By Deanna Keenan
In June 1999, President Clinton issued a proclamation that designated June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month.
June marks the historic anniversary of the Stonewall Riots on June 27, 1969. New York Beverage Control Board agents and NYC police officers raided the bar—locally known as a gay bar—to enforce a rarely implemented alcohol control law. Those within the bar were forced out, beaten, and arrested with no just cause. The patrons of the bar fought back against the police brutality, and as word spread, the crowd grew larger as people came together to protest the mistreatment of the LGBTQ+ bar-goers. In March 2000, the Stonewall Inn was declared a national historical landmark and was cited as the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ civil rights movement.
Every June, the LGBTQ+ community and its allies celebrate Pride in different ways. In addition to this monthlong celebration, Pride month is also an opportunity to peacefully protest, address disparities that disproportionately impact LGBTQ+ individuals, donate to organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community, and raise political awareness of current issues facing the community.
There are many virtual offerings this year to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month, including:
Charitable donations to organizations promoting and advancing LGBTQ+ rights are other options to show support throughout the month. Organizations include:
June also honors Juneteenth, which is celebrated on June 19 and commemorates the emancipation of African American slaves in the United States. The day marks when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to ensure all enslaved people in the state were freed. Enslaved people in Texas were unaware that they were free, even after the last battle was fought in 1865 and more than two years after Congress passed the 13th Amendment. Juneteenth has long been celebrated in Black American culture, and in 2021, President Joe Biden formally declared Juneteenth as a federal holiday.
Over the past few years, momentum around the holiday has built up, with companies launching programs to recognize the holiday. Now that it has been designated as a federal holiday, more organizations are honoring Juneteenth through paid time off and planned volunteer activities or discussions to build awareness around racism and disparities that disproportionately affect African Americans.
Below, see what some DBP members are doing to celebrate and honor LGBTQ+ Pride Month and Juneteenth in 2022.
The company’s commitment to inclusion will be shared by Bright Horizons’ CEO, Stephen Kramer, followed by a kickoff call to celebrate and raise awareness for Pride Month. All employees are invited to a call where they can hear stories of LGBTQ+ professionals, who will share their journeys and commitments to justice and equality. Speakers from the United States and the United Kingdom will be present at this event. Bright Horizons will share employee spotlights throughout the month to help give a face to the LGBTQ+ community at the organization. The company will conclude the month with the annual “Show Your Colors Day,” where all employees and teams are encouraged to dress in rainbow colors and participate in activities to help employees connect.
Social media celebrations will include the sharing of videos with LGBTQ+ employees along with quotes and their pictures sharing why they feel included at Bright Horizons. All social posts will highlight the company’s LGBTQ+ inclusive services, help parents discuss gender identity with their children, and use the hashtag #BHPride.
For Juneteenth, Bright Horizons will be hosting a fireside chat with a board member to review the organization’s commitment to social justice and commemorate the holiday.
Capgemini’s OUTfront ERG is hosting Pride events in Houston, NYC, Chicago, SFO, Dallas, and Salt Lake City. During the week of June 20, the ERG will host a “T-Time” panel discussion focused on transgender issues and will host a drag king show.
Capgemini is also participating in the Nashville Pride parade. Social media actions include a Global Pride campaign through Capgemini’s global ERG, OUTfront.
For Juneteenth, their African American and Black People Transforming Capgemini (AABPT) ERG will be hosting an event for employees.
Estée Lauder’s wELCome ERG is honoring Pride Month in various ways:
The Estée Lauder Companies’ offices are closed in honor of Juneteenth. The company will also host another ERG event open to all employees featuring Ibram X. Kendi, author of How to Be an Antiracist.
Experian is celebrating Pride Month globally, uniting under one theme: Together we make progress.
Internal actions and events include:
Experian’s social teams are changing the brand emblems for the month to show support for the LGBTQ+ community across the globe. Experian will use the hashtag #TogetherWeMakeProgress in social posts to highlight the company’s impact on the LGBTQ+ community, their diverse employees, and the proud partnerships with LGBTQ+ nonprofits.
