Project UpLIFT’s Post

Please join me for a conversation with Jackson Lewis' Director of DEI #AngieCavallo in which we discuss "Breaking LGBTQ+ Barriers: From Covering Behaviors to a Path toward Inclusivity and Belonging."

Big shoutout to Linda Lee (she/her), Chief People Officer of Velocity Global for allowing us the opportunity to speak to our whole company about important & difficult stuff. I had the honor of interviewing the incoming leadership of our PRIDE group. They were all so willing to be open, transparent, vulnerable, brave, and strong. These are the attributes we need right now. My opening remarks follow: ----------------------------------------------------------- Hey all! And happy pride month! We typically begin these kinds of meetings with a reminder of why this matters. Why do we still need pride events? I mean…sure… we can all use an injection of style & fabulousness, but why do we "need" this? In our post-Will-&-Grace age where we have gay marriage as the rule of the land, why do we "need" these events? As a reminder, Pride month is in June. It’s not because we can all wear short shorts and tight t-shirts on floats. Well… that’s not the only reason. It’s because it's the anniversary of the Stonewall riots - a huge gay uprising in NYC against the cops who were routinely raiding the bar and arresting us. Pride events were and are acts of activism; they’re a reminder of uprising, they’re a reminder to keep fighting, they are a call to action. There was a German philosopher named Hegel who posited that history has patterns - the Hegelian Dialectic - made up of Thesis, Antithesis, & Synthesis. Something is true (thesis), then the opposite pushes back (antithesis), this leads to a transformation (synthesis). For gay rights, we've seen this year after year. When I was 18, I marched in my first gay pride parade in New York. When we passed churches we were met with people screaming at us “God Hates Fags”. 42 years later, in Colorado right now, we have people chanting God Hates Flags, pushing people to burn gay flags. So yes, we have gay marriage And we have gay flag burning. The thesis and antithesis. What remains is the synthesis; the transformation. That’s where the role of Pride events lives; in the nudging of social evolution. That’s why we do these. To not back down, but to keep fighting back. Especially when it’s not easy.

🌟 Day 3: Honoring Black Queer Pioneers: Foundations of Our Fight 🌟 Today, we honor the incredible Black queer pioneers who have been instrumental in both the civil rights and LGBTQ+ movements. From Marsha P. Johnson's fearless activism during the Stonewall Riots to Bayard Rustin's strategic brilliance in organizing the 1963 March on Washington, and James Baldwin's eloquent critiques of race and sexuality—these trailblazers have paved the way for the freedoms we cherish today. 🔍 Key Highlights: Marsha P. Johnson: Co-founder of the Gay Liberation Front and STAR, advocating for homeless LGBTQ+ youth and sex workers. Bayard Rustin: Close advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and key organizer of the historic 1963 March on Washington. James Baldwin: Brilliant writer and social critic whose works like "The Fire Next Time" challenged racism and homophobia, fostering greater empathy and understanding. Their legacies remind us that our liberation is deeply intertwined, and their bravery continues to inspire our fight for justice and equality. Quote of the day: "History is not the past. It is the present. We carry our history with us. We are our history." – James Baldwin 📖 Read more and join the conversation on my Substack newsletter In solidarity and empowerment, Desireé B Stephens #Pride #Juneteenth #BlackQueerPioneers #Intersectionality #CivilRights #LGBTQ #SocialJustice #CommunityBuilding #Liberation #EquityInEducation

#PrideMonth is not over. In fact, in some cities like Tacoma, WA, it is just starting! This year there seems to be more backlash against our community, but as this piece by NPR points out this backlash is a result of increased visibility, and has been perpetuated by a small group of bad actors. "Corporates have NOT stepped away from the LGBTQ+ community and nor are they going to. Honestly, in order to future-proof their business, they have to include our community. When you look at GenZ reporting, 30% identify as or are LGBTQ. That is the future consumer and employee." With visibility comes backlash. Our community has had peaks and lulls between progress and backlash. "What the people who lead these backlashes don't understand is that every time they go after us it inspires people to come out and be visible." When it comes to corporate sponsorship much of the pressure to participate comes from employees. Today we are seeing ERG groups fight back against the backlash. Let's continue to be visible and let everyone know that we are not going anywhere. If you are in #FinTech and #FinServ and want to work with the LGBTQ+ communities, stay strong on your conviction because the future is #Gay! If you want to find out about UNITY™ Programship at Females and Finance and the other affinity groups of Females and Finance Community, please follow us, join the group and tag others who you know are part of our community! Sheryl Hickerson, Peggy Haslach, CFP®,CLU®, Katie Kimball Dyer Tara Meehan Karen Melo Ticas, CFP®, RICP®, WMCP® https://lnkd.in/gGCA8c88

In this week's #wizreadswednesdays, we explore a much spoken about issue regarding corporate support of pride month: rainbow washing. Read this medium-difficulty article to know more about this frowned-upon business practice and answer the easy inference question that follows. Explanations will be posted tomorrow. https://lnkd.in/gmu9npTS Which of the following makes a pride campaign inappropriate, according to the author? A. There is financial support to the LGBTQ+ community B. The profits from merchandise sold as pride paraphernalia is used by the company C. When there is no discrimination during recruitment processes D. When there is no discrimination for promotions and internal recruitment E. When companies do not fund campaigns of politicians who discriminate against the community #gmat #gmatprep #gmatpreparation #readingcomprehension #gmatverbal #gmatrc #wizreads #wizreadswednesdays #wizako

