Accelerating Acceptance

Every year in June, businesses celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month, showcasing the contributions of LGBTQ+ employees, raising awareness of issues in the community, and providing resources on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I). By celebrating the occasion, you can recognize your LGBTQ+ employees and encourage them to continue their education and allyship.

This Pride Month, examine your business for inclusive and equitable policies, practices, products, services, and communications. Here is a checklist for your analysis:

• Do you follow laws that protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination?
• Does your organization have policies prohibiting discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals?
• Are you using inclusive language in your internal and external communications?
• What role does intersectionality play in your commitment to LGBTQ+ issues?
• Are employees able to self-identify as LGBTQ+, select non-binary pronouns and salutations, and list preferred names on your HR or employee-facing software?

During LGBTQ+ Pride Month, it is important to acknowledge, respect, and celebrate LGBTQ+ people, but it is also important to ensure policies, practices, products, and services include and accommodate intersectional realities. It's a great time to discuss these feelings with experts and seek guidance if analyzing your business this way seems unfamiliar, overwhelming, or uncomfortable.

"During LGBTQ+ Pride Month, it is important to acknowledge, respect, and celebrate LGBTQ+ people, but it is also important to ensure policies, practices, products, and services include and accommodate intersectional realities."

Going forward, we should celebrate data-driven initiatives that are inclusive of LGBTQ+ people throughout the year. By using this analysis, people leaders can ensure that LGBTQ+ employees are accepted, and can ultimately improve diversity & inclusion, hiring, retention, perks, and benefits for all.

?#pridemonth #lgbtqia #inclusion

Kal Gajraj is a Miami/Fort Lauderdale-based communications and brand strategist with two decades of marketing and public relations experience, including B2C and B2B focuses. He is a certified diversity professional and human rights consultant with the US Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights. Kal is also an adjunct professor at Miami Dade College's School of Global Business.