Kyanite Consulting

Tomorrow is #NationalPolyamoryDay. Let's talk about why this day and polyamory is important! ? On November 23, 2011 British Columbia's Supreme Court ruled that Canada's anti-polygamy law does not apply to unformalized polyamorous households - clarifying that polyamory, as it is practiced in Canada, is legal. ? You might be wondering, "But what is polyamory?" Great question! Polyamory is a form of Ethical Non-Monogamy (ENM), where each person is consenting and capable of having more than one relationship partner. This is not the same as polygamy which is multiple marriages. Leanne Yau has a wonderful blog defining polyamory on her website Polyphilia. ? Many myths around monogamy/polyamory are heteronormative, colonist and Westernized. Indigenous peoples have a long history of polyamorous cultures across the globe. Polyamory promotes the validity of: ? ? Asexual/aromantic/platonic relationships ? Bi/pansexual relationships ? Support networks for members of marginalized communities including disabled people, parents, LGBT+ people and people of color ? Improved communication and relationship skills ? Companies interested in supporting poly employees can implement practices that support poly families by having: ? ? Solid non-discrimination policies that include consensually non-monogamous employees ? Training on consensual non-monogamy for executives and staff ? Non-monogamous representation in advisory committees and ERGs ? Benefits that are supportive of non-monogamous employees ? Data about and encourage non-monogamous employees to self-identify ? An inclusive culture for all ? When I first came out I came out it wasn't just as bi but also as polyamorous. I've always been polyamorous. Now you might be thinking "But does that mean you hate monogamous people?" Not at all! If monogamy is your thing I absolutely feel your orientation is valid. Like with many things though, our culture especially here in the US is mononormative. The goal of DEI is to help people understand and learn more about peoples' different experiences or where they come from and get them to meet in the middle to increase understanding and acceptance. I'm not asking anyone to become polyamorous. I'm asking you to learn and accept that is what I and other people are, and we deserve respect just like anyone else. If you are interested in learning more about polyamory and how you can help support your poly employees, please contact me about a speaking engagement or consult! ? https://lnkd.in/gujkQRWG ? Happy Learning!

Happy LoyKrathong!

Today marks #TransgenderDayofRemembrance (TDOR). It is a day to honor the memories of the lives of transgender people lost through acts of anti-trans violence. It's a day of mourning for many, but also a day for allies to learn about our beautiful and vibrant community. It was started in 1999 to honor the life of Rita Hester, a trans woman killed in Massachusetts. It's also a time to celebrate trans joy, like the election of Sarah McBride, the first openly trans person to Congress! It's also a time to remember there are still many anti-trans laws either being openly worked on or that have passed in state governments across the US. ? ? To date, at least 350 transgender and gender diverse people have been murdered this year according to the Trans Murder Monitoring Project, the majority of which are trans women and includes 13 activists. ? According to the Williams Institute, trans people are over four times more likely to experience violence including SA, or general assault and higher rates of property assault than cisgender people while only half of all violent victimizations are reported to police. ? 77% of victims were people of color ? 53% were black trans women ? 60% were killed with guns ? 39% of victims with a known killer were killed by a romantic or sexual partner, friend or family member ? 40% of victims were misgendered or deadnamed by authorities or the press ? Below is a great article discussing the stakes we are facing in the US with the Republican party in power. It's important to remember that your trans employees right now are absolutely terrified. Terrified they will be the next victim of violence, that they will lose the ability to obtain gender affirming care and medications or hormones, that they will be forced to live their dead lives again, that that they won't have any places where they can be safe much less live their lives authentically. ? It is more important now than ever for companies to have solid gender affirming care benefits in place, including options to relocate if the employee doesn't feel safe. More importantly, is companies need to have anti-harassment policies in place that include gender identity and presentation wording along with zero tolerance for such behaviors. Leaders should be having conversations with their LGBT+ ERGs (Heck! Have conversations with all of your ERGs because all of your marginalized groups will be impacted!) about how they are feeling and what do they need to feel supported in your organization and then ACT ON THOSE CONVERSATIONS! Don't just pay lip service to them. Do the work! If you need help figuring that out, I am here for you. Build an organization where your employees know they are safe, especially when they don't feel that way anywhere else. ? #TDOR ? https://lnkd.in/gChpEK55 ?