Coming out is never just a one-time thing. Once you start coming out, you keeping coming out throughout your life in various settings. Doing so at work can often be one of the most difficult decisions to make. I think all LGBTQ+ individuals have both good and ... not-so-good experiences with coming out at work. I know I sure do. And, it can often feel like a burden to constantly have to "teach" people about your identity. Luckily, times have changed since I came out at my first job -- in no small part to the trailblazers who paved the way. These courageous individuals, and their active allies, created opportunities through DEI advocacy and the creation of Employee Resource Groups, which have truly made created safe spaces for many individuals. Being seen, heard, and accepted is all anyone truly wants in life. Having that foundation of acceptance at work makes a huge difference in success, not just for the individual, but for every aspect of the business they touch. Today, I'm happy to hold space for anyone and everyone. My goal is to ensure everyone has a voice and an opportunity to bring their whole self to work. I'm so glad I got to share some of my story along the way, but more importantly, I got to hear the stories others felt comfortable sharing with me. And that has made my career so much richer. #NationalComingOutDay #LGBTQ #Pride #DEI #ERG #LGBTQhistorymonth

On June 28, 1969, the Stonewall riots began – a historic series of events over six days where LGBTQ+ protesters fought back against police raids at the Stonewall Inn in New York City. This was far from the first instance of U.S. police brutality against queer communities (targeting gay bars was just one manifestation). The revolt at Stonewall marked a significant moment in LGBTQ+ activism, furthering a spirited resistance that would shape the future of the movement in the United States. BLO stands in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community as we commemorate this anniversary. We honor the brave individuals who fought back against discrimination and state-sanctioned violence, as well as those who do so today. We believe that art has the power to reflect and inspire change. Through the language of opera, we seek to amplify the voices of diverse individuals and communities both on and offstage – especially those that are marginalized and underrepresented – to foster empathy, understanding, and meaningful human connections. Love knows no boundaries, and on this 55th anniversary of Stonewall, we celebrate the resilience and activism of those who continue to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, queer joy, inclusive spaces, and equity. #stonewallanniversary #loveknowsnoboundaries #inclusivity #equity #opera #stonewall

I always think of today, as we celebrate International Pride Day, as a day to honor respect in its deepest essence. Yes, we need to talk about this throughout the year, and yes, we need to talk about it today, which marks a significant milestone in the struggle of the LGBTQ+ community worldwide. This date primarily aims to raise awareness about the importance of building a society free of prejudice and equal for all, where everyone is respected and has their rights guaranteed. As a leader, I feel a responsibility to create opportunities for everyone to access dignified work, feel included, and be supported by equitable development and career policies. We play a crucial role in welcoming people and engaging in discussions about policies, practices, and initiatives that continuously advance the inclusion and equity agenda. As individuals, we need to broaden our worldview and understand that "exclusion" is often our default mode, while "inclusion" requires intention, learning, listening, and empathy. It is by holding hands that we will evolve. #PrideDay #Inclusion #Equality #Respect #PrideDay #Inclusion #Equality #Respect #PrideEveryDay #UnityInDiversity #HumanRights #PrideAndJoy #LGBTQCommunity #PrideCelebration #GenderEuality

Being an ally isn't a title, it's a continuous action. This Pride Month, let's delve into some eye-opening insights that underline why it's crucial now more than ever. For those unaware, Pride Month is a global celebration championing LGBTQ voices, culture, and rights. Significant festivities brighten cities from New York to San Francisco. When it comes to corporate engagement, 53% of Americans anticipate CEOs to drive conversations around LGBTQ rights. Wouldn't it feel empowering to stand with this majority? Interestingly, two-thirds of Americans perceive Pride-themed merchandising on par with other specialized products. 74% of the public is indifferent to enlightened by companies offering Pride merchandise. Alarming is the recent spike in anti-LGBTQ bias crimes - a staggering increase of 19%. Transgender bias crimes have also seen a gut-wrenching rise of 35%. Here we see a stark contrast - on one hand, the growing acceptance and on the other, hate crimes souring exponentially. How do you plan to support Pride this year? Let’s keep the conversation going. Everyone deserves a safe space to love and be loved. Share your insights below #PrideMonth #LGBTQ+ #InclusionMatters #Allyship #Equality #LoveIsLove #PrideCelebration #CorporateDiversity #Acceptance #HumanRights #P #ReachifyMe

As a retail professional and an out and proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, I've noticed a surprising lack of Pride displays and merchandise at several stores this year. While doing some research, I came across an article from Bloomberg with some interesting statistics... - Worldwide LGBTQ Buying Power - $3.9 Trillion - Americans are 2 times as likely to support pro-LGBTQ+ brands - Americans are 4.5 times as likely to work for pro-LGBTQ+ brands Despite the political backlash of the past couple years, Americans overwhelming support LGBTQ+ freedom in their purchasing power and buying decisions. Why are brands and retailers OK with missing out on such a lucrative market?