5 Ways Small Businesses Can Celebrate Pride Month
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Diversity and inclusion is a top priority for businesses across the globe. With Pride Month just around the corner, many small business owners are looking for new ideas to help their LGBTQ+ employees feel welcomed and valued. Let’s look at some of the ways you can help celebrate your employees this Pride Month.
What is Pride?
First, let’s discuss the importance of Pride Month for the LGBTQ+ community. Pride Month is a celebration of the history and accomplishments of LGBTQ+ people, particularly queer people of color who led and organized the Stonewall uprising. During Pride month, LGBTQ+ people and their allies around the world work to raise awareness of the issues still affecting queer people, including in healthcare, housing, education, employment, and marriage equality. During Pride, parades are held in cities around the world to inspire and celebrate LGBTQ+ people along with their families and friends, as well as educate the public.
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How to Celebrate Pride Month at Work
Educate Yourself and Those Around You
Take the opportunity to learn about the history of LGBTQ+ people, as well as learn about their experiences. Share those resources with the people you work with.
Decorate Your Storefront or Website
Hang up a Pride flag at your storefront or put up a rainbow banner on your website. This simple act of solidarity can go a long way for your LGBTQ+ customers and employees.
Have a Pride Party at Work
Make Pride Month fun by organizing a rainbow-themed dress-up day for your employees. Encourage everyone to dress in bright colors to show their support for LGBTQ+ equality. Get colorful balloons and rainbow-themed desserts to make it a celebration!
Add Pronouns to Your Email Signature
Show that you’re an ally by updating your email signature to include your pronouns. This practice is inclusive, even for cisgender (people who are not transgender or nonbinary) people. Pronouns show how you identify, and can include she/her, he/him, they/them, and more.
Use Pride Frames on Social Media
For Pride Month, consider updating your company’s profile photos on social media to a rainbow-colored version of your logo. For employees who want to do the same on their personal pages, share resources to help them update their own pictures.
