Marlene Linzner-Scherf’s Post

June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community's rich history, diversity, and ongoing fight for equality. At CCI Consulting, we believe in fostering a workplace culture that is inclusive and welcoming to all. Here are a few ways to celebrate Pride in your workplace while maintaining a professional environment: 🌈 Educate & Advocate: Encourage employees to learn about LGBTQ+ history, terminology, and experiences. Share resources or host a "lunch and learn" session. 🌈 Embrace Pronouns: Normalize the inclusion of pronouns in email signatures and introductions. 🌈 Ally Visibility: Encourage employees to show their support through rainbow attire or featuring LGBTQ+ team members' stories. 🌈 Donate & Volunteer: Partner with an LGBTQ+ charity or organization for a donation drive or volunteer activity. 🌈 Celebrate Pride Events: Sponsor or participate in local Pride events, virtually or in person. By creating a more inclusive environment, we empower all employees to bring their authentic selves to work, fostering creativity, collaboration, and innovation. Let us know how you’re celebrating Pride at work in the comments! #PrideMonth #CelebratePride #CCIConsulting

Are you Pinkwashing?? #PrideMonth 🏳️🌈 is around the corner and just like March where we see 1000% uptick in marketing using "women's day", this month be sure to see lots of rainbow and LGBTQIA+ themed programs. If you're a brand/company looking to jump on the 🌈 bang-wagon, here are some questions are ask yourself! What is pink washing you ask? Well it's when someone capitalizes on the commercial aspects of Pride Month like changing your logos to rainbow colors or releasing limited edition Pride-themed products *solely* for profit. Do you lack diversity and inclusion in your workforce? Brands that participate in Pride Month celebrations but lack diversity and inclusion in their own workforce or fail to support LGBTQ+ employees are insincere. For instance, if you only feature LGBTQ+ individuals in your marketing campaigns during Pride Month but don't have inclusive policies or practices internally, then what's the point? Are you failing to donate or support LGBTQIA+ Causes: Failing to donate CSR funds or profits to LGBTQ+ organizations or supporting relevant causes makes your contribution less tangible. Are you committed all-year round? Does your idea to promote Pride only happen in June? If your brands only shows support for LGBTQ+ issues during Pride Month and remains silent or inactive for the rest of the year then are you anything but opportunistic? True allyship requires ongoing advocacy and support beyond a single month of celebration. Are you ignoring feedback and/or criticism: It is disingenous when brands ignore feedback or criticism from the LGBTQ+ #community about their actions during Pride Month. Genuine #allyship involves listening and responding. Thanks for reading! 💜 💙 💚 💛 🧡 ❤️ 💖

Celebrate Pride with Purpose! Custom Promo Products that Make a Statement This #PrideMonth, let's celebrate diversity, inclusion, and the LGBTQ+ community. But how can your brand authentically show its support? Custom promotional products can be a powerful tool to amplify your message and create a lasting impact. Consider these ideas: 🌈 Rainbow Swag: Design water bottles, tote bags, or t-shirts in vibrant Pride colors. A portion of the proceeds could be donated to an LGBTQ+ charity! 🌈 Pride-Themed Giveaways: Host a social media contest featuring custom phone cases or keychains that celebrate Pride. 🌈 Employee Appreciation: Gift employees with logo-branded items alongside a message of inclusion. Custom promotional products not only show your support, they also: 🌈 Increase brand awareness - Keep your company name visible at Pride events or parades. 🌈 Spark conversations - Encourage dialogue about diversity and inclusion. 🌈 Build stronger relationships - Show your commitment to creating a welcoming environment. Looking for inspiration? We can help you design custom products that celebrate Pride with purpose! ️ Check out our Custom Pride Giveaways here: https://lnkd.in/e-pcCgtS

June is 🌈 Pride Month 🌈 which means a plethora of rainbow-themed packaging designs online and in stores. But while some people view this as a sign of growing support of the LGBTQ+ community, others fear companies are exploiting a social movement for profit. Can packaging be a force for good? Packaging Europe recently investigated the issue in their article 'Packaging in Pride Month: allyship versus ‘rainbow-washing’. Rainbow-washing occurs when brands use Pride to market themselves as socially progressive without taking meaningful action to support the LGBTQ+ community. On the surface, incorporating Pride imagery into packaging may seem harmless. However, critics argue that perceived insincerity can damage a company's reputation more than silence, as contradictions between branding and actions are easier to spot in the digital age. To prove their authenticity, companies need to go beyond aesthetics and actively support equality legislation, LGBTQ+ employees and non-profit organisations. Packaging can be a useful tool in educating consumers and raising funds, but it should not be used to facilitate a token gesture or one-off PR stunt. Successful examples of consumer brands showing LGBTQ+ allyship include Unilever's personal care brands, which have partnered with The Brighton Rainbow Fund and made Pride-themed packaging available year-round. #PrideMonth #Pride #Packaging #Packagingdesign #Rainbowwashing

