Gear up! It’s Pride Month.

As June starts, people all over the world take to the rainbow on be it their websites, storefronts, or logos. However, as Pride month starts it is important that companies show the LGBTQIA+ community authentic support and celebrate without doing the bare minimum. 

Pride Month is a time to remember the progress that has been made by the LGBTQIA+ community and to show support for those who still face discrimination in countries across the world. For companies, Pride Month is an opportunity to publicly show their support for their LGBTQIA+ employees and customers. 

History of Pride Month

June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community and reflect on the progress that has been made toward equality. While Pride Month is now recognized by many corporations and governments, it actually has a long and complex history. Pride Month originated with the Stonewall riots of 1969 when police raided a gay bar in New York City and sparked a series of protests by the LGBTQIA+ community.

In the following years, Pride parades were held in major cities across the United States to commemorate the riots and demand equal rights. In 2000, President Bill Clinton declared June Gay & Lesbian Pride Month.

Since then, Pride Month has become an annual tradition all over the world, with people of all sexual orientations and gender identities coming together to celebrate diversity.

Back to Basics

Before we share some ideas for celebrating pride month at the workplace, let’s take a look at the basics of LGBTQIA+. LGBTQIA+ is an acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual. 

If we take a look at the stats, the LGBTQIA+ community hasn’t really got the support and isn’t celebrated as much as they deserve in the workplace. 

In fact, HRC revealed that:

  • 53% of LGBTQIA++ workers report hearing jokes about lesbian or gay people at least once in a while. 
  • 1-in-5 LGBTQIA++ workers report having been told or had coworkers imply that they should dress in a more feminine or masculine manner. 
  • 31%of LGBTQ+ workers say they have felt unhappy or depressed at work.

BCG reports that:

  • 40% of LGBTQIA+ employees are not out at work, and 26% of these individuals wish they could be out.
  • 75% reported experiencing at least one negative interaction related to their LGBTQIA+ identity at work in the past year, with 41% experiencing more than ten types of such interactions.

11 Ways to Make Pride Month A Great Hit at the Workplace 

To promote inclusivity and embrace the LGBTQIA+ community in your workplace here are 10 ideas to celebrate pride month:

Beware of Corporate Rainbow Washing

Some businesses love to show their support for the community by plastering rainbows everywhere, but sometimes it feels like they’re just trying to profit off of Pride. This is called rainbow washing and pinkwashing, and it’s when companies use LGBTQIA+ symbols or messaging to make themselves look good without actually doing anything to support the community. 

If you want to authentically celebrate pride month, it’s important to be aware of this so that we can support businesses that are truly Pride-friendly. Make sure your Pride activities are centered on the impact they might have on the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Update Your Company’s Social Media

As June rolls around, it’s time to break out the rainbow flags and celebrate Pride Month! One way to show your support is by updating your company’s social media pictures with Pride frames or filters. This small gesture can go a long way in making your LGBTQIA+ employees and customers feel seen and appreciated. 

Plus, it’s a great way to show that your business is an inclusive and welcoming space for all. Althp8gh this is the bare minimum, don’t just limit yourself to this. Go beyond that and street clear of pinkwashing.

So don’t be shy – show your Pride and update those social media profile pictures today! 

Update Your Company Pronouns

This pride month, take a stand for the LGBTQIA+ community by updating your pronouns and adding them to your email signature. It’s a small but powerful way to show your support, and it sends a clear message that you’re an ally. Whichever you choose, remember that your pronouns are just one part of your identity!

Plan Ahead

As the LGBTQIA+ community gears up to celebrate Pride Month, it’s important to remember that good planning and preparation are key to any successful celebration. While Pride Month may seem like it can be cobbled together at the last minute, the reality is that much of the work that goes into making Pride Month special happens behind the scenes. 

By planning ahead and taking the time to ensure that all the details are taken care of, the business can ensure that Pride Month is a time to remember for all the right reasons. So, as you start making your plans for Pride Month, remember: the more you put in, the more you’ll get out!