The company is also proud to support and partner with leading LGBTQ+ nonprofit organizations across the globe, including the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, Out & Equal, Stonewall, Mermaids, Switchboard, and Terrence Higgins Trust.
Beyond Pride Month, Experian proudly supports the LGBTQ+ community year-round. From highly engaging workplace events sponsored by the Pride Employee Resource Group to benefits programs specifically designed to support their LGBTQ+ employees, the rich and colorful culture is one where employees can truly bring their whole selves to work.
The organization affirms the identities of transgender and nonbinary consumers by providing a way for them to update their names on their Experian credit report. Read more about this action and process via this blog post, “Experian Supports Transgender and Non-binary Consumers with Name Change Process on Credit Reports.”
The LGBTQ+ community is not immune to hate crimes, but by Experian supporting its employees through inclusive benefits, strategic nonprofit partnerships, and creating safe spaces at work, the company is fostering a space where everyone belongs. To learn more about their work in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, both internally and externally, please visit Experian.com/Diversity.
A note for Juneteenth: Experian’s communities were heavily affected by recent hate crime events. The company remains steadfast in support of its employees during these troubling times. Experian values the contributions from their Black communities and stands shoulder to shoulder with them.
Juneteenth is a corporate holiday, enabling their employees to take time to reflect on this historic event. Additionally, the Karibu ERG, whose mission is to enrich the lives of Experian’s Black employees, is organizing a Juneteenth celebration that includes a dynamic discussion with Dr. Nicholas Pierce on leading and influencing with authenticity and a jazz performance from renowned musician Dr. Gordan Vernick.
This year, Freddie Mac’s theme is “Pride: Then and Now,” featuring a powerful month of programming looking at the history and future of LGBTQ+ rights. The kickoff event features drag queen and coder Anna Lytical, who will talk about community representation in tech fields. Freddie Mac will also host a keynote from filmmaker Yoruba Richen on the intersection of the LGBTQ+ and Civil Rights movements and a panel on inclusive terms. The company will also highlight how LGBTQ+ employees contribute to Freddie Mac’s efforts to make home possible—and inclusive—for all. Check out the company’s LinkedIn page for more information.
Since 2021, Freddie Mac has observed Juneteenth with a paid holiday and encouraged employees to recognize the day by supporting and engaging with local communities. Self-guided and curated educational opportunities were selected and communicated to employees through the Freddie Mac DEI division. Climate justice activist Catherine Coleman Flowers shared an inspiring message on climate change and waste/water sanitation issues and the impact in marginalized communities. In addition, 20 employees volunteered at the Capital Area Food Bank, and many donated to social justice organizations using the Matching Gifts Program.
For Pride Month, Gallagher performed the following to show support and allyship:
HSBC is hosting an NYC in-person PRIDE social celebration including a DJ and drag queen performance.
The company is also hosting PRIDE marches in Chicago and Buffalo, New York. It will also host a presentation of the HSBC 2022 PRIDE Inclusion Award.
On June 1, HSBC is hosting the #24HoursOfPride Launch, an LGBTQ+ inclusion discussion with HSBC’s United States and Americas head of HR and Out Leadership. Also on June 1, HSBC will host a global event: a master class on mindfulness.
External actions include:
Ionis Pharmaceuticals is creating “Safe Space Ally” signs for people to display in their workspaces and creating Ionis Pride shirts. There will also be a company-wide event screening of the Intersexion documentary, a panel discussion on gender identity and impact at work, and a luncheon.
Social media actions include a posting campaign internally and externally on LGBTQIA+ scientists who have globally contributed to scientific research.
The company has also signed the CEO Pledge for a More Equitable and Inclusive Life Sciences Industry.
