Pride is a time for celebration, yes. But it’s also a time for introspection.

This month, we have the opportunity to reflect on the challenges we’ve faced, to celebrate the victories we’ve won, and to rededicate ourselves to the work ahead. We can reaffirm our solidarity with one another. And in a time when extremist forces aim to dim our light, we can demonstrate solidarity and unity. We can speak up and speak out.

Together, we can and we must Radiate Pride. That’s my wish for all of us this June and all-year.

• To those who identify as LGBTQ+, Radiate Pride by wrapping yourself in our community. Queer joy is powerful. Queer resilience is real. And when we remember our strength and work together, our community can do anything. Think about your own sphere of influence—your voice, your feed, your family, your day job, your personal connections—and flex it. Champion individuals who may not be represented in a room or discussion, and work to bring them to the table. Use your platform to elevate a voice that goes unheard. Stand up for those who are being othered. We have the power, as individuals and as a collective, to make meaningful change.

• To company and organization leaders, Radiate Pride by focusing on the future. Right now, it may seem easy to downplay and deprioritize the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. I’d ask you to look past this moment. When you help ensure everyone belongs, you make the people you employ, the organizations you run, and the communities you serve stronger. So, as our world continues to evolve, don’t be left behind. Instead, lean into what’s ahead.

• To allies, Radiate Pride by supporting the LGBTQ+ community all year round. Remember: you play an integral role pushing our movement moving forward. Wearing a Pride pin, waving a Pride flag, and attending a Pride parade are great ways to signal allyship. But to make meaningful and lasting change, our community also needs you to elevate LGBTQ+ voices and advocate for inclusion—inside the workplace and beyond.

• And to all, remember to Radiate Pride by doing your part to speak up for overlooked communities. Amplify voices that have historically been left out of the conversation. Be a coach, a mentor, or a sponsor—and help build the next generation of leaders.

We can build a more equitable and inclusive world where every person can show up authentically and we all can thrive together. Radiate Pride this June and all-year long!

And for an even deeper view of my thoughts on Pride this year, read more.

Be an Employer of Choice by Leading with Inclusion and Belonging

The LGBTQ+ Community Is Not a Monolith: Intersectionality Plays a Powerful Role in Our Movement

As part of Pride, we are intentional in recognizing Juneteenth (June 19), a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.

Queer people of color have always played an integral role in fighting for and shaping the LGBTQ+ community but for too long have been historically overlooked and marginalized. They have and are continuing to face unique challenges in the workplace because of their status as a member of the LGBTQ+ community AND their race/ethnicity. The success of our larger movement requires gaining a better understanding of, and investing in solutions that mitigate or eradicate, these unique challenges, while also raising up these voices who have done so much in the fight for equality.

To learn more on what you can do, please revisit Out & Equal’s February 2024 Newsletter, which includes important resources and discusses both the power of intersectionality and how we can support Black, Queer voices.

Inclusion and belonging are smart business practices. Research from the Edelman Trust Institute and GLAAD, Indeed, McKinsey, and SHRM show that inclusion and belonging are keys to advancing business strategies, expanding their consumer base, and attracting and retaining talent.

It’s why we are so incredibly excited to announce our partnership with Windō, the innovative platform for accessing, reviewing and comparing organizations’ sustainability data (environmental impact, DEI and employee well-being).

Through our work together, companies globally will be able to make better-informed decisions about their DEI policies and where to increase transparency around their progress, particularly as they seek to attract and retain LGBTQ+ and Gen Z hires.

We will also release co-branded reports to advise corporations on building inclusive spaces and analyze LGBTQ+-specific DEI trends.

Our goal: ensure organizations are creating workplaces rich in inclusion and belonging where individuals can show up as their authentic self and thrive.

And over the next 4 weeks, through "The LGBTQ+ Transparency Tiles 2024," we will shine a light on the leaders in LGBTQ+ DEIB reporting among the 500+ organizations tracked on Windō.

These organizations span 8 sectors and are celebrated for their commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion and belonging. Each has received external recognition as an LGBTQ+ inclusive employer, advocated publicly for LGBTQ+ rights, and shared their overall LGBTQ+ workforce representation data. Some even go further.

Last month, we hosted our 2024 LATAM Forum, which convened hundreds of leaders, HR executives, and DEIB practitioners from across industries, sectors, and the globe for transformative keynotes, informative learning sessions, and networking opportunities centered on community, and we are still feeling thoroughly inspired!

Changemakers, influential luminaries, and industry experts from across the region and the globe shared inspiring stories and insightful perspectives on advancing LGBTQI+ workplace inclusion and belonging within Latin America and the emerging trends that are impacting and shaping organizational strategies and priorities, the workforce, and the workplace.

In addition to the powerful learning program, we also announced the winners of the 2024 LATAM Forum Excellence Awards. Each year, they recognize and celebrate individuals, executive leaders, companies, and employee resource groups (ERGs) who are leading the way with bold and innovative advancements toward workplace inclusion for LGBTQI+ people in Latin America.

Creating diverse workplace cultures rich in equity, inclusion, and belonging is key to attracting and retaining top talent, achieving business objectives, and building innovative organizations that will thrive today and tomorrow. Convenings like LATAM Forum elevate and reinforce the principle that the future (of work) is inclusion and belonging.

Presented by Airbus

Convening this week!

July 16, 2024

Bangalore, India

Presented by Bank of America

Registration closes on June 21!

Download the Detailed Agenda here

UPDATE: REGISTRATION OPENS TOMORROW, JUNE 5

Workplace Summit, the largest LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion event in the world, is an Out & Equal Partner exclusive event. Learn more about becoming a Partner.

Shine a Spotlight on Role Models of LGBTQ+ Inclusion: Submit Your Outie Award Nominations Now!

Since its inception more than 20 years ago, Out & Equal has recognized more than 100 individuals, organizational practices, and ERGs across a range of categories whose work is proven to have advanced LGBTQ+ workplace equity and belonging for LGBTQ+ employees and for all historically overlooked and/or marginalized talent. Our finalists each year are champions of inclusive leadership, having demonstrated replicable inclusive leadership efforts in their organizations and beyond.

The Outie Award is presented to winners at the annual Out & Equal Workplace Summit. This year, Outie Awards will be presented across five categories:

• Workplace & Belonging Excellence
• Employee Resource Group of the Year
• New Chapter Employee Resource Group of the Year
• LGBTQ+ Corporate Advocate
• Ally Changemaker

Nominations close July 10

At Out & Equal, we work with the world's leading and most influential companies—and the inclusive leaders in these organizations—to advance LGBTQ+ representation, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace. 

We’re proud to welcome Advocate Health, A.T. Kearney, Inc., Boise Cascade, Federal Aviation

Administration, Primark, Starbucks, and Wipfli as our newest members of the Out & Equal Partner Community.

Join the Out & Equal Community