Coffee Hour: Pride Month

June 30, 2021

On June 17, the Equity & Inclusion Committee hosted its monthly Coffee Hour with a Pride theme for June. Learning objectives and discussion topics focused on the history of Pride Month, celebrating LGBTQ+ voices and achievements in culture, and how to be an ally.

Following the format of coffee hours in the past, two brief videos were shown and then discussed in breakout groups. Highlights from these discussions include the evolution of Pride over time, with more senior employees remembering when it was more of a political rally than a celebratory parade. Some employees had never heard the story of the Stonewall riots, which led to a discussion of how intersectionality affects the more marginalized groups in the LBGTQ movement (trans, POC, bi-erasure, etc.).

Allyship was also discussed in terms of corporations doing more than branding Pride in marketing, as well as what we ourselves can do in our personal lives and in the workplace to allow everyone to bring their whole selves to work. It was a meaningful and lively discussion, and we look forward to more!