organisations pride marches are just gestures and temporary visibility. It's easy to do it for a month, but the work needs persist year-round. Sustained action matters more and than allyship for the day of a march. So, let's hold ourselves and our organisations accountable. Let's try and make sure that the annual June momentum doesn’t reset and leads to real tangible change. I can’t remember where I first heard this but Pride isn’t a month; it’s a movement. If you can’t tell, I love a mildly angst ridden post as we head into what has been one of the most toxic election cycles I’ve ever seen for its treatment of trans people.

We value, respect, and celebrate the diversity of all our employees and clients. June is Pride Month, a time to uplift LGBTQ2S+ voices, celebrate LGBTQ2S+ culture, and support LGBTQ2S+ rights. At VLRC, we are not just a team, we are a united front against discrimination and prejudice. We foster an environment where everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, is accepted and celebrated. Pride Month is a testament to our progress and a reminder of the work that still lies ahead. It's a time to honour the contributions and resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community while promoting equality and justice. Remember, fostering belonging is not a one-time event, it's an ongoing journey. Let us learn, grow, and stand in solidarity with our LGBTQIA+ employees, and communities. Together, through advocacy and allyship, we can build a future filled with love, acceptance, and equality for all. VLRC is proud to support and celebrate this global event. To learn more, visit the Government of Canada’s digital toolkit and calendar at https://lnkd.in/gvwPuteP Happy Pride Month! “What is straight? A line can be straight, or a street, but the human heart, oh, no, it’s curved like a road through mountains.” – Tennessee Williams #Pride #PrideMonth Image description: Light blue background with vertical stripes representing the rainbow flag. Overlaid on the background are multiple heart shapes in varying sizes also representing the rainbow flag. At the bottom center of the image is text that reads ‘PRIDE MONTH ♥ JUNE 2024’. The VLRC logo is on the bottom right.

Pride Month starts today, and I have some thoughts to share. It’s very easy to think that we’ve made significant progress, that equality has been achieved, with pride month a time for rainbows, glitter and ABBA. Unfortunately, it took only a few scrolls of a local shopping park’s pride month post to make it abundantly clear that there is still so much to fight for. Three years ago I participated in a Pride video for Network Rail titled “Do I Offend You” and three years later unfortunately I think my existence along with my other LGBTQ+ family still offends others. We are still told not to shove it down throats, that we should keep our queerness “to ourselves” or “at home”, or asked with sly smiles when straight pride month is. As a queer person during pride month I ask my allies to of course enjoy and support a pride parade. However please don’t just participate in the fun consumerist parts of pride. Please reflect on your allyship in a time where our rights are being constantly threatened. The UK has dropped to its lowest ever rating on the ILGA-Europe map over the last theee years, due to the limitations on gender affirming care and failures to deliver on the banning of conversion practices. All too often the LGBTQ+ community, particularly the Trans community, are used as political cannon fodder, despite making up 5% and 0.5% of the population respectively. This has resulted in hate crimes increasing by over 100% to the LGBTQ+ community over the last five years. And lastly, we are not free until we are all free. Intersectionality is fundamental and critical to achieving true equality, equity, diversity and inclusion. Sometimes that requires decentering ourselves from the conversation which can be challenging however is necessary to be better and make real change. Think on how you can make space for marginalised voices in your workplaces and communities. And I’ll leave it at that along with a link to Stonewall who continue to do great work and have some must have reading for Pride Month. Remember, Equality is not a pie, there is plenty to go around. Happy Pride 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 https://lnkd.in/eAhDMm-w

🌈 As we step into Pride Month, it's wonderful to see companies genuinely embracing and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. Beyond the vibrant rainbows and colorful logos though, it's important to note that the real impact is in the authentic support and inclusive practices that uplift and empower everyone. It's great to see companies: * Implementing inclusive policies for equal opportunities. * Creating safe spaces where employees can be themselves. * Supporting LGBTQ+ initiatives and organizations all year long. * Engaging in meaningful conversations about diversity and inclusion. When businesses go beyond token gestures and show a true commitment to diversity and inclusion, they create environments where everyone can thrive! Authentic celebration of Pride Month isn't just about visibility; it's about taking concrete actions that drive positive change and promote equality. Here's to celebrating Pride Month with authenticity, compassion, and a commitment to inclusion. 🏳️🌈💖