Friday, June 22, 2018
It’s Pride Month, and behind the tide of rainbow flags and lively festivities are businesses scrambling to find out how they can fit into the conversation. For some organizations, simply raising a rainbow flag in solidarity is enough to communicate your support for LGBTQ employees and consumers. However, as social good continues to ingrain itself as a key component of company culture, many brands are looking for ways to support the LGBTQ community even further.
With sponsorships for parties and parades growing year over year, many voices have expressed concern that
Pride is becoming too consumerist and less about the successes and struggles of the LGBTQ community. Nevertheless, getting involved in Pride is a wonderful way for an organization to show support for the LGBTQ community – as long as it is done so respectfully.
Here are some ways to get involved with Pride while still being mindful of the importance of the event:
Understand the Fight is Not Over
While in many ways Pride is a celebration of the LGBTQ community, we cannot forget that its roots are founded in protest – and the fight isn’t over. Though gay marriage was legalized by the Supreme Court in 2015,
LGBTQ Americans still face discrimination in housing, employment and services in 31 states.
This ongoing fight for equality means that joining in Pride should be more than just a way to celebrate the LGBTQ community; it is a show of support for a group of people who still fear and face discrimination every day.
Going Beyond a Logo
In major cities across the US, Pride parades can be major undertakings costing millions of dollars; colorful feats impossible to achieve without the help of corporate sponsors. However, when it comes to supporting the LGBTQ community, it important to
go beyond stamping a logo on a float and calling it a day.
Being a strong ally to the LGBTQ community means not shying away from tough issues. Using organizational platforms to
take a firm stance on discrimination and inequality, can be a meaningful way to support LGBTQ individuals, and engaging LGBTQ employees in these efforts can also be a huge help.
Show Your Pride All Year Around
Getting involved in Pride can be great fun, but continuing to show support for the LGBTQ community after the parades are over is just as important. Pride is more than one vibrant month of the year, and being an ally means supporting the community every day of the year. What does that look like?
- Support visibility for LGBTQ employees in the workplace.
- Train staff in diversity and how to address bias.
- Hire leadership that reflects your commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Engage employees in volunteering and charitable giving with local organizations that support the LGBTQ community.
As NYC Pride quickly approaches, engagement between businesses and the LGBTQ community will be stronger than ever; so let’s walk hand-in-hand towards a more equal and inclusive future.
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Taking Pride in Corporate Involvement appeared first on
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