Happy #InternationalMensDay! Today I celebrate the wonderful and amazing men in my life. Men who I have learned from, been supported by, who have cheered me on, who have given me their time and friendship. I am incredibly grateful for the men in my life. ? Today is a day to celebrate masculinity in its myriad and wonderous forms. I heard yesterday a really great quote from a gentleman named Fatmanlittletrail on Instagram. He said, "Masculinity is born of compassion and consent. Misogyny is born of control." I found this statement to be incredibly insightful!? ? But what about men who don't understand this? Or who try to exert that control because they are afraid or insecure??How are we supporting men? Are we communicating their value to them in a way that establishes compassion and consent for them? So often we hear about men who neglect their health. How do we encourage them and let them know we care about them, and part of that care means their mental as well as physical health? What are we doing and saying to help our men understand we don't want them to feel threatened by the changes going on in our society? We want them at the table because their voices are just as valuable and important? How are we helping our men explore and unpack their trauma and work through their feelings? ? I encourage you to take a moment today to share your joy at having the men in your life. It might surprise you how it will make them feel loved and valued. I think we need more of that in our lives. ? To the men in my life, how can I help support you today? Whether it's listening and letting you vent, giving you a hug, or just telling you that you're amazing. Know that you are valued and appreciated. ? Thank you for being part of my life!

Are you interested in learning more about the transgender community and it's diversity? I am open for speaking engagements talking about the history, beauty, struggles and joys of this vibrant community. PM me if you are interested in learning more!

Today begins Transgender Awareness Week. This week is about raising awareness of the transgender community and leads up to Transgender Day of Remembrance. It's an opportunity for trans people to share stories and experiences, and advancing advocacy. This is even more important after this most recent election in the US. ? For those not US based or not familiar with Project 2025, there are three main policies they want to enact that can negatively impact the transgender community. ? "Pornography, manifested today in the omnipresent propagation of transgender ideology." This means any trans person's story would be labeled as pornography. (Page 5) "Pornography should be outlawed. The people who produce it and distribute it should be imprisoned." Meaning any trans person who talks about their experiences could be jailed. (Page 5) "Rescind regulations prohibiting discrimination on the basis of … gender identity, transgender status, and sex characteristics." This would give people the legal right to discriminate based on gender identity or transgender status. Page 584. ? There are also recommendations about withdrawing gender affirming care, medications, puberty blockers, cutting federal funding to any medical facility that offers any kind of transgender healthcare. This doesn't even take into account putting in regulations about not being able to change names or gender markers on official documents. Not only will this negatively impact the mental health of transgender individuals, because they are no longer able to produce safe levels of the hormones of their assigned gender at birth it could negatively impact their physical health. ? I'm not even going into what Project 2025 wants to do to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs as a whole. That's why it's so incredibly important for companies to have solid DEI programs, benefits that explicitly cover transgender health, relocation for transgender employees whose safety is at risk, and anti-harassment policies in place that cover gender identity, transgender status, and sexual orientation. ? How an organization protects its most vulnerable employees speaks to how all employees are cared for. What steps is your organization doing to protect your transgender employees? How will your company support this community for the next 4+ years? ? This week is important to remember that transgender people exist. We aren't going away. How can Kyanite Consulting help you learn about this vibrant community and work to keep your employees safe? ? Happy Learning! #TransgenderAwarenessWeek #DEI

Happy Veteran's Day to all my Veteran colleagues! I appreciate your service and sacrifices to keep our country safe and free. Here are some interesting facts about our Veterans and why it's important to support them: ? ? 60% of veterans are under the age of 34 ? 30% of vets have disabilities as a result of their service ? 13-20% are diagnosed with PTSD ? 22% are diagnosed with a Depressive Disorder ? 1/3 of veterans that need mental health care actually sought treatment ? Over48,000 vets are homeless or at risk ? 22 veterans commit suicide daily, with 1 occurring roughly every 80 minutes. That number is higher for Special Forces. ? 84% of veterans say that the American public has "little awareness" of the challenges facing them and their families. ? From the website: https://lnkd.in/gfEJQ-MK ? This is why Veteran ERGs are so important and valuable in our companies! They provide vets a place of belonging, where they can be supported, valued and recognized for their service. Veterans are highly trained and skilled individuals who can provide organizations a vast wealth of knowledge. Do not discredit a Veteran just because they are disabled or struggle with mental illness! When you support these men and women you show them they are valued and important. You also learn more about intersectionality and how it impacts all of us! ? Let Kyanite Consulting help you learn more about starting your DEI journey and building a supportive environment for your Vets today! ? Happy Learning! #VeteransDay #DEI