Ah, Pride month. 🌈 To me, pride month is every month, in fact, it’s every single day. I have so much pride in being a trans man, and it’s taken me a LONG time to get to be the man I am today, with the love I have for myself after so many years of self-hatred. As happy as pride month makes me, I do sometimes feel like all these big companies only choose to recognise people like me in June because they’re following the rest of said big companies. *insert rainbow washing and tick boxing for diversity employment data paragraph here* 🙃 Pride month is all about celebrating our history and how far we as LGBTQ+ people have come since the Stonewall riots back in June 1969 (when being gay was classified as a mental illness…) June was forever more dedicated to commemorate the sole reason pride began. We still have so much more to do to make the UK (and the world) a safer place for our LGBTQ+ people, so I urge you to spend this pride month reflecting what you know and what you don’t know, learn and unlearn, review your diversity and inclusion policies, incorporate pronouns to email signatures, check in with your LGBTQ+ employee network and ask if there’s anything else you could be doing. Donate to LGBTQ+ related charities… There are SO many small, yet simple acts of kindness that can really make your peers feel comfortable in both the workplace and outside of work. Do more than add a rainbow to your logo…🌈 #pridemonth #pride #lgbtq #diversity #inclusion

As we celebrate the start of Pride Month, it’s a time to reflect on the progress we’ve made and the journey ahead in creating inclusive and diverse communities. Pride is not just a celebration; it’s a reminder of the ongoing struggle for equality and the importance of standing together against discrimination. For our sector leaders, this month is a call to action to continue advocating for inclusivity and diversity, ensuring that every individual feels valued and respected. Nonprofits have long been at the forefront of creating safe spaces for marginalized communities. By providing support, resources, and advocacy, the work we do plays a critical role in fostering environments where everyone can thrive. Our organizations understand the importance of intersectionality and work tirelessly to address the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, especially those who are also part of other marginalized groups. I believe that social impact organizations have a unique position in advancing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) work. By integrating EDI goals into our missions, our organizations can lead by example, influencing policy, and fostering cultural change. As practitioners, we can provide training, develop inclusive programs, and advocate for policies that promote equality. Through collaboration and community engagement, we can amplify the voices of those who are often unheard, driving meaningful change and ensuring that inclusivity and diversity are not just ideals but everyday realities. Today, and everyday, we can lead with love, kindness, empathy and acceptance. Happy Pride Month, everyone! #loveislove #pride #EDI #equity #diversity #inclusion #ally #nonprofit #advocacy

Happy Pride Month! 🌈🏳️🌈 Let's celebrate love, diversity, and equality. May this month be filled with joy, acceptance, and respect for everyone in the LGBTQ+ community. Remember, love is love, and everyone deserves to be celebrated and embraced for who they are. 🌈💙💚💛🧡❤️💜 There are many wonderful ways to celebrate love, diversity, and equality during Pride Month! 1. Attend Pride Events: Join local Pride parades, festivals, and events in your area. These gatherings are a fantastic way to show support, connect with the LGBTQ+ community, and celebrate love and equality together. 2. Educate Yourself: Take the time to learn more about the history and struggles of the LGBTQ+ community. Read books, watch documentaries, and engage in conversations to expand your knowledge and understanding. 3. Support LGBTQ+ Businesses: Show your support by shopping at LGBTQ+ owned businesses or supporting LGBTQ+ artists, creators, and entrepreneurs. This can be done through purchasing their products, attending their performances, or sharing their work with others. 4. Advocate for LGBTQ+ Rights: Use your voice to support equal rights for everyone. Speak up against discrimination and injustice, and educate others on the importance of equality and inclusivity. 5. Volunteer and Donate: Consider volunteering your time or making a donation to LGBTQ+ organizations and charities that work towards promoting equality, providing support, and advocating for the rights of the community. 6. Be an Ally: Stand up against homophobia, transphobia, and discrimination. Be a supportive ally to friends, family, and colleagues who identify as LGBTQ+. Show love, respect, and acceptance. Remember, celebrating love, diversity, and equality is not limited to Pride Month alone. It is essential to continue supporting the LGBTQ+ community throughout the year. Let's strive for a world where everyone can live and love freely, without fear of judgment or discrimination. 🌈🏳️🌈❤️

