Seattle Pride’s Post

Although I am in the early years of my professional career, I cannot express enough gratitude to work at such an amazing, inclusive, and open-minded place like About Fresh. I cannot imagine working at a more inclusive workplace, filled with allies and big colorful hearts. I am feeling extra filled with pride during this pride month, as my partner Steph and I celebrate another year out & proud in our personal and professional lives. While many people are not as fortunate as I am in this area, I hope people take moments this month to reflect and think about how they can be more inclusive or more of an active ally to all people in the LGBTQIA (and beyond!) community. Here are some ways to become a stronger ally:  1. Educate yourself - find out the history and current struggles of people in this community  2. Don’t assume you know what someone needs - you know what they say about assuming! 3. Practice active listening - try to digest the information before creating a response  4. Ditch putting people into boxes - boxes are out, and spectrums are in! 5. Recognize your privilege - use that power for GOOD!

📣 Check out our latest blog post for Black History Month! ✊🏿 We're highlighting the power of intersectionality and celebrating the incredible achievements of three remarkable Black individuals with disabilities. Despite facing multiple systemic barriers, these trailblazers have made significant contributions to society, inspiring us all to break down barriers and strive for equality. Read their inspiring stories on our blog now! #BlackHistoryMonth #Intersectionality #DisabilityRights #E4Texas 📚🖊️

National Coming Out Day is an annual LGBTQIA awareness day observed on October 11 to support anyone "coming out of the closet". Hear from Omar Farías, VMD, Director of Scientific & Academic Affairs at Hill's, about what National Coming Out Day means to him: National Coming Out Day reminds me how privileged I am.  I get to share with my world  that I am an out and proud, cis gay man. But, coming out does not happen in a day, it is a process. A process, in which I had to learn to love myself first, and chose my happiness over everything else. It is also a reminder that not everyone is safe to come out in the environment in which they live, and that each individual chooses their own path.  Days like these are important so that one day, everyone feels safe, and is safe to live their authentic life. Learn more about Hill's Colgate-Palmolive's support for the LGBTQIA community: https://lnkd.in/g36wCeFG

Dear brands, We're days away from the beginning of Pride month, and my feed is already being rainbow-washed 🌈 👉 Rainbow marketing across all socials. 👉 Every bit of corporate merchandise you can imagine in a (you guessed it) rainbow edition. 👉 Special discounts for Pride month. 👉 New rainbow logos for profile pictures. And though to some it may seem like a nice signal, I need you to know that actions speak louder than logos. So before you post that rainbow-hued pic, please ask yourself: 👉 Are your marketing campaigns inclusive? 👉 Have you got the right policies and support in place for your LGBTQIA staff?  👉 Are you amplifying LGBTQIA voices?  👉 Are you using inclusive language and representation? 👉 Are you putting your money where your mouth is? 👉 Are you staying in the know on LGBTQIA issues? 👉 Are you really trying to uplift the community or boost Q2 sales? 👉 Are you hiring at all levels from the LGBTQIA community? If the answer to any of the above is no, it might be worth starting there. Allyship doesn't start on June 1st and end on the 30th. Yours sincerely,  A member of the LGBTQIA community who knows you can do better.

Is your Pride Month marketing just a quick fling with rainbow colors, or are you in it for the long haul? 🌈 Check out our blog where we explore authentic support. How can your brand be more than just a rainbow washing bystander? From real representation (who are you centering, and what do you want them to do), to backing your LGBTQIA staff and causes, we're unpacking how you can transform good intentions into impactful actions. Hit up our blog for tips on doing Pride authentically. https://lnkd.in/g7eRYU8m 🚀

LGBTQIA Pride Month is in just a few weeks and please, for the love of god, if you have anything to do with your company's or organization's or personal brand and are going to "rainbow-up" your logo or create a bunch of Pride-centered promos and messaging? Don't even consider it without also crafting a clear, clean, public message explaining *why* aligning or promoting Pride is important to your business, brand, mission, vision, and work. It doesn't have to be complex, but it has to be real. Tell us your history, tell us your perspective, tell us about your advocacy and it's purpose. Don't just slap a rainbow behind your logo for a month. We can tell. And we're over it. This isn't like getting dressed up for Halloween. This is a month dedicated to honor the LGBTQIA community and culture, commemorating the struggles we have endured over time, and celebrating our collective and individual contributions, talents, diversity and existence makes our everyday lives so important, bright, and unique. Be part of the conversations, not just part of the window-dressing. There is still time to plan and deliver on purpose next month.

