June is celebrated as PRIDE Month where we raise awareness of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) communities. Pride is celebrated in June to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Uprising where protests for the LGBTQ+ community took place over several days in New York City. A year after the uprising, Pride marches started taking place all over the US to honor these communities and push for LGBTQ+ rights.
Pride Month is a time to spread awareness, learn more and take part in the celebrations to continue to fight for these communities that need support. According to a recent Gallup Survey, each younger generation is about twice as likely as the generation that preceded it to identify as LGBTQ+. More than one in five Gen Z adults identify as LGBTQ+, as do nearly one in 10 Millennials. The percentage drops to less than 5% of Generation X, 2% of Baby Boomers, and 1% of the Silent Generation. Workplaces must evolve to support their employees to keep them engaged. Getting together with your coworkers is an excellent way to show support and participate in Pride Month.
6 Ideas to Celebrate Pride Month in the Office
The workplace should be a safe zone for everyone. All employees should feel like they are part of a community, and that starts with feeling supported. Here are six ways to celebrate Pride at the office.
1. Have a fundraiser for an LGBTQ+ charity or nonprofit
Setting up a fundraiser at the office is a great idea to show support and raise awareness. You could initiate a bake sale, auction or other events where you can ask for donations for the cause.
2. Encourage a company-wide Pride book club
A great way to show your support and show that you are open to learning is to have a company-wide book club. Here, members of the LGBTQ+ community can share books that are important to them. These books encourage conversation and are a great way to bring teams together and have open discussions with one another.
3. Team outing to attend or volunteer at a Pride event
There’s nothing better than getting your coworkers together to volunteer for an important cause. Showing support by volunteering is a great way to bring people together and raise awareness. Additionally, you could encourage coworkers to attend a Pride parade where everyone can dress up in theme and join in on the fun!
4. Host a training session for learning
It’s important to evaluate company policies and training to make sure that they are up to date to best support everyone within the organization. Hosting an updated training session will show what the latest policies are and what standards people will need to follow moving forward. Being inclusive means prioritizing everyone’s needs and ensuring that the workplace is a safe place. Leading by example is the best way to ensure that policies are followed and that these are values that are to be taken seriously.
5. Celebrate with themes for virtual and in-person meetings
As team meetings commence for the month, it could be a fun idea to update your video chat backgrounds with a Pride Month theme! If you are in the office, you could decorate your area during meetings and make it an important moment for people to share stories and positive messages to kickstart the month.
6. Establish and educate yourself as an ally
Regardless of how you identify, one of the most important things you can do is to establish yourself as an ally and to make sure those around you feel included and understood. Furthermore, you can establish a program at your company to create a safe zone for LGBTQ+ employees, such as an employee resource group (ERG). You could host an allyship panel to discuss important stories and hear from employees. Making people feel included and seen is an important way to show support.
