Shasta Leary (Coe)’s Post

A meaningful Pride month at your organization: Recognizing the importance of equity and inclusion and matching that recognition with action to improve and address gaps. An opportunity to reflect on how your organization interacts with, engages and empowers the LGBTQIA+ community. A moment to take stock and consider updating your diversity statement. A real and measurable effort towards reaching this often marginalized community through focused programming and targeted campaigns.

🗓️ 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

As we commemorate Pride Month and Juneteenth, I am reminded of the ongoing journey towards equality, freedom, and dignity for everyone. Pride Month is a time to honor the LGBTQIA+ community’s resilience and the strides made towards achieving equal rights. It’s a celebration of love, identity, and the courage to be oneself in the face of adversity. Juneteenth, marks a pivotal moment in American history—the end of slavery. It’s a day to reflect on the struggles for racial equality and to recommit to building a future where everyone can thrive without discrimination. Both Pride Month and Juneteenth embody the spirit of liberation and the importance of standing up for what is right. They raise our level of awarness about the importance of LGBTQIA+ rights and the historical significance of Juneteenth. They remind us to be vigilant and proactive in recognizing the value of every individual. On my team, we have a saying - "Do the right thing" ...and doing the right thing means standing up for human rights, advocating for social justice, and ensuring our daily practices align with these values. To the African-American, Black, Native and Indigenous people in my life - know that you are seen, celebrated, and affirmed for simply existing. Your contributions to society are absolutely necessary. Equality is the minimum and equity is on the horizon. Stand fast in your value, in your dignity, and in the greatness that you are. To the LGBTQIA+ folks in my life - let's celebrate this month! Celebrate our visibility and acceptance, knowing that visibility in and of itself is a privilege. To my LinkedIn connections - let’s continue to do the right thing. To build cultures that celebrate diversity, champions freedom, and strives for a better future for everyone. Remember, if you truly believe in something, you can – and will – affect the outcome. #PrideMonth #Juneteenth #ISMs #Culture #ImpactTheOutcome

November 20 Celebration Mashup Today is a perfect blend of silliness, sweetness, reflection, and advocacy! 1. Laugh & Play: Celebrate National Absurdity Day by doing something hilariously out of the ordinary. Wear mismatched socks, create an upside-down meal, or let your pet make decisions for the day. Life’s too short to always make sense! 2. Share Compassion: Honor Transgender Day of Remembrance by spreading kindness and advocating for inclusion. Take a moment to reflect on the importance of creating a world that’s safe for everyone. 3. Celebrate Kids: It’s Universal Children’s Day, so spend some quality time with the little ones in your life. Support their dreams, share laughter, and remember that every child deserves a bright future. 4. Sweet Treats: Wrap it all up with National Peanut Butter Fudge Day! Whether you whip up a batch or enjoy some from your favorite shop, let this indulgence be the cherry on top of a memorable day. Today’s mix of fun, thoughtfulness, and indulgence reminds us to balance joy with purpose!

Pride Month is a time to stand together, celebrate diversity, and show that love is love. 🏳️🌈 Why Showing Support Matters: Visibility Equals Empowerment: Your support empowers those who see it, knowing they are accepted and celebrated. Fostering Inclusion: Promoting an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and respected. Starting Conversations: Simple gestures can spark meaningful conversations about equality, acceptance, and the importance of being an ally. Building Community: Being part of a global movement, standing in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community. Supporting Change: Contributing to support LGBTQIA+ causes and organizations, driving real, positive change. The Power of Pride Merch: Wearing Pride merch shows your support in a visible way, helping to increase awareness and spread the message of love and acceptance. Get Involved: Show your true colours this Pride Month. Together, we can create a world where everyone feels seen, heard, and loved. 🌈✨

