SkyWater Search Partners’ Post

What is Pride Month? Pride Month, which takes place from June 1 to June 30, is a time to shine a spotlight on LGBTQ voices, celebrate LGBTQ culture, achievements, and activism through a variety of planned activities. These events include film festivals, art exhibits, marches, concerts, and other programs held throughout the month. During this month, the LGBTQ community and its supporters come together to highlight LGBTQ voices, raise awareness about issues of inequality, and honor the memories of those lost to violence and the AIDS crisis. Why is Pride Month in June? Pride Month is observed in June to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, a significant event in LGBTQ history. In the late 1960s, being openly gay was largely prohibited in most places, and in New York, for example, the mere presence of LGBTQ individuals was considered disorderly conduct, effectively banning gay bars. On June 28, 1969, the patrons of the Stonewall Inn, a popular bar with a diverse LGBTQ clientele, took a stand when the police raided the establishment. This confrontation sparked days of riots and protests, known as the Stonewall Uprising. One year later, on the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, thousands of individuals flooded the streets of Manhattan for the Christopher Street Gay Liberation Day March, which is recognized as the first gay pride event in history. How did Pride Month originate? Pride Month began as Gay Pride Day, which was initially celebrated annually on the last Sunday in June before evolving into a month-long commemoration. As awareness grew, an increasing number of activities and events were organized to encompass the entire month. Over time, Gay Pride Day transitioned into the month-long recognition known today as Pride Month. The official designation was solidified in 1999 when President Bill Clinton declared June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. This declaration was made to acknowledge the accomplishments of the LGBTQ community and show support for its members. What is the symbol of pride? The rainbow flag, designed by prominent San Francisco activist Gilbert Baker, is widely acknowledged as the symbol of LGBTQ pride. Baker created the flag to represent the diversity of humanity, symbolizing all genders and races. The six colors of the rainbow flag each symbolize a distinct element of the LGBTQ movement: life, healing, sunlight, nature, serenity, and spirit. @agingheroes @transpainter #pridemonth #celebratelgbtq #equityandinclusion

June is a month of vibrancy, love and solidarity as we continue to celebrate Gay Pride Month. It is not just a celebration, it’s a statement of resilience and a demand for equality and a powerful reminder of the importance of visibility and representation. It’s a month dedicated to honouring the LGBTQ+ community, reflecting on the progress made towards equality, to raise awareness about the issues faced and unfortunately still acknowledging the work that’s still needs to be done. Here’s some ways to show your support: Learn the History: Educate yourself and others to promote understanding and acceptance Be an Ally: Show your support in everyday by using inclusive language, standing up against discrimination and be a safe person for LGBTQ+ individuals to talk to. Attend Pride Events: Participate in local Pride parades, festivals, and events. These celebrations often include marches, performances and speeches Display Symbols of Pride: Wear or display symbols such as rainbow flags, pins or clothing to show your support. Voice your Support: This could involve contacting your representatives about relevant legislation, participating in peaceful protests or using social media to raise awareness. Donate: Contribute to organisations that work on important issues like healthcare, housing, legal rights and support services Let us embrace the spirit of Pride this June and every day, striving for a future where love and equality triumph over prejudice and hate. #PrideMonth #LoveIsLove #LGBTQIA #Pride2024 #Equality #LGBTQCommunity #Diversity #Inclusivity #Support #Rights #Educate #Celebrate #TheWorldIsYourOyster

Happy Pride Month to all! For some answers about Pride Month, see the link below to learn about these topics and more: 1. What is LGBTQ Pride Month? 2. When was the rainbow Pride flag created? 3. What are the Stonewall riots? #PrideMonth https://lnkd.in/eXpyreRw

ICYMI: upEND Movement's Reflections on Pride 2024 "As 2024 Pride comes to an end, it is impossible to ignore all of the ways U.S. policy –here and abroad– continues to make the world unsafe for LGBTQ people, especially those who exist along the margins of other oppression. For exactly these reasons, upEND is committed to developing abolitionist solutions and alternatives that create a better, safer world for all." https://lnkd.in/gtfEdTqt 