I’ve witnessed firsthand the challenges and barriers faced by Disabled BIPOC families within organizational and institutional networks. It’s clear that there is a pressing need for governmental and healthcare advisory/workgroups to reevaluate their approaches. Based on our experience at Community Bridges, I strongly believe these groups need to consider the following: ✅ Diverse Representation: It’s vital to have representatives from diverse backgrounds, including Disabled BIPOC individuals, in decision-making roles. Their perspectives are invaluable in creating policies and programs that are truly inclusive. ✅ Acknowledging and Compensating Lived Experience: The expertise that comes from lived experience is often overlooked. Recognizing and compensating this expertise is not only fair but enriches the quality of discussions and outcomes. ✅ Pre-Meeting Orientation on Materials and Concepts: Providing an orientation to meeting materials and concepts before the meetings is crucial. Ideally, this should be done by another advisory/workgroup member who is a professional in the relevant field. This preparation ensures that all members, especially those who might find the material challenging or unfamiliar, are ready to constructively engage in meetings. Furthermore, this interaction offers professionals an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding and empathy towards the necessity of making materials more comprehensible and accessible. It’s about empowering every member to contribute meaningfully. ✅ Accessibility of Meeting Formats: Ensuring that meetings and workgroup sessions are accessible is crucial. This includes providing accommodations like sign language interpreters, accessible documents, and virtual participation options. ✅ Flexible Scheduling: Many individuals face scheduling conflicts due to work, caregiving, or other responsibilities. Offering meetings at various times or recording sessions for later viewing can increase participation. ✅ Transparent Communication: Clear, non jargon/acronym filled, ongoing communication about the goals, processes, and outcomes of these groups is key to building trust and ensuring meaningful participation. At Community Bridges, our mission is not only to bridge gaps in understanding and resources but also to be a catalyst for systemic change. The insights we’ve gained from our work with Disabled BIPOC families and advocates is a testament to the strength and resilience of these communities. It’s crucial that governmental and healthcare advisory/workgroups not only recognize these strengths but actively integrate them into their structures and processes. Our commitment at Community Bridges is unwavering. We will continue to advocate for these changes and support our communities in every way we can. Together, we can build a more inclusive, equitable, and responsive system that truly serves everyone. #InclusiveLeadership #DEIB #DisabilityAdvocacy #CulturalCompetency #EquityInAction #InclusiveCommunities

October 11 is National Coming Out Day. It is a day to recognize and celebrate what is a very significant, brave and vulnerable moment in the life of a person who identifies as LGBTQIA . But coming out isn't a one-time thing. Individuals who identify as LGBTQIA will come out multiple times in their life as they start new jobs, make new friends or introduce themselves in a variety of situations.   If someone comes out to you, it is a sign that they believe you are a safe person to confide in. Check out these tips for how to respond if a friend or loved one comes out to you: https://bit.ly/3iGFio8.

🗓️ June is one of my favourite months of the year 6️⃣ 🌈 While I read posts celebrating Pride Month, I realize is also the 13th anniversary of the Ruggie’s “Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. “🔖 The intersection of both occasions is clear: business have a vital role towards the inclusion of LGBTQIA people. And businesses are built by the people! As I reflect on my journey towards an LGBTQIA ally, here are some steps I have taken: ➡️ I took time to educate myself on language use or historical events such as the Stonewall riots. ➡️ I tried to ask and listen before stating. Because only members of the community can say what feels right - or wrong. ➡️ I worked to challenge and unlearn the biases ingrained in my upbringing. ➡️ I started to speak out against exclusive statements or microagressions. Today beyond my corporate role, I continue on my learning journey. 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈Because the basics are in the Human Rights Declaration: all human beings are equal. #pridemonth #humanrights