As we step into Pride Month, I want to take a moment to celebrate and support the LGBTQIA+ community. 🌈 Pride is more than just a celebration; it’s a powerful statement about love, identity, and the freedom to be oneself without fear. It’s about recognizing the struggles, honoring the courage, and supporting the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community. As an ally, I stand in solidarity with my LGBTQIA+ friends, colleagues, and the global community. I am committed to learning, listening, and lending my voice to advocate for inclusivity and diversity in all spaces. How can you become an ally, you ask? 😇 There are so many things you can do to be a better ally. 1. Educate yourself. 2. Listen and learn. 3. Be mindful of pronouns. 4. Practice inclusivity when you address the room. 5. Give up those “jokes” that are hurtful to the community. 6. Shame those movies that make fun of the community in a slapstick stereotypical way. 7. Call out discrimination when you see one. 8. Be humble, learn from mistakes, challenge your biases. 9. Support LGBTQIA+ causes. 10. If you are a reader like me, incorporate books by authors from LGBTQIA+ community in your bookshelf. (You can always ask me if you need reading recommendations) And if you are still on the fence about becoming an ally, no pressure. I hope you become one, someday. Till then, be open minded, be supportive. Otherwise, just get out of the way of progress, equality and equity. Let’s use this month to reflect on how we can all contribute to a world where everyone can live authentically and love freely. Let’s continue to educate ourselves, speak up against discrimination, and celebrate the beautiful spectrum of human experience. Happy Pride Month! #PrideMonth #Inclusion #Diversity #Allyship #archesintherainbow Chandra Duraiswamy

This month, in Connect, Moving Ahead faculty member and DE&I expert, Holiday Phillips guides us through how to become an ally and educate ourselves about LGBTQIA+ issues. Here is what she recommends: 1. Fill in the blanks of your history, as in formal education, sometimes the lives and experiences of marginalised individuals are left out. 2. Open up conversations. Often, the fear of being intrusive stops us from learning about issues we don't know enough about. 3. Read books and watch films about LGBTQIA+ lives as they are an excellent window into people's lived experiences. 4. Consume media from LGBTQIA+ creators on other topics as this will allow you to see them as whole people with varied lives and develop empathy. 5. Go to a pride event and take the opportunity to immerse yourself in the community and celebration and while you are there, to share yourself.

I was absolutely honored to be able to contribute to Eptura's most recent blog about the importance of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging in the workplace. This is such an important topic to consider, especially during 🌈 Pride Month 🌈 . Thrilled to get to work for a company that prioritizes inclusion and diversity--check out the article below!

Top tips for championing inclusivity during Pride month...and beyond! 🌈 Be an ally, learn about LGBTQIA+ issues to enhance your understanding and support of the community. 🌈 Examine and challenge your own biases to cultivate a more inclusive mindset. 🌈 Confront discriminatory language or behaviours, promoting respect and acceptance. 🌈 Utilise inclusive language and pronouns to foster a welcoming atmosphere for everyone. 🌈 Listen to LGBTQIA+ experiences and concerns with empathy and without judgement. 🌈 Advocate for policies and practices that promote equality and protect against discrimination. LGBTQIA+ inclusion should take place 365 days of the year. This is why Lifetime Group has its 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’.

Happy Pride Month! 🎇 My good friend and colleague who helped develop NeuDivergent, shared his experience as someone who is both queer and neurodivergent. Niall talks about a notable correlation; neurodivergent people are far more likely to identify as LGBTQIA+ than neurotypical peers. Niall's journey towards finding “shameless pride” in his identity resonates with me. I have always found friendship with groups of individuals that have been marginalised and oppressed. The empathy and connection are strong, and I highly value these friendships. Why is it important that we talk about intersecting identities? True inclusivity is not possible by focusing on just one aspect of identity. An intersectional approach is essential. It considers multiple identities, like race, gender, sexuality, and disability. Even though Pride Month is coming to an end, our pride and commitment remain. We've faced challenges and we persist. Feel free to share what comes up for you here. Exciting developments are coming with NeuDivergent – stay tuned. https://lnkd.in/em49Tk-v #Pride #Inclusivity #inclusivitymatters #LGBT #LGBTQ #LGBTQI #LGBTQIA #ADHD #Autism #Autistic #Neurodiversity #Neurodivergent #inclusion