Caught an article this morning that, frankly, made my blood boil before my coffee even kicked in. It was about navigating Pride Month without "causing a stir" in companies (it read: 4 ways HR can avoid Pride Month conflict). Like a guide on how to handle LGBTQ+ support as if it's some kind of PR crisis. 🙄 As a "PR lady" - please miss me with that ✋ Here’s my beef: Supporting LGBTQ+ folks shouldn’t be about tiptoeing around to avoid backlash. It's about making real, substantial support happen. Not just in June, but all year round. Saturday, I was at a Pride parade, right? Pure joy, candy flying everywhere, my daughter waving a rainbow flag like she's trying to direct traffic. Cut to Sunday: my ultra-religious neighbor stops while walking by to chat, and here comes my kid, waving that 🌈 flag again. Cue Donna giving us the stink eye. Seriously? It's people like her that make workplaces and even your own goddamn driveway a place of "conflict." Real support doesn't avoid the conflict—it embraces the cause boldly and loudly. Because everyone should feel safe to be themselves. So, can we not reduce Pride to a check-box exercise? Let’s embed it into our company ethos. Let’s not just "manage" Pride; let’s celebrate it, advocate for it, and live it. When people feel genuinely supported, they don't just function—they flourish. And if your Pride plans feel like walking on eggshells, maybe it’s time to throw those plans out the window and start a parade. 🏳️🌈
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June is Pride Month in many countries - have you started planning? It's important for orgs to celebrate and show their support in authentic ways, particularly as the LGBTQ community has been increasingly targeted over the last few years. Pyn asked our DEI consultant Natania Malin Gazek to provide her thoughts and suggestions on how to celebrate Pride this year (and more importantly, what you can do year round!). And if you have something planned this year that you're excited about, I'd love to hear about it!
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How are you cultivating allyship through your employee base? Take a look at the case study from INvolve below and some of the work they undertook with a well-known, global organization to drive culture change by harnessing the power of allyship. To learn more about INvolve's E-Learning solutions get in touch with the team at engagement@involvepeople.org #DEI #Allyship #CultureChange #Allies #Diversityequityandinclusion #PrideMonth #Pride2024
Are you enabling your employees to be strong allies for change? Allies in business are crucial. They can leverage their platform and influence to drive real action for inclusion. Pride Month begins tomorrow, and businesses should focus on enabling their employee base to be active advocates for LGBTQ+ employees, all year round. LGBTQ+ employees in business still do not have equitable opportunities for success, face discrimination and barriers to progress that allies can help eradicate. 4 years ago, the world was gripped by the upsurge of the Black Lives Matter movement, which called on everyone to stand up and actively advocate for the safety of Black communities. Action for change has faltered, and for businesses wanting to renew their responsibilities for driving inclusion for Black employees, empowering allies is key. Take a look at some work we did with a well known fashion brand who wanted to drive allyship in their organization through an accessible and autonomous interactive E-Learning program. Get in touch with us today to start empowering and enabling your employees to be strong allies for change at engagement@involvepeople.org Learn more about our solutions here: https://lnkd.in/d-Wt7y_J #PrideMonth #BLM #Allyship #LGBTQPlus #LGBTQInclusion #Pride2024 #LGBTQInclusion #BlackInclusion #BlackLivesMatter #DEI #Diversityandinclusion #Advocacy #TalentDevelopment #BusinessTransformation #CultureChange
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Are you enabling your employees to be strong allies for change? Allies in business are crucial. They can leverage their platform and influence to drive real action for inclusion. Pride Month begins tomorrow, and businesses should focus on enabling their employee base to be active advocates for LGBTQ+ employees, all year round. LGBTQ+ employees in business still do not have equitable opportunities for success, face discrimination and barriers to progress that allies can help eradicate. 4 years ago, the world was gripped by the upsurge of the Black Lives Matter movement, which called on everyone to stand up and actively advocate for the safety of Black communities. Action for change has faltered, and for businesses wanting to renew their responsibilities for driving inclusion for Black employees, empowering allies is key. Take a look at some work we did with a well known fashion brand who wanted to drive allyship in their organization through an accessible and autonomous interactive E-Learning program. Get in touch with us today to start empowering and enabling your employees to be strong allies for change at engagement@involvepeople.org Learn more about our solutions here: https://lnkd.in/d-Wt7y_J #PrideMonth #BLM #Allyship #LGBTQPlus #LGBTQInclusion #Pride2024 #LGBTQInclusion #BlackInclusion #BlackLivesMatter #DEI #Diversityandinclusion #Advocacy #TalentDevelopment #BusinessTransformation #CultureChange
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HAPPY PRIDE 🌈 !!!! Let's talk about something real for a minute: pinkwashing. You've probably seen it - companies slapping rainbows on everything come June, acting like they're the biggest LGBTQ+ allies in town. But here's the thing: it's not always as genuine as it seems. Pride Month isn't just about colorful logos and marketing tactics. It's about honoring the folks who fought tooth and nail for LGBTQ+ rights, especially during events like the Stonewall Riots back in 1969. That's where it all started, folks! But here's the kicker: pinkwashing takes that meaningful history and turns it into a marketing gimmick. It's like saying, "Hey, we support you... as long as it looks good for our bottom line." Let's be honest - that's not cutting it. It waters down the whole message of Pride and makes it about profits instead of progress. It's like saying, "We'll celebrate you for a month, but after that, you're on your own." If your company is guilty of pinkwashing, it's time to reevaluate your approach. Pride Month is not an opportunity for performative allyship; it's a call to action for genuine support and advocacy. Instead of simply slapping a rainbow on your logo for the month of June, ask yourself: What concrete actions are we taking to support LGBTQ+ employees, clients, and communities, and making them feel safe year-round? How are we using our platform and resources to promote equality and diversity in meaningful ways? THESE are the questions that need to be asked this June, and every following month after. Because as we know (and if you don't by now, go check out my last post) diversity is the KEY to success.
