Idaho National Laboratory Celebrates Pride Month: Embracing Inclusion and Belonging in the Workplace

By Tiera Cate, INL Communications

June is Pride Month, and Idaho National Laboratory is committed to celebrating the LGBTQ community and their invaluable contributions to our work environment and beyond. Pride celebrations have a rich history, serving as a powerful force for positive change over the last 50 years. The celebrations represent the LGBTQ community's ongoing pursuit of dignity, respect, visibility, safety, equal rights and equal treatment. At INL, we recognize the importance of this movement and its connection to fostering a workplace where everyone feels they belong.

Inclusivity is a core value at INL, and it fuels innovation and excellence. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and to feel valued, welcomed, safe and empowered each day. Here's what some of our employees have to say about the importance of inclusion at INL:

“As an executive at Idaho National Laboratory, it’s a privilege for me to be both a sponsor for the laboratory’s Prism leadership council and an engaged ally. Our council works to promote an inclusive workplace and provide resources to employees and allies. It is vital to our mission for us to find bright, passionate, innovative problem solvers who can be their best selves at work as we strive to transform our nation’s energy future and secure our critical infrastructure.”  – Eric Papaioannou, INL Environment, Safety, Health & Quality Executive Director

"Working at INL has shown me that amazing things can happen when you have a group of talented and inclusively diverse individuals tackling the issues that matter." – Diana Grajeda, Materials researcher

“INL attracts the greatest minds because they encourage inclusivity of staff, diversity of thought and facilitation of collaboration. I take pride in being myself while supporting our laboratory’s mission.” – Mary Scales, Strategic Land Use program manager

"My time at INL has been incredibly rich, with collaboration among some of the brightest minds in industry. I look forward to continuing to strengthen national security alongside my peers each day." – Sara Hudson, Cybersecurity researcher

"Inclusivity within INL is the cornerstone of our rich culture and a broader, more creative perspective. It enables the convergence of unique ideas and lived experiences from across the globe, fostering an environment where innovation thrives and where every voice is valued. Embracing this mosaic of humanity is a strategic advantage that propels the organization forward in a competitive, interconnected world." – Randy Hughes, Executive Director, Office of Internal Investigations and Safeguards and Security

INL's commitment to inclusion is a journey. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made to establish safe places for colleagues to collaborate, feel valued and supported while simultaneously providing a competitive benefits package and flexible working arrangements. Yet, we also recognize there's always more to do. By partnering together, we’ll continue to create a working environment where everyone feels they belong and empowered to contribute their unique talents and lived perspectives. 

About Idaho National Laboratory

Battelle Energy Alliance manages INL for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy. INL is the nation's center for nuclear energy research and development, celebrating 75 years of scientific innovations in 2024. The laboratory performs research in each of DOE’s strategic goal areas: energy, national security, science and the environment. For more information, visit www.inl.gov. Follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.