moss+ross’ Post

At yesterday's West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce luncheon, leaders from five statewide LGBTQ+ organizations shared perspectives and strategies on how employers and community members might support a more diverse and inclusive workforce & workplace. Thanks to Iowa Safe Schools, Des Moines Gay Men's Chorus, One Iowa, and Capital City Pride. And special recognition to panelist (and my friend/colleague) Dan Jansen, who serves as Board Chair of the Iowa LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce. Curious to hear any of your thoughts, ideas, and experiences in the comments below: 1) How is your company fostering diversity and/or inclusion? 2) How are you or others in your organization championing inclusivity in aspects of work culture? 3) What initiatives have you found to be effective?

Want to learn more about the impact the LGBTQ business community has on the national economy and the challenges LGBTQ business owner’s face, check out this segment and interview with Jason Rae, the founder and president of the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce.

Do you want to support LGBTQ+ identifying students at Mendoza? Support Mendoza LGBTQ+ & Allies club! Here are 3 simple ways. Explore our ND Day page to learn more about our mission, the club's goals for next year, and success stories. https://lnkd.in/evMjGhp

🌈 Celebrating Pride Month in New Zealand! 🌈 As we honor Pride Month, it’s essential to highlight the importance of allyship in supporting our LGBTQ+ community. Allyship is about taking action, showing support, and standing up for the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals. So How Can We Support? 🏳️🌈 Creating Inclusive Spaces: Allies play a crucial role in fostering safe and inclusive environments at work, in schools, and within our communities. By advocating for inclusive policies and practices, allies help ensure that everyone can be their authentic selves without fear of discrimination. 🤝 Support and Advocacy: Allies can amplify LGBTQ+ voices and support organizations like Rainbow Youth, OUTLine NZ, and Gender Minorities Aotearoa. Whether through volunteering, donating, or simply listening and learning, every action counts. 🌍 Celebrating Diversity: Being an ally means celebrating the diversity within the LGBTQ+ community, including the unique experiences of Māori and Pacific Islander individuals. It’s about recognizing and valuing different identities and backgrounds. Pride Month is a time to celebrate progress, but also a reminder of the work still needed to achieve full equality. Allies are essential in this journey. Let’s all commit to being better allies and creating a world where everyone is free to live authentically. Happy Pride! 🎉

How does your company support its employees and the communities they care about? Take a look at McKinstry’s alliances and the impact they drive through the year.

What is Straight For Equality? Straight for Equality (S4E) is an outreach and education program by PFLAG National that helps allies understand their role in supporting and advocating for LGBTQ+ people. It's especially helpful for folks who may not have LGBTQ+ loved ones, but want to learn about how they can become an ally in the community or workplace. Learn more at straightforequality.org

What is Straight For Equality? Straight for Equality (S4E) is an outreach and education program by PFLAG National that helps allies understand their role in supporting and advocating for LGBTQ+ people. It's especially helpful for folks who may not have LGBTQ+ loved ones, but want to learn about how they can become an ally in the community or workplace. Learn more at straightforequality.org

As we honor Pride Month, let’s celebrate the progress we’ve made, recognize the invaluable contributions of the LGBTQ+ community, and pledge to continue our efforts in creating a more just and inclusive society for all. Together, we can build a future where everyone can be their authentic selves, and equity in all aspects of life, including healthcare, is a reality. https://lnkd.in/eRwGpsxg https://lnkd.in/ejZsPCJ8

You can tell it’s June with the sea of business logos that update from their standard branding to rainbow-colored logos for 30 days out of the year. This is the best example of passive allyship for the LGBT+ network. And in 2024—it’s definitely not enough. Don’t TELL me your business advocates for the LGBT+ community. SHOW me your work policies that speak to inclusivity. SHOW me how to celebrate diversity outside of the month of June. SHOW me how you financially support LGBT+ organizations. SHOW me your queer leaders who feel seen and supported by your company. Bottom Line: Active Allyship > Rainbow Logos Happy pride to all the peeps in my network. You are seen and valued!

For many years and from many companies, come June I typically receive an email from my LGBT ERG encouraging me to use a rainbow Pride-themed signature, with specific instructions to remove it in July. While it's heartening to see so many companies celebrating Pride Month, it's crucial to call out the performative allyship that fades as soon as July rolls around. Rainbow-washing—using the LGBTQ+ community's symbols for marketing purposes without supporting us year-round—does not advance our cause. True allyship means advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and equality consistently, not just when it's convenient or profitable. It's long past time for corporations to do better. Support us in policy, in practice, and in the workplace every single day. If your commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion vanishes after June, then your rainbow logo is nothing more than a hollow gesture.Let's push for genuine, sustained support. We deserve more than a month of attention—we deserve real, enduring change.