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As we step into Pride Month, it's crucial for us as leaders to reflect on what Pride means within the realms of leadership and organizational culture. 🌈 This month is not just about celebrating; it's about understanding, respecting, and actively supporting the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. In my journey as a leadership coach, I’ve seen firsthand the transformative impact of inclusivity on teams and organizations. Pride Month, rooted in the history of resistance and the fight for equality, serves as a potent reminder of the work still needed to create environments where every individual can truly belong and thrive. It challenges us to look beyond our biases, to embrace diversity in its full spectrum, and to champion the values of understanding and acceptance. This month, I encourage all leaders and organizations to take a moment to appreciate the richness that diversity brings to our workplaces and communities. Let’s commit to actions that go beyond the surface, to practices that build a culture of inclusivity, where every voice is heard, and every person is valued. How are you leveraging your leadership to support and celebrate diversity in your sphere of influence? Let's make this Pride Month a turning point for leadership focused on genuine inclusivity and respect for all. 🏳️🌈 #PrideMonth #LeadershipForAll #DiversityInLeadership #InclusiveCulture #LeadWithPride
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It's Pride month! If you're taking time this year to plan for your 2025 celebrations, take a look at our newest resource from DEI consultant Natania Malin Gazek. They recommend asking these three questions to help you celebrate Pride without accidentally engaging in performative allyship: 1. How is your company supporting your current and future LBGTQ+ employees? 2. How are LGBTQ+ people involved in deciding how the company will celebrate Pride? 3. What is your company’s relationship with LGBTQ+ rights and the LGBTQ+ community? Check out the full article for more detail: https://lnkd.in/eHTWbXSd
How your company can celebrate Pride month without being performative
pynhq.com
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Happy Pride Month! 🌈 🌈 🌈 Oh, Pride Month is already over, you say? Not for me. LGBTQ+ Pride is important to me every month. Now, a lot of companies have been accused of virtue signalling with empty gestures during Pride, but I can assure you we are following through, that's why: - we put up Rainbow flags around the office - I have changed my desktop wallpaper to Heartstopper - LGBTQ+ employees get optional Fridays off (unpaid) - I've started watching RuPaul's Drag Race to understand the culture - LGBTQ+ customers get 10% off our Antivirus software (if they can prove they are LGBTQ+) - I stop employees randomly at their desk to yell "PRIDE!" - LGBTQ+ employees get selected items of food for free in the café (bananas, ketchup sachets, salt) - An LGBTQ+ employee will get promoted regardless of experience or job performance - I have stopped calling people "gay" as an insult - I have committed to hiring an LGBTQ+ employee by 2026 (we don't have any yet) There's no way you can read all that and not think I'm a committed ally boss. Send any proof pics to our Sales team when you check out. Happy Pride! And most importantly, stay virus-free with our latest product. ✨
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Pride Month: Things Leaders Must Consider 🏳️🌈Do your LGBTQ+ employees feel SAFE? Safe at work Safe in meetings in person or virtual Safe to speak their POV Safe to use the bathroom Safe to share Safe to NOT share 🏳️🌈Do your LGBTQ+ employees feel HEARD and SEEN? Are they taken seriously? Are they considered for leadership? Are they put in a box? Are they being used? Do you know the difference between support and opportunistic PR? No matter how many rainbow logos and newsletters (which ARE important to see), just know that there’s a certain recurring fear and trauma that LGBTQ+ employees bring with them to work every day. There are experiences a “straight” identifying white male, for example, will never have or even have to think about. Remember why Pride exists: all members of minority groups have to shout louder, work harder, demand constantly just to get to the starting line. Just to get a seat at the table. Our society has come a long way, but has much much further to go. Love is love because anything less is not worth bringing into our lives. Anything less than love is wrong. Anything less than love taints and destroys. Be mindful of your words and actions. Always. Not just in June. ❤️
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June is widely recognized as Pride Month, a time to celebrate and honor the LGBTQ+ community. It's a month filled with love, acceptance, and a powerful reminder of the progress made towards equality, while acknowledging the work that still lies ahead. It's important to remember that Pride Month is not only for the LGBTQ+ community but for all allies as well. Allies play a crucial role in championing equality and advocating for the rights of their LGBTQ+ friends, family, and colleagues. By standing up against discrimination, we can create an inclusive environment where everyone feels respected and valued. While we celebrate the progress made, it's crucial to acknowledge that there is still work to be done. LGBTQ+ individuals continue to face challenges, including discrimination, lack of legal protections, and societal prejudice. Pride Month reminds us of the importance of advocating for equal rights and striving for a world where everyone can live authentically and without fear. During this month, let's not only celebrate the achievements of the LGBTQ+ community but also educate ourselves about the history and struggles they have faced. By understanding the experiences of others, we can foster empathy and promote a more inclusive society. Happy Pride Month! 🏳️🌈
Employee Spotlight: Aisling – Scientist, LGBTQ+ Advocate and Avid Reader
pall.com
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Ending Pride Month with a reminder: let's go beyond rainbow logos. 🌈 Corporate leaders, align your actions with your vision and values. Authentic support for LGBTQ+ equity fosters a better workplace and drives long-term success. #PrideMonth #LGBTQ #InclusiveLeadership #DiversityandInclusion
Pride and LGBTQ+ inclusion is good business. Here’s why
fastcompany.com
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4moTL/DR - tell me you don't care without telling me you don't care. At that point just don't even mention it and take down all your pinkwashing "efforts".