How to support LGBTQ+ colleagues all year
With Pride Month over, here are four easy ways to support LGBTQ+ colleagues that go beyond rainbow-washing (even though that can be pretty)
We believe that a meaningful workplace is one in which everyone can thrive. With Pride month coming to a close, here’s are some small things you can do to create a welcoming and psychologically safe workplace for LGBTQ+ colleagues throughout the year.
1. Educate yourself about LGBTQ+ history! Read up on the origin of Pride Month. Watch documentaries about queer culture and struggles, like Paris is Burning and Before Stonewall.
2. Ask people what pronouns they prefer you to use, and share yours. In a 2022 Deloitte study, more than 70% of LGBT+ employees indicated that seeing pronouns used in email signatures contributed to a sense of inclusion.
3. Until you’ve asked, avoid gendered language. Instead of “ladies and gentlemen” try “friends and colleagues.”
4. The hardest and most important: Call out discriminatory behavior or comments! We realize not everyone feels safe enough in their workplace to speak up. But if you hear subtle put-downs aimed at LGBTQ+ folks, challenge them. You may earn yourself more respect at work than if you’d said nothing.
