Lana Woolf’s Post

Read our new blog for Pride Month! 🏳️🌈 Find out about all the things we do at SARSAS to make sure that Pride is every day: https://loom.ly/NgfSlqQ

This week's Bursting Through Knowledge and Power "Flex Your Allyship Muscles," explores how Allyship might present differently to different people during Pride month and all year round. "Meeting people where they are is also fundamental to the distinctiveness of the Bursting Through community. Different people have different comfort levels, interests, and ways they want to express Allyship." ..... read the whole story here. https://lnkd.in/g3iv2JDJ

On the eve of Pride month kicking off, I am asking you for one simple thing. Support trans people and speak out against those who seek to do trans people harm. Not sure how? I've got you covered with some tips on how to be an ally, there are tons of other resources available on the WE CREATE SPACE content library. Link in comments!

🌈 ICYMI: Anish Badgeri (Cohort 2018) reflects on his classroom experience as an LGBTQIA+ identifying teacher and shares some of the tools he found helpful to navigate difficult conversations with students. Stay tuned for more from last week's Pride Month webinar!

"Being a declared year-round ally is much more powerful and welcome than waving a flag for Pride Month and then disappearing until next year’s parade. The industry needs more root and branch change and less fluff and guff." As we approach the end of Pride Month 2024, big group's Ed Riseman explores why buzzwords can risk DEI messaging coming across as a script, how to ensure they remain meaningful and why year-round allyship is so important: https://lnkd.in/escVhkBz

Happy Pride month to all! During this month it's important to remember this is not just a month about parades and parties, it's a month to celebrate how far we've come as a community and recognize how far we still have to go to ensure inclusion and safety for all LGBTQIA+ persons globally! I came out later in life after years of shame, enduring the horrors of conversion therapy, participating in the ex-gay movement, and living inauthentically. Yet, thankfully, I found the way out of all that and have been able to live authentically and proud of all of who I am. I'm grateful I work in an organization like Boston Consulting Group (BCG) that not only supports me but celebrates me. This has been life-changing! There are three things that I believe are crucial for LGBTQIA+ persons (and everyone really) to thrive: 1. Work on yourself and the journey to full acceptance of all of who you are - do this first! This can take many forms, but I recommend therapy and/or support groups to get started. 2. Close second, find a community of people, even if small, that you can be open and honest with, that allows you to show up as yourself and seek support in your journey, and cheers you on along the way. 3. Lastly, put yourself in spaces where you are celebrated instead of just tolerated. Match the spaces you're in and the tables you sit at with the deep intrinsic value you have - accept nothing less than full respect. This applies to social groups, family, work, communities, etc. And know that there are so many of us that may be ahead of you on this journey who are willing and able to step in to support you in each of the above. Reach out so you don't have to do this alone!

We can't help but see comments on social media protesting the need for Pride month, or the focus it gets throughout June. Here are just a few statistics that cannot be ignored: 😓 64% of LGBT+ people have experienced violence or abuse 🏳️🌈 88% of transgender people do not report hate crimes they experience 👥 35% of LGBT employees have hidden their sexuality or identity at work for fear of discrimination 😰 41% of employees who identify as transgender, non-binary or another gender have experienced bullying, discrimination or harassment at work (from our own research) Acknowledging this data isn't about detracting from any of the other issues your organisation is facing, it's about creating change where change is needed. In this webinar Kenya Peters and Vicki Baars sat down to discuss what pride month Should and Should Not look like. Let us know your thoughts https://lnkd.in/ecXDqUeA

Pride month is upon us and I would like to take a moment to address my thoughts of celebrating Pride this year. A year of violent conflicts, another year of nationalism on the rise all over the world and yet another year of segregation. For me Pride month matters as it highlights the existence and struggle of the LGBTQIA+ community around the globe. Some of us are privileged, some are not but we exist in all contexts and places. I am one of the privileged ones, I’m a white male in a fairly progressive country. That doesn’t mean that I’m fat and happy. I try to stay aware of my privilege and use my voice for the less privileged. 🌈 In an LGBTQIA+ context: as someone not struggling. 🌍 In a humanitarian context: as a westerner who lives a good life but knows what it’s like not feeling safe in all situations, what it feels like to be questioned and having to defend ones person. To gain the LGBTQIA+ communities trust in conflicts around the world we are often told what happens to people like us in other countries. And while that is horrible we do not want people to be murdered in our name or to protect us. We don’t want people to die for us to be accepted, that would make us terrorists. We just want to be accepted, plain and simple. You don’t need to love us, we don’t need to love you but we need to be able to coexist in a world of mutual respect but not necessarily in agreement. The world is diverse and it needs to be diverse. We are all human faced with the task of trying to save this planet from what we brought onto it. And that requires collaboration, coexistence and respect. An understanding of privilege and what is required from the privileged in order to help less fortunate groups around the world who often find them selves in that position due to our privilege. So to finish this post: My wish for this pride month is for acceptance and respect for everyone. Let's put our disagreements to the side and face the fact that we need to coexist to be able to move forward.

Looking for tips on how to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion in your business year-round? Look no further than this insightful Forbes article. Don't miss out on these valuable insights. 🌈👇

As we celebrate #PrideMonth, it's essential to remember that being an ally doesn't end when June does. True allyship means standing with the LGBTQIA+ community year-round, advocating for equality, and fostering inclusive environments where everyone feels valued and respected. Here are a few ways to practice allyship all year long: +Listen and Learn: Hear the stories and experiences of LGBTQIA+ individuals. Understanding their perspectives can help us become better allies. +Speak Up: Challenge discriminatory remarks or actions, whether in the workplace or elsewhere. Silence can be interpreted as acceptance. +Support LGBTQIA+ Organizations: Volunteer your time or donate to causes that advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights and well-being. +Create Inclusive Spaces: Whether at work, home, or in social settings, strive to create environments where everyone feels safe and included. Let's make allyship more than just a moment—let's make it a movement! #Allyship #Pride2024 #EqualityForAll #InclusionMatters #LGBTQ #LGBT #LGBTQIA2+