myGwork - LGBTQ+ Business Community’s Post

I seriously TRIP OUT at how storytelling can change the world and how representation matters... On this day, 25 years ago, the sitcom “Will & Grace” premiered on NBC. No authority or real data can prove it – but it seems pretty clear that the show changed the conversation and acceptance of LGBT people in our society. “Will & Grace” was pretty formulaic as a sitcom. It used all the conventions you’d see in other shows about urban professionals – stories of dating, friendships, professional challenges – but the male lead character just happened to be gay. It was the show's mundane template that actually helped move the needle of acceptance of homosexuality. The broadcast exposure to gay characters created an “ordinary-ness” such that being gay was just another trait for Americans to accept in neighbors, coworkers and their own families. 📢 Cut to June of 2009 and Vice President Dick Cheney states publicly that “freedom means freedom for everyone” and that “people ought to be free to enter into any kind of union they wish” referring to gay marriage. 📢 In May, 2012: President Barack Obama declared in an ABC interview that he’d ‘evolved’ on the issue and that: “I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.” No doubt there’s more ‘evolving’ to be done, but attitudes and LGBT rights have changed DRASTICALLY from 1998 – and stories told on “Will & Grace” were undoubtedly a HUGE part of the change. #storytelling #representationmatters #diversityandinclusion

Happy Pride 🏳️🌈⚧️ Pride month, is a time of great joy and a tad of sorrow… but, I’ll try and keep it positive, but let’s be real for a second. Reflecting on the past a little, amongst our own community history, same sex marriage was legalised in the UK 🇬🇧 March 2014… It’s only been 10 years, that this “legal right” was extended to the lgbtq+ community after years of existence. I couldn’t call it a “human right” since that would mean that everyone should of had this right from the beginning of time and that wasn’t the case. The fight up to that point (in the UK alone) was a politically backed history of discrimination, fueling violence and isolation, deteriorating mental health, broken families and high levels of suicide rates. I know I’m generalizing, but it’s the truth. After years of putting our hands up to say, “the law needs include and support us too…. We aren’t going away”. It happened. A not so funny thing is, history has a thing for repeating itself. A foolish thing is… History seems to have taught our leaders very little, despite all the history books and all the digital information thanks to the internet, documenting similar “exercises” 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️ Trans rights are worryingly diminishing, from proposed laws in discussion around the use of public bathrooms based on biological sex as well as denying transgender health care. The same exercise of Trans people putting their hands up to say “please include us with the same rights and support in our legal system, we’re not going anywhere”, governments are choosing to block rather than to look at what can be done to make our society more inclusive. Why? Whilst how some individuals chose to react is disappointing, looking at the history again, where the marches for black rights, women’s rights, gay & lesbian rights… they all got humanity closer to where we need to be, eventually. I’m sure Trans rights will also get there too. Eventually. Happy pride 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ #pride #transrights #humansrights #lgbtq+

This year's Target Pride month merchandise is a perfect example of performative allyship. The Peach Fuzz was created by Elizabeth Hudy and currently operates out of San Francisco, California. They partnered with Target for Pride month and one of the designs was originally "Support Your Sisters, Not Just Your Cis-Ters" but the actual merchandise Target is selling just says "Support Your Sisters." From their Instagram post (@thepeachfuzz.co): "It is such a tremendous privilege to have even been considered for this project, but boy it sure does feel like a sick joke when you put everything you’ve got into over 20 designs only to have the final product be two watered down and brandless items. I went to my car and cried after I got my stuff. I know I should be proud of myself, and I’m sure I will be eventually, but I don’t think I let all of the disappointment hit me until now. The lgbtqia community deserves so much more than vague love merch shoved at the back of the clothing section. And LGBTQ artists deserve to be highlighted with actual PRIDE!" When you give in to pushback, you are pushing us back in the closet. When you erase trans identities from your merchandise, the message you are sending is that we are not palatable. True allyship is UNCOMFORTABLE. Why? Because by speaking up and being an ally, you expose yourself to the discrimination and hate we experience everyday. It's meant to give you perspective on what it's like to be an LGBTQ+ person in this world, and let me tell you, at times it is incredibly difficult to exist. Performative allyship centers you and your comfort. Be about it. Do better. First slide has the original design, the second has the Target version. #allyship #performativeallyship #lgbtq #pridemonth #target

Tuesday Thoughts. (or Tuesday Trigger?) Pronouns. In the past month, I was on several zoom calls where everyone in the meeting had their pronouns next to their display names. Except for me. I thought about whether I should add mine in. I was self-conscious about it. Even though I'm LGBTQ, most everyone who knows me, and those who were in the meetings, knows I'm cisgender and use he/him. I understand that the more of us who share our pronouns, we begin to normalize their use. To create a welcome and accepting environment for trans, non-binary, and those who use neo pronouns. I'm completely supportive of using each of our preferred pronouns. I'll ask if I'm unsure or don't remember, and I'll stand corrected when I might make a mistake. Even in my writing, I removed gender where it's not required and use they/them/their. Formerly, we'd note the CEO as he or she, but now almost always use they (despite the ire of the outdated grammar checking software.) There are many ways to participate in creating spaces that are inclusive and accepting. I know putting pronouns in a zoom name, or an email signature, is such a small effort. Still, I've never used Mr., nor do I use any degrees or credentials acronyms in my name or title. Many times, I don't even use my last name. I'm just "Mike." Please don't judge those who may not have made the change. It doesn't mean we're not supportive. It doesn't mean we won't use your preferred pronouns or wouldn't protect your right to choose how you're addressed. We might be working hard in other ways to create safer, better and more inclusive environments. Battles are fought on many fronts. And changes come from all directions. #pronouns #lgbtq #inclusivity #dei #judgment

