What is Pride?
Pride parades now take place all over the world, but the history of pride originates from the initial protests that took place in New York City. The catalyst for these protests was the response to a police raid of the Stonewall Inn found in Greenwich Village on June 28, 1969.
Each subsequent Pride march or event is dedicated to celebrating those that retaliated against the police in pursuit of gay rights, in what was known as the Stonewall riots.
Brenda Howard, known as ‘The Mother of Pride’, played a key role in organising these initial Pride marches from 1970 onwards.
Pride protests in Ireland followed these events. In the 1970s there was an annual picnic held in Merrion Square to raise awareness of the Stonewall Riots to Dubliners. This was the first time that many Dubliners heard about the Stonewall Riots, and the event helped to raise awareness of LGBTQ+ rights in Dublin.
The first pride week was in 1979 but the first large scale Pride march was in 1983 – and what a journey it’s been! The 10-day event was established in 1979 to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Riots and to draw attention to the difficulty and oppression that members of the LGBTQ+ community in Ireland faced.
Pride Week has come a long way since then, and today it’s one of the biggest and most colourful celebrations of LGBTQ+ rights and diversity in the world. This year, at Fusion events, we’re set to go bigger and better than ever, with corporate events, talks, and parties for everyone to enjoy. So if you’re looking for a fun and festive way to support LGBTQ+ rights, be sure to check out the Fusion pride events page.
Why it’s important to celebrate pride at work?
This Pride month, let’s celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. Despite anti-discrimination laws and the mainstream acceptance of the Pride movement, there are still places in the world where employees feel pressured to keep their identities secret to avoid facing consequences at work. We need to show all employees that they are welcomed and accepted, regardless of their identity, by celebrating Pride month in the workplace.
Below we have highlighted some easy ways for you to get involved and show your support to this amazing community!
8 Ways To Celebrate Pride In The Workplace
Guest LGBTQ+ speaker
By booking an external speaker to discuss LGBTQ+ issues and their experiences, employees will learn the importance of inclusivity at work. They will be encouraged to be more inclusive and to be great allies to the LGBT community.
Updating Your Company Email Signatures
Adding your pronouns to your email signature is a great way to show your support for the LGBTQ community. By including your pronouns, you let others know how you want to be referred to and create a more inclusive environment for everyone.
Pride Month Trivia (Virtual or in Person)
Pride Month Trivia is a great way to show your support for the LGBTQ community and have some fun at the same time! This in-person or virtual event can be packed with challenging quizzes and mini-games that celebrate LGBTQ history and pop culture. And best of all, it’s a great way to bond with your colleagues in person or remotely!
Donate to an LGBTQ+ charity
Pride is a time to celebrate, and there are many ways that companies can show their support. One of the most meaningful and actionable things your company can do is donate to an LGBTQ+ charity. You can either donate a lump sum to your organization of choice or offer to match employee contributions. Another great way to encourage donations is to run a company-wide fundraiser and split the proceeds between several different organizations.
Host an inclusion workshop
Diversity training is a great way to promote inclusion in the workplace. A hands-on session, led by an external professional, will empower and educate employees. Educational workshops will help employees learn when to use the correct terms and pronouns, whilst ensuring that gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer and transgender employees are understood at work.
Evaluate your discrimination & diversity policies
Developing a diversity and inclusion strategy can help your organization create a workplace where every employee is valued. By implementing these practices, your workplace can be safe, supportive, and inclusive for employees of all identities.
Book club celebrating LGBTQ+ authors
If your company has an established book club, reading LGBTQ+ authors is a great way to celebrate Pride month. Even if your company doesn’t have a regular book club, hosting an online book club will facilitate better team engagement as employees share the experience.
The discussions that come from arranging this book club will also encourage a more open conversation for colleagues to talk about the LGBTQ+ community and their wider experiences. A well-organized online book club will facilitate a more inclusive and inviting discussion space for all employees.
Decorate the office (or for the virtual office change your Zoom background)
Who doesn’t love a splash of colour in their lives? Hanging rainbow flags and banners in the office is a great way to celebrate Pride month and show your support for the LGBTQ+ community. Not only will this increase employee morale, but it will also demonstrate that your company is a safe place for employees to be open about their identity.
If you’re unable to return to the office, you can still show your support for Pride month by celebrating with a rainbow background on Zoom. There is a whole range of options online, so you can find one that fits your company’s personality.
Go That Extra Mile
Pride month is a great time to promote diversity, equity and inclusion at work. As you can see, there are lots of ways you can get involved. They offer a chance to educate staff and customers about the importance of inclusion and equality, and to make a positive social stance. Remember that these initiatives are not simply corporate box-ticking exercises, but aim to promote more inclusive workplaces all year round. Use this month to learn, educate and celebrate your diverse teams – after all, diversity makes us stronger.
If you would like to go the extra mile and create a meaningful pride event for your organisation we would love to help you create something extraordinary here at Fusion Events.
Get in contact with us and let’s make this year’s Pride event one to be remembered!