It's Friday, so let's talk about migraines because I'm recovering from one right now? So what is a migraine? According to Mayo Clinic: ? "A migraine is a headache that can cause severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on one side of the head. It's often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine attacks can last for hours to days, and the pain can be so bad that it interferes with your daily activities." ? According to the American Migraine Foundation more than 1 billion people live with migraines worldwide, yet it is one of the most overlooked diseases on the planet. Here's some fun facts: ? For more than 90% affected, migraines interfere with education, career and social activities 1 in 4 households in America has a member with migraines Migraines are the 3rd most common disease in the world Migraines are 3x more common in women than men Migraines annually cost more than $20 million in the US due to direct medical expenses and lost productivity ? For me, it's extreme pain in my head and ear. I become very light sensitive. I can develop extreme tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Sometimes it comes with sound, touch and smell/taste sensitivity, nausea, and sometimes will affect my speech/communication processing. I luckily have found a medication that helps relieve my pain, but will often will leave me groggy, exhausted and feeling hungover, and sometimes it doesn't work at all. If I'm lucky and catch it early I'm down for an hour, then I'm fine. If I'm not so lucky, I'm down for a day, possibly more. ? I've had managers/co-workers not believe it was a problem until they saw me and understood I couldn't process what they were saying, or was having so much trouble speaking they couldn't understand me. I've shown up on calls wearing sunglasses just to be able to look at my computer. ? This is why I am a proponent of unlimited sick leave policies. Now I want to clarify, not unlimited vacation/time-off policies, but specifically sick leave policies. I completely understand there are a lot of pros and cons to these, but I've always been of the opinion that the pros outweigh the cons. They promote an environment of workplace safety, they save employers money, and most importantly they create an environment of trust for your disabled employees. Your disabled employees CONSTANTLY worry about taking time off for their disabilities. Yes, really. All of them. Every day I worried about taking off for a migraine if one hit. It wasn't until I worked for an organization that had this type of policy in place that I actually felt safe enough to not have to worry about it. It wasn't until I worked for managers who expressly told me, "if you have a migraine, if one of your other illnesses were flaring, take the time you need to get better." ? If you need help creating safe environments for your employees, I'm here to help. ? Happy Learning! ? #DEI #Disability #Migraine #Learning ? ?

Happy #AceAwarenessWeek! Asexual Awareness Week (aka Ace Week) is to help educate the greater community about the asexual orientation. Like Homo or heterosexuality, asexuality is a sexual orientation and exists on a spectrum. A person can be completely asexual (meaning they have no interest in sexual relationships at all), to greysexuality (meaning they have occasional or rare interest in sex), to demisexual (meaning they need to form a connection with a person before they can have any kind of sexual interest). ? Asexuals can be romantically attracted to a person or not (aromantic). And if they do experience sexual or romantic attraction to a person it can be hetero or homosexual. It's important to point out that asexuality is not celibacy, is not a mental disorder, or a hormonal problem. Asexuals aren't prude, cold or frigid. They are absolutely capable of having and being in loving relationships. Currently, estimates are approximately 1% of the population are asexual. ? Ace Week's goals are to celebrate the asexual identity, correct misconceptions, raise awareness, and spark discussion about identities and sexual orientations. It's important to keep in mind your Ace employees, especially when it comes to discussions around relationships, children, benefits, and social stigma around asexuality.? ? If your company needs assistance learning more about asexuality or aromanticism, please feel free to contact me about a public speaking event or consultation! ? Happy Learning!

Happy #InternationalPronounsDay! So you might wonder… why are you celebrating pronouns? Isn't that a bit silly? Not in the slightest! Pronouns are an important part of respecting and affirming a person's gender identity. Whether a person is trans or non-binary, pronouns help a person to define themselves both internally and in the world around them. Using a person's pronouns helps them better interact with their world and helps improve their mental health. Some important facts to remember on this day: ? ? It's always important to ask a person what their pronouns are because it may not be what you think or assume them to be. ? They/them/theirs can be used as a singular. ? Everyone makes mistakes when it comes to pronouns (even me!) If someone corrects you, thank them for the correction and move on. You do not need to apologize. ? Don't make a big deal about it if you make a mistake. People can use pronouns differently. For example, if I'm presenting in a masculine way I prefer he/him pronouns. if I'm presenting feminine, I prefer she/her. If you aren't sure or aren't comfortable using either of the others, they/them is always a safe choice. ? What's important to remember is you are seeing a person for who they are and meeting them where they are at in their gender identity journey. Using the correct pronouns can have a huge impact on affirming LGBT+ people. Remember, pronouns aren't about a person's sexual preferences, but about how they identify in their own skin. ? Happy Learning! ? #Pronouns #DEI #Learning ?