Reuniting to Celebrate Pride!

At Ellucian, community is our strength, and we think of it as our superpower! This month, we are joining the global community in expressing our unwavering support for the LGBTQIA+ community.?Last weekend I had the honor of attending the Capital Pride Parade along with 21 Ellucian employees, family members and friends on our very own decked-out company float. This was Ellucian’s first time being a formal part of the parade and our participation organized by our Prism Employee Resource Group (ERG). In fact, it was a seed that one of our community members, Damone, planted when we were together at the last parade in 2019.

Pride is a time to promote LGBTQIA+ visibility, celebrate progress towards equality, while also critically assessing the work that still lies ahead. While it is a celebration, the history of Pride

is rooted in protest, with its origins stemming from the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan. And, while we have made progress as a society since then, injustice remains a reality for many in the LGBTQIA+ community. For instance, suicide is a leading cause of death for LGBTQIA+ people ages 10-24, and across their lifespan, LGBTQIA+ people attempt suicide at a disproportionate rate.

The monumental LGBTQIA+ activist Marsha P. Johnson once said, “No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us.” At Ellucian, each of us in our community is responsible for creating an open and inclusive culture – that includes broadening our understanding, showing our support, and ensuring that all our colleagues and extended community not just feel a sense of belonging, but see it in action.

This month, in addition to our participation in the Capital Pride Parade, Prism organized several events open to all employees including a pronoun discussion with guest speaker and gender equity leader Roxanne Meyer, a virtual pride-themed story hour for employees and their children, LGBTQIA+ themed Jeopardy, cookie decorating, and a book club discussion on the book “Detransition, Baby” by Torrey Peters. I believe that investing time and resources into developing experiences like this is critical to educating and engaging employees in ways that demonstrate our commitment and creates greater unity and belonging.

Being part of the pride parade with my team was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had in my life. Seeing the community line the streets with persons of all ages dancing with pure joy just took my breath away. I hope more of us attend and participate in a Pride event this month and show your community that you stand in solidarity with this beautiful and diverse community. And if you're looking for ways to help build more inclusive teams and institutions,?I’d recommend looking at Out & Equal Workplace Advocates for an extensive catalogue of resources, toolkits, and guides for promoting an LGBTQIA+ inclusive workplace.

What is our superpower? It is coming together and using our collective voices and actions to support those who feel marginalized. Only then have we created “true communities,” for all. Happy Pride!