Happy Pride Month! We’re proud to celebrate our vibrant and diverse orientations, identities, and families—this month and all year round.
Pride is a time to recall the trials the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and more (LGBTQIA+) community has endured and to rejoice in the triumphs of trailblazing individuals who have bravely fought—and continue to fight—for full equality.
One of the most effective ways to demonstrate allyship and celebrate Pride is to support LGBTQIA+ business owners. Amplifying and donating to organizations that support LGBTQIA+ individuals, especially youth, is also a powerful way to give back to the community during Pride.
At SpotOn, we’re proud to celebrate Pride Month by supporting the next generation of these community leaders with a donation to LYRIC Center, which works towards social justice and supporting young leaders, their families, and allies. LYRIC is working towards building a world that honors, respects, and appreciates LGBTQIA+ youth and their contributions. With leadership development programs, internship opportunities, and more, LYRIC Center is closely aligned to our mission of supporting and empowering tomorrow's leaders as vibrant cornerstones of our communities.
Here at SpotOn, we have implemented several ways to support our LGBTQIA+ community all year, not just during June. Our SpotOn PRIDE Employee Resource group (ERG), with over 100 members, was created as a way for our employees who are allies or members of the LGBTQIA+ community to share a common space to collaborate and build a community at work. Will, the committee chair of the SpotOn Pride ERG shared what the PRIDE ERG means to him:
“The Pride ERG to me means that LGBTQIA+ individuals at SpotOn feel valued and recognized at SpotOn. In a world where LGBTQIA+ individuals can sometimes not feel safe, at least they know that here at SpotOn they have a welcoming space to turn to.”
We also know that the fight is not over. According to the ACLU, nearly half of LGBTQIA+ adults live in states that do not prohibit job discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation. At SpotOn, we’ve incorporated the following into our culture to support our vibrant and diverse employee base.
- Optional pronoun disclosure is invited in corporate communication channels.
- Employees are welcome to dress and use restroom facilities in alignment with their gender identity.
- We prohibit harassment and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. This includes intentional misgendering.
June is a time to fight especially hard for justice. It is a time to look back on our community’s history, to look within, and to look ahead to the work that is left to be done. This work cannot be accomplished alone—we all must rally together. We invite you to learn more about the LGBTQIA+ community and support queer-owned businesses in your area this month. Check out the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce directory here.
