James Cox’s Post

### Celebrating Pride ALL YEAR: ✨🏳️🌈 Hey friends! There's something powerful about seeing businesses show up for Pride. Whether it's a local bakery whipping up some colorful treats or big companies showcasing their support, it feels good to know our community isn't just seen, but celebrated. Now, I know there's talk about whether businesses are genuinely supportive or if they're just sporting rainbows for the trend. It’s like when you're picking teams in gym class – everyone wants the popular kid on their team, right? But what really matters is businesses that stick around, even after the month is over. Those who don't just talk the talk but walk the walk – they're the real MVPs. Connecting with my community is something I hold dear, and it's heartwarming when businesses do too. It's not just about slapping a rainbow on products; it's the ongoing support, the year-round commitment, and the true understanding of what Pride means. This is what we aim for at Supergay Spirits. Queer-owned and proud, our values align with the spirit of inclusivity and authenticity that Pride represents. We’re here not only during the glittery parade of Pride month but in every season. It's about creating a space where everyone can be their fabulous selves and feel a little bit more at home. 🥂 If you want to read more about how businesses are getting involved during Pride, check out this cool article I found. It's a good read, really opens up the conversation, and kind of reminds me of what we're all about. Keep shining, keep loving, and remember, the best way to celebrate Pride is by being unapologetically you. And isn't that something to toast to? Take a peek at the article here: [Insert Article Link] 🌈 P.S. - If you're curious about how our spirit resonates with the colors of the rainbow, drift over to supergayspirits.com and discover a community that clinks glasses in the name of love, all year long.https://buff.ly/46PuSso cool LGBTQ businesses to shop this Pride Month - Mashable

𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫. You’ll see logos across a number of organisations opt to change to a rainbow version…it’s pointless and unnecessary 🤷🏻♂️ Pride Month isn’t just about the Pride Month flags, the LGBTQ Pride Month facts or Pride Month resources because LGBTQ inclusion takes place 365 days of the year. At Bradford at Night, we do everything we can to make sure our network has a reputation of inclusivity and acceptance, and that people associate that with our normal logo, year-round. Pride is not just a celebration. Although it is an important to time to celebrate the progress that has been made across legislation, attitudes and behaviours, it is also a continued protest. June 1970, marked the first anniversary since the uprising at New York’s Stonewall Inn. Since then, the parades have also been a sign of fighting for liberation, visibility and equality. In the UK, particularly up until the repeal of Section 28 in 2003, Pride had a more protest feel than a parade. The Pride Month meaning remains the same and is a time for people within the community, and their allies, to celebrate successes in LGBTQ inclusion, but it is also a time for reflection. 𝐒𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 - 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝟑𝟔𝟓 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫…

Caught an article this morning that, frankly, made my blood boil before my coffee even kicked in. It was about navigating Pride Month without "causing a stir" in companies (it read: 4 ways HR can avoid Pride Month conflict). Like a guide on how to handle LGBTQ support as if it's some kind of PR crisis. 🙄 As a "PR lady" - please miss me with that ✋ Here’s my beef: Supporting LGBTQ folks shouldn’t be about tiptoeing around to avoid backlash. It's about making real, substantial support happen. Not just in June, but all year round. Saturday, I was at a Pride parade, right? Pure joy, candy flying everywhere, my daughter waving a rainbow flag like she's trying to direct traffic. Cut to Sunday: my ultra-religious neighbor stops while walking by to chat, and here comes my kid, waving that 🌈 flag again. Cue Donna giving us the stink eye. Seriously? It's people like her that make workplaces and even your own goddamn driveway a place of "conflict." Real support doesn't avoid the conflict—it embraces the cause boldly and loudly. Because everyone should feel safe to be themselves. So, can we not reduce Pride to a check-box exercise? Let’s embed it into our company ethos. Let’s not just "manage" Pride; let’s celebrate it, advocate for it, and live it. When people feel genuinely supported, they don't just function—they flourish. And if your Pride plans feel like walking on eggshells, maybe it’s time to throw those plans out the window and start a parade. 🏳️🌈

Last week, we had the honor of hosting a thought-provoking session with Dr. Philip McAdoo. His insights on Pride, allyship, intersectionality, and DEI have inspired us to reflect more deeply on how we can become a more inclusive and supportive company during Pride month and beyond: 🤝 True allyship involves advocating for and standing up for others. Balancing the role of an ally with the risk of overstepping boundaries requires a deep commitment to listening and learning. By actively listening to the experiences and needs of those we aim to support, we can better understand when to step forward and when to step back. 🎉 Pride recognizes the many ways of being and celebrating who we are. Dr. McAdoo highlighted the progress made by young people stepping into their identities and the need to address societal fractures. It's important to (help) find spaces and communities that validate who we are and boost our confidence. 📈 Focus DEI efforts on systems rather than individuals to avoid "othering" and promote inclusive problem-solving. Measure DEI efforts with both quantitative and qualitative metrics – put some 💜into it! 👊 Real, authentic support takes the form of focusing on the benefits and experiences we offer to people at the margins. It’s important to be patient and humble, understanding that change doesn’t happen overnight. People need time to process and reflect on new ideas, opening the door to growth and transformation. Inspired by Dr. McAdoo and our team, we are committed to celebrating and supporting our/the LGBTQ community, during and beyond Pride Month. Actions on our radar: Open dialogue: Provide our team with a space to discuss their experiences more openly and frequently. We will reframe our monthly team coffee chats to encourage these conversations. Ongoing training: Revamp and enhance our inclusion and diversity training programs, emphasizing the importance of continuous development. Our taskforce team stresses that this is an ongoing commitment, not a one-time effort! Community engagement: Actively look for ways to support the LGBTQ community, including supporting local businesses. Happy Pride, everyone! 🌟 #PrideMonth #Inclusion #Diversity #Allyship #DEI #CelebratePride