Good morning! 🙂On Monday, we discussed inclusion of transgender people. Today, let's explore this Forbes article by a pansexual non-binary author who shares their personal journey of self-identification and the lack of understanding non-binary people face at work. ➡️ What can we do to be better allies? Using people's pronouns can be a form of suicide prevention for many non-binary and/or trans people. Employers must discourage prejudice and encourage pronoun usage in email signatures and meetings. Gender-neutral restrooms are another step toward inclusivity. ♥️ Remember: Respect for LGBTQ+ people shouldn't be limited to Pride Month. Let's educate ourselves and become better allies, not just in the workplace, but everywhere! 🌈 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 #Diversity #Inclusion #Pride #Allyship #NonBinaryPeople

Pride Month Stuckness It's Pride Month in June. Today's the 13th day. This is the first thing I'm writing on any social media about Pride month. Even the leaders and organisations who treat gender identity as a grammar debate have put out the right kind of noises, stories etc because they have to come across as inclusive to their stakeholders in order to sell. I couldn't. Because I cannot celebrate it. In the last few years, I've lost so many of my people, my community. I miss them. Some of them I even wasn't on good terms with. But I still miss them. And as I think of their names and go through the social media posts they made, I can only think of how much of their life and human potential was taken away from them by other people, just because they were vulnerable. I know it'd be politically correct to say "Well, celebrate their life!" But, I'd have loved to do that WITH them, ALIVE, this pride month. Also, how do I grieve the loss of queer folks from the war torn countries? I know how I grieve for the people I knew. But to hold grief when it's for whole populations without any single face and name? I didn't know how to, still don't know how to, but doing it. Never forget - Pride was about resistance. Pride started with a throw of a stone. Pride started with black transgender sex workers, and not with a privileged section of the community. Pride started with anger, grief, and resistance. #PrideMonth #QueerLivesMatter #LGBTQUIA+ #HumanRights #QueerLiving #grief

🌈 Let the pride month companies Marketing campaigns start! 🌈 - which I don't mind at all, don't get me wrong! There's a lot of controversy regarding the pride month marketing campaigns, like switching the company's logo into a rainbow version, or stating their support to the LGBTQ+ community on a short LinkedIn post. Some people think it's hypocrite, like it's just another cold way of making money by taking advantage of an oppressed group's fight, while the reality in the company doesn't match with what they're stating. But, while I can understand that way of thinking, I still think this is better than nothing. At least, this controversy is creating debate and is forcing people to talk about the Queer cause! Pride month, to me, is the time of the year where the queer cause is present in (almost) everybody's daily life, and that generates reflection in them. Even if your company only changes the logo, or if they go beyond and brings up the discussion and uses this time to rethink what could they do better in order to support the Queer community, it all has an impact. Therefore, do share Queer content, do share your opinions, do share your stories, and do think about how can you become even more respectful and inclusive with Queer people. 👉 And, let's not forget: Pride month is not just about sexual orientation, but also about identity and expression! So, it's not just about "love is love", but also about "being". #pride #queer #lgbtq #pridemonth

Check out this interesting perspective on being non-binary and how intersectional identities can make it even harder to feel welcome and accepted. We appreciate Maya’s personal take and the importance of inclusive communication, especially for remote teams and collaboration. Feeling seen and heard is important and not just during pride month. It���s also imperative to making work “work” for everyone.

Worried about your Image? Last night I had a teen girl write to me 'I hate my life. Why was I created to be a women?' Everyone wants to be something that they aren't created to be. It started in the Garden of Eden and has grown till now. With LGBTQ+ on the rise in the West and creeping into the East, it is spreading like wildfire. The world is getting crazier.. They couldn't accept who they are, but expects others to accept who they choose to be. Every young girl in India wants to be like a Heroine they admire and so does every boy about a Hero. But have you read the news? Heorines do a lot of plastic surgery to transform themselves into something they aren't by creation. Even they aren't happy with who they are and how they look. Then why do we go crazy about their looks? It's fabricated beauty and isn't real. You and I are created in the image of God. Weigh between the two. Which is worth more? The Image of God? or the fabricated beauty of someone who isn't happy with their own image? God calls you Precious, Beautiful, Unique and one of a kind. Why be someone else when you are worth much more? Think about it... The Cosmetic and Fashion industry florishes taking advantage of our lack of self-identity and self-worth. #Identity #Personality #Leadership #Cosmetics #Fashion #LGBTQ

At the risk of being blocked by some (Nooooo, please don't! 🙄) ... Did you see Bud Light announcing they will be ditching future association with progressive causes and will, from now on, be "staying in their lane"? This new stance follows the "backlash" after last year's partnership with LGBTQ+ creator Dylan Mulvaney during Pride month. Allyship is now "too political", and they're not prepared to continue their association to avoid vitoral from conservatives. Confirming their intentions were always nothing more than Rainbow Capitalism. And this should be a lesson to us all. Brands should only champion social causes if they’re prepared to stand by them. Otherwise, it's just disingenuous marketing and not authentic activism. You can't claim to support equity and then ditch it when polarizing. That's hollow! If you don't stand by your claimed values when difficult, don't pretend to hold them in the first place. I know this spurs a heated debate on 'woke' companies. (I can't even begin to grasp how the word "woke" has been co-opted as a slur) And I know many will disagree. But it disappoints me. So what do you think? Does Bud Light's move reveal a lack of authentic values? Keep it civil, please! #TheEmailGorilla #BudLight #Values