Celebrate with Great Swag

June is Pride Month, and what better way to celebrate than by splurging on some rainbow gear? Flags, banners, and pins are all great options, and you can never have too many. But don’t stop at the rainbow — there are different flags to represent bisexuality, demisexuality, and asexuality, as well as a transgender flag, intersex flag, and more. 

So wave your flag proudly and show your support for the LGBTQIA+ community. And if you’re feeling really festive, you can always go beyond the rainbow and get a flag for every color of the spectrum. 

Educational Activities and Experiences

Workplaces across the country are scurrying to come up with ways to celebrate. Here’s another idea. If you’re looking for a way to get your team involved, why not try something educational? After all, there’s nothing like learning about the struggles and triumphs of the LGBTQIA+ community to foster a sense of inclusion. 

And what better way to learn than from diverse perspectives? Invite a speaker from the community to come and share their experiences. Or host a screening of a film that tells a powerful LGBTQIA+ story. 

You could even put together a panel discussion featuring employees from across the company who identify as LGBTQIA+. Whatever you do, make sure you celebrate Pride Month in a way that everyone can learn and grow from.

Drag Queen Bingo

Looking for a fun and unique way to celebrate Pride Month at work? Look no further than Drag Queen Bingo! Led by a rockstar drag queen, this virtual event is sure to get your group laughing and singing along. In between rounds of bingo, the queen will perform stellar lip-sync numbers and share hilarious stories. 

You might even shed a few tears of laughter! Best of all, everyone is guaranteed to have a good time! Simply hop onto a video call where your team will participate in a live game of bingo and enjoy a fierce performance from their exquisite drag queen all at the same time.

Celebrate and Offer Light Party Activities 

For many people, Pride is a time to let their hair down and have a good time. And there’s nothing wrong with that! But it’s important to remember that Pride didn’t start as a party. It started as a protest. 

The LGBTQIA+ community has gone through trauma, discrimination, and marginalization. And all that protesting should be followed by some fun and enjoyment.

Even as we dance the night away, we carry on the proud tradition of protesting for the rights of all LGBTQIA+ people. And that makes Pride even more magical.

Allow Time Off

Pride Month is a time to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community and show support for equal rights. For many organizations, this means flying a rainbow flag, attending Pride parades, and offering employee training on LGBTQIA+ inclusion. But for truly ally companies, Pride Month is about much more than putting on a public display of support. It’s also about creating an inclusive environment in the workplace 365 days a year. 

This means offering benefits that are inclusive of all family structures, using gender-neutral language in job postings and policies, and providing employees with paid time off to attend Pride events. By taking these steps, companies can send a strong message that they’re committed to being allies not just during Pride Month, but all year round.

Support Local LGBTQIA+ Businesses

Celebrating Pride Month is a great way for companies to show their support for the LGBTQIA+ community. Not only does it send a strong message of inclusion, but it also provides an opportunity to invest time and money into supporting local organizations, communities, and businesses. 

For example, companies can choose to donate to charities that provide services to LGBTQIA+ youth or that promote social justice. Others can opt to sponsor events such as Pride parades or marches. And some can choose to invest in queer-owned small businesses, helping to boost the local economy and create jobs.

Whatever route your company chooses, celebrating Pride is a great way to show your employees, customers, and the world that you are an inclusive and supportive business.

Activities for All

Pride month is a time to reflect on the progress made by the LGBTQIA+ community and to celebrate the diversity of gender identities and sexual orientations. For businesses, it’s also an opportunity to build inclusion and foster respect for all employees. One way to do this is by hosting events that are open to the entire company, not just LGBTQIA+ employees. 

This not only allows for collective learning and community building but also sends a strong message of support from leadership. Of course, there should still be plenty of opportunities for LGBTQIA+ employees to socialize and network with each other. But by opening up pride events to everyone, businesses can create a more inclusive environment for all.

Today, Pride is a time to celebrate how far we’ve come and to recommit ourselves to the fight for justice for all queer people. while Pride Month should be the time for LGBTQIA+ individuals, the goal is for allies to spread the message equally to make more people educated about their struggles.

So put on your most outrageous outfit, grab your rainbow flag, and join the party!