The Stonewall Inn, which was raided 55 years ago today, was a haven for the LGBTQ+ community - away from the discrimination and oppression LGBTQ+ were facing at the time 🏳️🌈 The Stonewall Uprising started a global movement and is hailed as a pivotal moment in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights and liberation 🌎 At the forefront of the resistance, courageous individuals, including Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, led the charge for justice and equality 🙌 Its anniversary serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for equality and inclusivity, as well as the importance of standing up against injustice. We’ve included some inspirations of ways you can help honour this time and continue striving for an LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Future. [Visual description: carousel is designed in blue, pink and yellow. Image 1: title, Stonewall Riots. Today is the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, also known as the Stonewall Uprising, which took place on 28th June 1969 in New York City when police raided a gay club called ‘The Stonewall Inn’. Image 2: The police raid caused a riot, leading to six days of protests and violent clashes with law enforcement outside the bar and on neighbouring streets. The protests that followed the raids sparked a movement. Image 3: The Stonewall Uprising became a catalyst for change, motivating communities across the United States and beyond to fight for LGBTQ+ rights and liberation. It led to the formation of LGBTQ+ organisations and the emergence of Pride marches and caused a profound shift in societal attitudes toward acceptance and equality. Image 4: What we can do differently for a LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Future: Educate yourself on LGBTQIA+ issues and history, including challenges the community still faces today, Utilise the power of collective action, just as protestors did during the Stonewall Uprising, Promote intersectional inclusivity by ensuring your LGBTQIA+ advocacy includes all voices represented within the community, such as trans folks and people of colour, Support organisations which actively fight for LGBTQIA+ rights, Push for policies and laws which protect LGBTQIA+ rights.] #StonewallRiots #PrideMonth #PrideMonth2024 #Pride2024 #Pride #DiversityAndInclusion #DiversityMatters #InclusionMatters #UnconsciousBias #DiversityEquityInclusion #DiversityInTech #Inclusivity #InclusionAndDiversity #BelongingAtWork #WorkplaceCulture #WorkplaceInclusion #WorkCulture

🌈 **Rainbow Washing: A Call for Authentic Support this Pride Month** 🌈 As we step into Pride Month, we see an explosion of rainbow logos and colorful campaigns. While the visibility and celebration are heartening, it's essential to address a critical issue: rainbow washing. **What is Rainbow Washing?** Rainbow washing refers to companies and organizations adopting the rainbow colors of the LGBTQ+ community for marketing purposes, without backing this symbolism with meaningful actions or support. **Why It Matters** True allyship goes beyond temporary branding. It's about creating and fostering inclusive environments, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, and supporting the community year-round. Rainbow washing can undermine these efforts, reducing Pride to a mere marketing opportunity. **How to Be an Authentic Ally** 1. **Implement Inclusive Policies**: Ensure your workplace policies support LGBTQ+ employees. This includes non-discrimination policies, inclusive benefits, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion. 2. **Support LGBTQ+ Causes**: Donate to organizations that fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Encourage your employees to participate in volunteer work and provide matching donations for their contributions. 3. **Educate and Advocate**: Conduct training and workshops on LGBTQ+ issues. Use your platform to advocate for equality and share educational content that raises awareness. 4. **Listen to LGBTQ+ Voices**: Engage with LGBTQ+ employees and community members. Listen to their experiences and needs, and incorporate their feedback into your business practices. 5. **Year-Round Commitment**: Show your support beyond June. Pride is not a one-month affair; it's a continuous commitment to equality and inclusion. Let's make this Pride Month not just a time of celebration, but a catalyst for real change. Together, we can ensure our actions speak louder than our colors. #PrideMonth #LGBTQ #DiversityAndInclusion #AuthenticAllyship #CorporateResponsibility

It’s Pride month, so inevitably, there will be a sudden rush for organizations to turn their logos rainbow for the month and talk about their fundraiser for an LGBTQ+ charity. This level of tokenism has become commonplace, and has earned the moniker “rainbow-washing” - showing superficial, performative support for the LGBTQ+ community, without ever making any substantial effort to ensure equity and inclusion for their people. So if you’re a retailer who’s turned their logo rainbow for the month, I want you to ask yourself what you’re doing to support the LGBTQ+ in your workplace, to create an environment in which they feel psychologically safe and can thrive. - Do you champion workplace diversity? - Do you train your staff and leadership in inclusion? - Are your leaders engaged in creating inclusive practices? - Do you challenge micro-aggressions when they are seen or reported? - Do your policies use inclusive language and reflect the diverse needs of your workforce? - Do your LGBTQ+ employees have a safe space or resource group to drive inclusion & equity? Because if the answer the these is no, then you might be guilty of rainbow washing. #Pride