The start of summer is the perfect time to celebrate self-identity, inclusivity, and equality. June is (usually) when Pride Month parades sweep across cities all over the world in all their rainbow-coloured glory.
Pride is a celebration of people of all ages, backgrounds and races, coming together in love and unity to show how far LGBTQ+ rights are progressing and how much work has to be done in some places.
Here is Pacific Prime UK’s guide to celebrating Pride Month in 2023.
What is Pride Month?
The police raided the Stonewall Inn in New York City, a safe haven for the gay community, on June 28, 1969. Patrons fought back and the police responded in violence. Known as the first Pride march, the following riots evolved into the Pride Month you know today.
Pride Month reflects on the decades-long civil rights battle and the ongoing search for equal legal rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities.
Why Should You Celebrate Pride at Work?
It’s always a good time to celebrate diversity at your workplace. Pride Month pays tribute to your LGBTQ+ staff and all the work they’ve done for your company. Aside from making them feel appreciated, you also help create a sense of belonging at work.
This leads to motivated, happier employees, and higher talent retention. LGBTQ+ people are known to experience mental health issues at higher rates, making solidarity at the workplace all the more important. Here are several tips on what to do when your employee discloses a mental health issue.
It’s important to have diversity within your company. Consumers nowadays are more morally conscious, and hold businesses accountable for their stance on many social issues. What’s more, LGBTQ+ people are likely to make up a sizable portion of your client base. Hence, a diverse company that celebrates Pride Month can make everybody feel welcome.
1. Decorate Your Workplace With Rainbow Flags
Send your LGBTQ+ employees a clear message of support by publicly celebrating Pride Month. Decorating your office in rainbow colours is an easy way to achieve this. It shows that all staff are celebrated in your office and that you will not stand for discrimination. By doing so, you’ll also show that your company is a safe place for employees to be open about their identity.
2. Organize Inclusivity Training to Celebrate Pride Month at Work
Cultivate a welcoming environment at your company by hosting an inclusion workshop to celebrate Pride Month at work. Educate your team on the importance of using the correct terminology to prevent misgendering and saying hurtful phrases. Many employees are well-meaning but lack familiarity when it comes to using the correct terms.
Unfortunately, sometimes, LGBTQ+ workers have to set boundaries to protect their mental health. With guidance from LGBTQ+ advocates and experts, your workers will pick up the nuances in no time. It goes without saying that they will also carry this knowledge outside of work.
3. Embrace Preferred Pronouns and Gender Neutrality
On a related note, respect all employees’ preferred pronouns and the gender(s) they identify (or don’t identify) with. Naturally, this extends to the names your LGBTQ+ employees prefer to be known by.
Asking for someone’s preferred pronouns during your first meeting with them is another important way to include LGBTQ+ people. Take the lead by including your own preferred pronouns in your email signature.
4. Host an LGBTQ+ Speaker
It’s a great opportunity to invite a guest speaker who is part of the LGBT community to your company to share their inspirational stories.
This is someone who understands and relates to many of the struggles and experiences your LGBTQ+ workers face. In addition, it will open the eyes of their straight colleagues and promote understanding and morale.
5. Raise Money for LGBTQIA+ Charities
Actions speak louder than words. They create genuine, positive impacts both at your workplace and in the gay community. Donate to LGBTQIA+ charities, such as Stonewall or Switchboard. Or, you could look for local NGOs to help or choose a bigger organization that works throughout the country or the world. You can also plan company-wide fundraisers like bake sales and raffle ticket sales. Alternatively, volunteer at these non-profit organizations as a team.
6. Movie Night
Organize movie nights that highlight LGBTQ+ films or documentaries, creating a platform to celebrate a wide range of stories, experiences, and perspectives within the LGBTQ+ community.
This activity offers a valuable opportunity to promote inclusivity and diversity. When selecting films, aim for a diverse selection that delves into various aspects of LGBTQ+ life, including themes like coming out, relationships, activism, or significant historical events.
By showcasing these films, you can foster greater understanding, empathy, and appreciation for the LGBTQ+ community among both local and expatriate audiences.
7. Contest
Introducing contests with a Pride Month theme can bring friendly competition to the workplace. These contests provide an opportunity for employees to engage in lighthearted activities that celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month.
By incorporating the theme of Pride, such contests promote a positive and inclusive work environment. They encourage team participation, boost employee morale, and demonstrate the organization’s commitment to diversity and acceptance.
Whether it’s costume competitions, trivia quizzes, or creative challenges, these Pride-themed contests can boost friendship and create memorable experiences for every employee.
8. Evaluate Your Discrimination & Diversity Policies – And Don’t Forget to Celebrate
A successful workplace is made up of people from different walks of life. It isimportant to include people of various races, genders, and sexualities for the perspectives and talent they bring to your company. It’s important to evaluate your discrimination and diversity policies regularly to make sure your workers feel welcomed and included.
A Pride party is an fantastic chance to improve teamwork and celebrate Pride Month with everyone in the company. To make the party run smoothly, assign different teams with their respective duties. One team can be in charge of food and beverage, another in charge of decorating the office, and another can get in contact with a guest speaker.
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