Pride Events at HSL

Hardsuit Labs has a very diverse workforce. Following our commitment statement, ‘All People, All Games,’ we continuously strive to ensure all team members can feel safe, no matter which political notion, disability, family orientation, nationality, and so forth.

While we strive to uplift minorities, ignoring other needs doesn’t mean we ignore them. Earlier this month, we spoke about the serious topic of Men’s Health, an all-too-often overlooked issue, even though it falls into the needs of half the global population.

We also gave some basic general information about Juneteenth, as we feel the needs of one minority should never lead to ignoring another.

The big one in June, however, is always Pride Month.

June is approached differently by different companies. Many will use June exclusively to point out how much they care about the LGBTQIA+ communities. Others will organize rallies and events or sponsor events in their local towns. Being on the smaller side, HSL focuses our energy on our team.

We have created a studio where team members can do their work without fear. A large part of why we need to uplift minorities is to create safe spaces. While the term has sadly become weaponized, a safe space should be just that. No fear for your well-being, be it mental or physical. No shadow hanging over oneself while we go about our work. We want to ensure everyone can love and live however they choose without fearing for their livelihood. And as a part of that, we celebrate Pride in many small ways.

We have many Pilots that fall into the greater LGBTQ+ sphere. For some, it might be a personality-defining trait, while others are quiet about their stance and feelings. In being supportive, not one team member is held up to the group as the group’s token. To be respectful of that, we never call out any HSL employee specifically, and we’re being vague in this piece for the same reason.

However, celebrations for those who wish to celebrate and invitations to discussions and thought pieces are still happening at HSL.

Those who see our Waffle Wednesday posts will have seen the (mostly failed) attempts at turning our plain waffles into colorful ones in June. A team member brought small pride flags left over from a party they helped set up. Another brought in rainbow-colored cookies made with his wife.

Our HR team asked interested Pilots to pick a movie together and hosted an evening with popcorn, candy, and discussions. We also re-ordered HSL Pride stickers and offered team members to receive a sticker alongside a pronoun-identifying button, which several of the team gladly accepted.

Efforts also spring from within. Team members are sharing the ongoing June events for Pride in their local neighborhoods and the greater Seattle area. There are gatherings of team members who organize their events, too. Be it private parties or headed to Capitol Hill for the Pride Parade on Broadway, the team gathers to celebrate and support one another, even without it being led by the HR team! It is a shared endeavor.

For us at HSL, Pride isn’t something we need to announce broadly to the world. Our Pilots matter, and they will always be our focus.