What is 'Pride Month' and should businesses support it?
I’ve spent a large part of this month reading the many trending tweets, Linked In posts, blogs & news articles on Pride – the good, the bad, the funny and the ugly! I got thinking (and talking) a lot about the changes over the last 50 years, my journey, how businesses do and/or do not show support and the benefits of Pride events across the world.
It’s 28th June 2019 today, 50 years since the Stonewall Riots in New York – did you know that? Pride Month (aka: June) was chosen to commemorate the Stonewall Riots because of discrimination and violence toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to promote their self-affirmation, dignity, equality rights, increase their visibility as a social group, build community and celebrate sexual diversity and gender variance. Did you know that?
50 years ago, yet we weren’t taught it at school and our parents didn’t watch documentaries on it. so here are some quick facts for you to understand the importance of Pride Month!
- 1971 – Same-sex marriage was banned.
- 1990 – First Pride Event was held in Manchester, followed by Ireland.
- 1992 – World Health Organisation declassifies same-sex attraction as mental illness.
- 2000 – The UK Government lifts the ban on LGB people serving in the armed forces.
- 2002 – Equal rights are granted to same-sex couples applying for adoption.
- 2004 – The Gender Recognition Act is pass giving trans people full legal recognition.
- 2014 – Same-sex marriage was passed by the Parliament.
My ‘story’ started in 2002, 12 years before same-sex marriage would be legal in the UK. At 14 years’ old I found myself in a situation whereby I was attracted to a same-sex person in my school – I had complete innocence to loving an individual, it had nothing to do with what sex they were. I had never had a conversation about LGBT or Pride at this point. Parents, friends, strangers and peers all wanted an opinion – and even 17 years later still do! For most people, we were the first ‘gay’ people they knew, it was new, scary, exciting, and confusing for them, but for us, it was just love – it was then, and it still is now.
So, why should businesses support Pride Month? It promotes inclusion in the workplace, shows external clients that your business supports the cause, equality & diversity and equally reflects a wider push for diversity in the workplace.
A lot of brands now use Pride as a way of publicity, rather than a sense of social justice. Anything that increases wider society’s acceptance is good, however if those brands don’t support their employees then what was the benefit other-than cheap marketing?
Should businesses be pressured to celebrate regardless to how they feel? No! But surely, they then can’t advertise, highlight or publish that they are a diverse, inclusive employer, right?!
Celebrating ‘National Women’s Day’ counts right? Well no, women are accepted into society, the 6% population of LGBT aren’t – so when you celebrate International Women’s Day, why not take some time 3 months later to put a bit of thought into Pride Month – maybe raise some money for mental health LGBT charities, show your diversity within your company, ask employees to share their LGBT stories – be open, for one day in the month, the year to show your clients, future employees and current employees that you are inclusive of all.
I have always been worried about ‘coming out’ in a workplace because I was concerned I would be undervalued, underappreciated and discriminated – 17 years after ‘coming out’ and nothing has made me feel different – in any work place, in any group of friends, in any situation. It’s time this all changed!
To all businesses out there, ‘Do what you say you do’! If you SAY you are diverse and inclusive, DO it! If you are not supporting Pride – whether this be internally or externally, whilst happily supporting other national days then note, you are not being ‘inclusive’.
One last thing, your LGBT friends already love you for who you are, all we are asking in return is for you to love us for who we are too.
#LoveIsLove