As we continue to champion diversity and inclusion, it’s heartening to see so many companies celebrating various communities and their significant milestones. Recognizing LGBTQ+ Pride Month and other cultural holidays is a testament to our progress. However, it’s disheartening to notice that many companies still overlook Juneteenth. This day is a pivotal moment in American history, marking the end of slavery and the beginning of true freedom for African Americans. To our minority employees, this silence speaks volumes. It feels like our strides towards equality and recognition are incomplete. Celebrating Juneteenth is not just a nod to the past but a step towards a more inclusive future. Please ensure our commitment to diversity and inclusion is reflected in acknowledging all significant events, especially those deeply meaningful to our minority communities. We have come so far, but there’s still work to be done. #Diversity #Inclusion #Juneteenth #Equality #Progress

As we round the end of LGBT Pride month, I would like to talk about impact of how society treats others just because they are "different". https://lnkd.in/dUiDEpRJ #pridemonth #pride #pride2023 #queerpride #thingswillgetbetter #youarenotalone

It’s the start of Black History Month! Check out this article from Stonewall which shares 10 ways to be a better ally to Black LGBTQ+ people. #BlackHistoryMonth #LGBTQ #Allyship

For many years and from many companies, come June I typically receive an email from my LGBT ERG encouraging me to use a rainbow Pride-themed signature, with specific instructions to remove it in July. While it's heartening to see so many companies celebrating Pride Month, it's crucial to call out the performative allyship that fades as soon as July rolls around. Rainbow-washing—using the LGBTQ+ community's symbols for marketing purposes without supporting us year-round—does not advance our cause. True allyship means advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and equality consistently, not just when it's convenient or profitable. It's long past time for corporations to do better. Support us in policy, in practice, and in the workplace every single day. If your commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion vanishes after June, then your rainbow logo is nothing more than a hollow gesture.Let's push for genuine, sustained support. We deserve more than a month of attention—we deserve real, enduring change.

"No matter who we are or whom we love, we all deserve the right to live out our lives genuinely, completely and honestly." - Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Today, HPGM celebrates and recognizes National Coming Out Day. On a day like today, we're proud of our corporate members actively doing the work and recognized in HRC's list of best places to work for LGBTQ+ equality, including Northwestern Mutual, Associated Bank, BMO, Kohl's, Rockwell Automation, and many more. Coming out is a personal choice and different for everyone. According to HRC, for those who identify as LGBTQ+ and as Latine Americans, the coming out process can be even more complex to navigate. We encourage all LGBTQ+ ERGs and companies to ask themselves, how are you supporting your LGBTQ+ employees beyond days like today and Pride Month? Below are several resources to learn more. To read more on specifically coming out and living authentically as LGBTQ+ Latine Americans, visit: https://lnkd.in/e7m67kp. LEARN MORE: https://lnkd.in/dN9Psck3 https://lnkd.in/d-yTR9g https://lnkd.in/gaEURheH #NationalComingOutDay #WeAreHPGM

When I was first coming out as a queer, I couldn’t wait to attend my first Pride parade. It was like a rite of passage, some kind of official ritual I needed to go through to be a true, card-carrying member of the LGBTQ+ community. Years later, as I started to understand my gender identity and came out as transgender, Pride month lost its sheen for me. Especially as I learned firsthand that, just because something is queer-friendly, doesn’t mean it is trans-friendly. I shied away from dancing in the streets with my friends and opted for smaller, more personal celebrations of Pride. Some years I didn’t celebrate at all. After all, Pride for me was every day. I didn’t need a month to celebrate it, I was finally living it. My safety became the number one concern for me. It seemed as if more and more protestors were showing up at Pride events. Their signs larger, their megaphones louder, and their hate bolder. Pride feels different now. As anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-transgender legislation has loomed in the past few years and the eradication of our community has become a political platform, I often have to choose whether I want to be safe or I want to be visible and free. That is a question I ask myself every time I step outside my house, not just in June. My relationship with Pride is complicated, but what isn’t complicated is the feelings of pride I experience every day as my authentic self. I often think back to my first Pride, where I was who I am unabashedly for the first time, in front of thousands of strangers, without a care in the world. -- SJ Janjua, https://lnkd.in/eztvAu-Y On The Inclusion Solution blog, we're exploring the question: What does Pride mean to you? 💬 Comment below with a few words of what Pride means to you, and follow along on theinclusionsolution.com as we continue to feature voices from the LGBTQIA2S+ community.