The month of June is all about Pride. Born out of a visceral need to protest and demonstrate for visibility, awareness, and equality, June is a significant month in the history of the gay liberation movement. The first Pride march occurred in 1970, on the one-year anniversary of the historic six-day-long Stonewall uprising in Manhattan, New York, which was the moment when Pride became a verb.
Today, Pride Month is a celebration with crowd-generating marches and events held all over the world. Pride is a great time, especially for businesses as it is an opportunity to connect and engage with your LGBTQIA+ customers, which is important because, as we all know, our customers make up all walks of life and it’s important to celebrate with your customers during their celebratory seasons.
Today, when we talk about having Pride, we are not talking about having an inflated ego or referring to one of the seven deadly sins. Our definition of pride is about loving and accepting oneself, and giving ourselves permission to be who we are without feeling shame, guilt, or judgment.
For lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender people, queers, intersex, asexuals, and allies, pride is reflected in the smiles they wear, the courage they display, the resilience they show, and the collective fight to be seen and to love who they are and who they choose to love.
Businesses interested in celebrating Pride this month can show their support by doing the following:
Be Sincere
If you believe that participating in Pride Month simply for the sake of boosting sales is a good idea, you’re mistaken. Your company’s policies and practices throughout the year should genuinely reflect your support for the LGBTQIA+ community, not just in June. Pride isn’t about making a profit for a month—it’s about embracing who you are. Especially if this is your business’s first time celebrating Pride, reach out to local LGBTQIA+ organizations to ensure that your business genuinely respects the movement and the individuals it represents.
Be Visible
Remember to celebrate Pride by openly expressing your support. Consider sponsoring an event, joining a parade, or volunteering with an LGBTQIA+ organization in your community. Share on social media the ways in which your organization and teams are participating in Pride. Show your support and be proud. Being an ally means actively participating and showing your support.
Be Bold
Having pride is audacious. The audacity to be yourself as a marginalized group is admirable. Businesses that want to celebrate this June should embrace the advocacy the Pride movement represents, while paying homage to its leaders like transgender-rights activist Marsha P. Johnson, Gilbert Baker (the inventor of the iconic rainbow flag), and countless others. Use this time to review your policies to ensure they reflect the same energy and boldness of this movement. During Pride Month, consider displaying the pride flag to show your support. If you’re a member of the community, be bold. If you’re an ally, be even bolder.
We celebrate Pride year-round, with activities in our office and outreach to the community. Last year, we increased our community involvement by volunteering at Chicago’s annual Pride Fest, and this year brings even more support. At Credico, Pride is more than just a state of mind; it’s a fundamental part of who we are and what we have every day, not just in June. Pride is not just about how you see yourself but also about how you present yourself to the world and how you show up for others. It’s about taking action, not just using words. Pride is ingrained in our culture at Credico because we genuinely believe that we are one nation, with unity and justice for all.
Happy Pride!