Celebrating Pride Month: A Reflection on Life’s Canvas As we step into Pride Month, I find myself in a contemplative space, diverging from the usual hustle of planning and volunteering for diversity initiatives. This year, I’m embracing a quieter role, yet the vibrant spirit of Pride remains close to my heart. Recently, while assisting a client with a headstone, my vintage rainbow-colored bracelet—an unintended nod to Pride—sparked a conversation. Initially guarded, I soon found myself engaged in a heartfelt exchange with a fellow member of the LGBTQ community. It was a reminder of the unexpected connections that enrich our lives. In my line of work, I’ve come to see each life as a masterpiece, each person’s story etching a unique imprint on the world. And in the end, despite our varied paths and perspectives, we share a common humanity. We are born, we live, and we pass on, leaving behind the legacy of our existence. This Pride Month, I encourage you to view yourself as a living work of art, akin to the Mona Lisa, ever-evolving and beautiful in its journey. Your mere presence is a brushstroke on the canvas of the universe, and that alone is significant. You are enough. Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend. May you seize the opportunity to add vibrant strokes to the masterpiece that is your life. #PrideMonth #Diversity #Inclusion #LifeStories #Humanity

🌈 June is Pride month 🌈 Pride month is all about acceptance, equality and celebrating the work of LGBTQIA people. It's also an opportunity to raise awareness about LGBTQIA history and educate people LGBTQIA topics.   For the most marginalised groups in the LGBTQIA community, we are seeing backwards trends to progress. The trans community are facing laws being passed across the world to make inclusion and transition an even more difficult topic and process than it already is.   There are also rising numbers of trans murders and violence. Those who are part of the ‘silent letters’ groups within the community (including non-binary, agender, gender queer) also face discrimination, harassment, and erasure.   Although a key symbolic symbol, Pride month isn’t just about rainbow flags because LGBTQIA inclusion should take place 365 days of the year. This is why Lifetime Group has our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion strategy in place to make sure we’re always considering the rights and needs of the LGBTQIA community when decisions are being made, and to avoid any kind of ‘performative allyship’.

To celebrate Pride Month, we asked John Curtis, our Senior Vice President - Global Offerings & North America Direct Leasing Sales Director, what this month means to him: “Happy Pride month! LGBTQ Pride IS action. As with any innovation – we at Xerox have pride in our progress and recognize the real business value-add of inclusion. Business studies prove that individuals and businesses thrive when we actively support our LGBTQ and diverse colleagues, clients and neighbors. However, Pride month cannot just be celebrating the history of our past, but in ensuring measurable transformation that drives continuous progress. And superheroes need sidekicks! We need to be allies for each other, to unleash the best in our culture and teams. As I celebrate 40 years with Xerox, coinciding with Pride month, I can see the hundreds of actions and champions who contributed to our families, our careers and our communities. We must harness those experiences to keep our commitment and momentum driving forward: not just for Pride month – but each day, each decision, each opportunity to advocate for equity and true belonging.” #Xerox #Pride

🌈 Promoting Inclusivity Beyond Pride Month   Pride Month isn't just about colorful parades and celebrations—it's a reminder of the ongoing fight for LGBTQIA rights and acceptance. As allies, we have a responsibility to champion inclusion every day. Here's why:   ✨Consistency Matters: Staying authentic means embracing diversity and inclusion year-round. Let’s be effective allies every day—whether it's celebrating milestones, amplifying voices, or challenging prejudice.   ✨Educate and Advocate: Beyond Pride Month, educate yourself and others about LGBTQIA issues. By staying informed, we can challenge stereotypes, debunk myths, and promote empathy. Advocate for inclusive policies, safe spaces, and equal opportunities.   ✨Intersectionality: The current geo-political landscape reminds us that LGBTQIA rights intersect with other social justice movements. Let's stand up against discrimination in all its forms.   ✨Rights Are Still at Stake: Despite progress, LGBTQIA rights are still questioned and challenged. Our unwavering support matters, especially in a world where equality is far from universal.   So please remember, inclusion isn't seasonal, it's a daily commitment. Let's create a world where love, acceptance, and equality thrive, where everyone belongs. 🌈🌟🏳️🌈 #PrideMonth #InclusionMatters #BelongingTransforms

🌈 For #Pride, check out this insightful article on the importance of holding space for everyone in our community. Whether you're LGBTQIA or an ally, let's stand together in support and acceptance. Read more here:https://bit.ly/4bWOcr1 #PrideMonth #Inclusion #Equality

Check out my latest piece for Pyn!