Celebrating Pride at Horizontal
Each year, Horizontal celebrates Pride Month with educational events, office celebrations and community engagement. This year’s U.S. Pride Month theme was centered around Pride in the workplace--which stemmed from our employees wanting more resources and a discussion centered around being stronger allies in professional settings.
We started Pride Month with a Better Together meeting. This is a monthly meeting hosted by our DEI committee dedicated to a themed topic and designed to encourage an open conversation on that topic. This month, the meeting was led by our LGBTQ+ and Allies employee resource group (ERG). Hosting employee-led events creates an affirmative space for team members to be vulnerable and learn from people they work with in a safe space.
The following week, we had the pleasure of hosting OutFront for a 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion training. In this training we learned the key attitudes and approaches to being in allyship with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, specifically:
- Intersectional actions we can take to make our spaces more affirming.
- Sharing pronouns creates an environment that fosters inclusivity and leads to less misgendering of others.
- In everything, we should strive to listen as allies and amplify the voices and perspectives of 2SLGBTQIA+ people.
Our India team also celebrated Pride Month with in-office activities and guest speaker Mamata Banerjee, who held a discussion about unconscious bias.
The APAC team learned about the value of inclusivity, ERGs and supporting those in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, specifically:
- Why is inclusivity important?
- Inclusivity fosters a sense of belonging and acceptance, allowing individuals from diverse backgrounds to feel valued and respected within a community or organization. Representation within all groups brings different ideas, a variety of thoughts and perceptions and is central to driving innovation.
- Inclusivity fosters a sense of belonging and acceptance, allowing individuals from diverse backgrounds to feel valued and respected within a community or organization. Representation within all groups brings different ideas, a variety of thoughts and perceptions and is central to driving innovation.
- How can ERGs help foster an inclusive workplace?
- ERGs provide a supportive community for employees who share common identities or interests, creating a sense of belonging and solidarity.
- ERGs provide a supportive community for employees who share common identities or interests, creating a sense of belonging and solidarity.
- How can you support professionals in the APAC region who are coming out?
- Create a safe environment, learn from their coming out experience, celebrate courageous conversations and be an ally.
After the event, India Marketing Analyst Rahul Nidagundi posted, “We believe that diversity is our strength, and inclusion is our choice. Celebrating Pride Month is not just about recognizing the LGBTQ+ community but also about fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and respected.”
OutFront offers many different trainings including:
- Education - best practice for educators & topics for your school's GSA
- Policy & advocacy
- Religious & community organizing
- AVP related trainings
- Custom to the needs of your organization
Each year, OutFront Minnesota's Anti-Violence Program assists with more than 1,000 incidents of anti-LGBTQ+ bias/hate violence, relationship abuse, and sexual assault.
In crisis or the victim of violence? OutFront can help: 800-800-0350
To learn more about OutFront, visit their website at www.outfront.org