How inclusive is your company? Is it a safe space? What is being done within the company to promote an inclusive and diverse culture? A good way to start your assessment is by reviewing and revising the company’s anti-discrimination policy as well as its mission statement, as these also define the company’s culture.Ģ. Make the company a safe space: Before you go public with your support, make sure to assess your situation internally. Here are a few things your company can do:ġ. The following voices direct from the community can help us all to better understand what Pride and Pride Month are truly about:Ĭelebrating and supporting Pride Month is a good start, but it’s far more important for companies to be allies with the LGBTQIA+ community throughout the year.
More color variations have also been added to the original design. Each of its six colors has a symbolic meaning: red stands for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, blue for harmony and violet for the spirit. The rainbow flag is the most recognizable symbol of Pride Month, and the original Pride flag was designed by Gilbert Blake in 1978. These events formed the basis of Pride Month, an entire month dedicated to the commemoration, remembrance, and celebration of diversity. To commemorate the riots, the first Pride Parade (Christopher Street Day) was celebrated in 1970. The Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar on Christopher Street in New York, was the site of the Stonewall Riots - protesting against a violent police raid. Pride Month is celebrated in June because the Stonewall uprising took place on June 28, 1969. Throughout June, diversity and variety is demanded, highlighted, and celebrated with: parades, protests, performances, and commemorations. Besides, why simply post a rainbow flag when there are many other ways for companies to get involved in Pride Month? An overview: Pride Month and the rainbow flagĪs Pride Month, June is all about empowering LGBTQ voices, advocating for LGBTQ rights, and celebrating LGBTQ culture. Even if more visibility for the rainbow flag can generally be considered a positive development, the increased usage is also diminishing the flag’s true meaning – it is essentially an important political statement rather than a trendy accessory.
Unfortunately, it’s not always clear if the stance of these companies is sincere or if they are more interested in pinkwashing marketing at the expense of marginalized groups. In recent years, it has become trendy for many companies to participate in Pride Month, contributing to the event with campaigns, social media posts or products featuring the rainbow design. The company’s role in Pride Month: profit-making or empowerment?
Instagram’s rainbow filters, the company’s logo in the colors of the rainbow, a colorfully designed limited edition displayed on the streets or decorating the windows of the city – every year, when Pride Month arrives in June, rainbow flags can be seen everywhere.