Pride Month 2023 —#PrideAllYear
June is Pride Month, honoring the LGBTQ+ community and struggle for equality 🌈
As June and Pride celebrations come to a close, make sure you’re supporting your LGBTQ+ employees all year round. #PrideAllYear
The history and context
Take a look back at the historical context of why Pride month started and is still so critical, given the current attacks on LGBTQ+ rights.
- Look back at the origins of Pride globally and the integral role that Black and brown activists played.
- Over 650 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in the US this year, threatening gender-affirming care and the safety and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ students.
(If you’re not sure on language and terminology, take a look at HRC’s glossary of terms of terms to get you up to speed).
LGBT+ inclusion at work — the data
Check out Deloitte‘s LGBT+ Inclusion @ Work: A Global Outlook survey aims to better understand the experiences of LGBT+ employees in the workplace.
Here are their latest stats on LGBT+ inclusion around the globe:
- Employers are not doing enough for LGBT+ inclusion, with only 35% of respondents feeling like their employers demonstrate internal and external commitment to LGBT+ inclusion.
- Additionally, 1/3 of respondents are looking to move to more inclusive employers.
- 42% of LGBT+ employees experience non-inclusive behavior at work. The most common issues are unwanted comments or jokes.
- Only ~45% of LGBT+ employees are fully out at work due to fears of being treated differently, concern about career opportunities and worries about personal safety.
Building more inclusive environments
What can organizations and allies do to support LGBT+ colleagues and ensure an inclusive environment where they feel safe being out?
- Allyship and role models help LGBT+ employees feel safe being out at work
- Comfort being out at work also increases with seniority.
- Comfort being out at work actually decreases with direct managers.
Providing internal and external LGBTQ+ support
Other ways that you can provide meaningful support internally and externally at your organization:
- Familiarize yourself with “rainbow-washing,” when corporations use Pride marketing but don’t actually support LGBTQ+ employees or rights.
- Make sure your org is supporting employees year round. Glassdoor suggests affirming LGBTQ+ identities internally and externally and reviewing benefits and policies.
- For employees and ERGs, Out and Equal has ideas to celebrate virtually or in-person.
