Pride Month with Level Up EQ
Written by Marly DiFruscio, Director of Operations at Level Up EQ
Hey Leaders!
This month we’re going a little bit informal for our blog posts to celebrate and inform for Pride Month. I’m Marly, the Director of Operations at Level Up EQ, as well as an open and proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community. I want to take a moment to talk a little bit about how to celebrate Pride month as an ally, what not to do, and share some resources to shed a little more light on the month as a whole.
Let’s start simple -- What is Pride Month?
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. It was initially celebrated as a single day in June (“Gay Pride Day”) but over time grew to encompass the month-long series of events that we are currently familiar with.
This is a time when people can come together to honor, support, celebrate, and (most importantly) love the LGBTQIA+ community. For allies, this celebration might look a little different for you. It is important to let those in the community lead discussions, especially about their identity, and for you to be accepting and amplify their voice. Show your support! Share out posts, news about Pride events, accomplishments from your friends in the community, etc. But most importantly be authentic.
How does this apply to us as leaders in organizations? Because trust me, it applies.
By now we all understand that organizations speaking up about social causes benefit them. The Edelman Earned Brand Study found that “51% [of consumers] will be more loyal buyers of a brand that speaks up, compared with those that remain silent.” They also found that “48% will advocate for and defend a brand that speaks up.” The fact that this advocacy can benefit organizations also means that it can be taken advantage of and/or done incorrectly.
The most important thing is that Pride month isn’t about your organization, not really. You can show support for the people within your organization who are comfortable with being highlighted, but at the end of the day this platform that you have been granted is for amplifying the voices of the community and for showing support and creating impact, rather than riding on the coattails of pride and “rainbow-washing”.
Being an ally and advocate is a year-round task! Level Up EQ is a staunch supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community and showcases that by educating our team constantly on several DEIB initiatives (including allyship), bringing in speakers/educators from the community to work with our coaches and leaders, sharing our DEI goals throughout the year, and making regular donations to targeted non-profits that support our interest groups (such as Knit the Rainbow and Black Girls Code).
So take the time to look at your organization this month. Are you educating your leaders? Are you highlighting and supporting the appropriate voices? Does your community have the proper resources to support and care for your leaders? Are your goals aligned with what you are sharing? As a leader, you have the opportunity to make changes and amplify the voices of those around you, and push your organization towards the appropriate change to a better ally to the LGBTQIA+ community!
Here are some additional resources that might interest you and your organization for Pride Month this year and every year!
Pride Month isn’t the only time to be an ally. There are several other dates during the year you might want to speak out about:
March: Bisexual Health Awareness Month
March 31: International Transgender Day of Visibility
April 26: Lesbian Visibility Day
May 17: International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia
May 24: Pansexual and Panromantic Visibility Day
July 14: International Non-Binary People’s Day
September 23: Celebrate Bisexuality Day
October: LGBTQA+ History Month
Do you have time to volunteer? Here are some nonprofits you can volunteer with!
LGBTQIA+ young people are at higher risk for suicide than the general population. Support from even just one adult can decrease the risk of suicide by 40%. Volunteer to be a crisis counselor today!
Looking for business support? An investor? Maybe just need to go shopping? Take the time to support LGBTQIA+ Owned Businesses!