Johnson & Johnson’s Open&Out (O&O) employee resource group (ERG) for LGBTQIA+ employees is hosting activities to help J&J employees celebrate Pride Month 2022, including the Virtual Pride Kickoff event. The Virtual Pride event centered around this year’s theme, (In)Vision—to be heard is to be seen, and to be seen is revolutionary—in partnership with the long-standing Consumer Health initiative, Care With Pride. Several leaders at J&J spoke at this virtual event, and there were presentations from artists, activists, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. The event is an opportunity for employees to learn more about the impact J&J has made through Care with Pride and its sponsorships. In addition, the global Pride flag is raised at facilities around the world. J&J’s Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is also educating employees on the history of Pride Month through historical and current storytelling, including interactive, online content reinforcing J&J’s long-standing commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ communities and how employees can get involved to advance the company’s culture of inclusion.
In 2011, J&J employees came together to start Care With Pride, an initiative designed to openly champion love, equality, and care for all people within the LGBTQIA+ community. Care With Pride is a volunteer-led program that includes more than 10 J&J cross-sector brands. J&J partners with influential voices in the LGBTQ+ community to give employees support year-round and support nonprofit partners doing meaningful work for the LGBTQ+ community. With True Colors United, the company is providing 700 care packages for trans youth and LGBTQ+ families. In 2022, the Care With Pride initiative went global and now includes products in Canada, Germany, Brazil, Japan, and the United Kingdom. Since 2011, Care With Pride has donated over $1 million to LGBTQ+ nonprofit groups such as PFLAG, The Trevor Project, and Family Equality. J&J also provided a grant to Avenues for Youth, and the company is a national sponsor for Family Week & Family Equality. In addition, employees around the world participate in more than 40 Pride parades through Care With Pride.
More Pride celebration can be followed on J&J’s LinkedIn page and the personal pages of company leaders such as Wanda Hope, Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer; Peter Fasolo, Chief Human Resources Officer; and William Gunn, Chief Procurement Officer.
In recognition of Juneteenth, Johnson & Johnson engaged at the local level through chapters of the African American Ancestry Leadership Council (AALC) ERG. For example, an AALC chapter in Spring House, Pennsylvania, Held the “Juneteenth Jubilee,” where employees, family, and friends celebrated with fun and food, led a lively discussion featuring “Will” by Will Smith, and hosted a live virtual cooking demonstration of wonderful recipes featuring and highlighting the significance of red food, drink, and spice. The company also shares educational tools and resources through announcements on the company-wide intranet, including an interactive newsletter: “This Day in History” regarding the history and significance of Juneteenth in the United States. In addition, J&J elevated resources made available as part of key partnerships with external organizations, such as with the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Similarly, the Consumer Health program “Allies with the Black Community” hosted a celebration of Juneteenth featuring insights from Dr. Aaron Smith, Assistant Professor of Africology & African American Studies at Temple University.
Horizon’s LGBTQ+ Affinity Group, Spectrum, will be hosting an annual Pride celebration event on June 25. The theme for the event is “The Power of Allyship.” The event will explore what it means to be an ally and provide useful tools to support members of the LGBTQ+ community. This year’s guest speaker is Chasity Chandler from the Fowlkes Consulting Group. Chasity is the founder of the National Institute for Sexual Health & Wellness, which is the first and only sexuality education program in the world that is geared toward working with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Their goal is to provide a shame-free, affirming, and inclusive approach to education for various professionals.
Horizon BCBSNJ will once again sponsor and participate in New Jersey’s 30th Annual Pride Event in Asbury Park on Sunday, June 5. The Community Affairs team and Spectrum will be engaging with the community at the event and will provide information on Horizon and Braven Medicare products, brochures, and giveaways.
Kohl’s will be hosting several events for the PRIDE business resource group (BRG) members. Highlights of these events include a Lunch & Learn with partners at The Trevor Project to kick off the month, followed by a live webinar with Out & Equal on Intersectional Allyship in the Workplace.
Kohl’s will also be hosting a two-week volunteer drive where associates across the country will be asked to volunteer with local Feeding America chapters and/or with their local LGBTQ+ Community Centers. Additionally, Kohl’s will be marching in eight Pride Parades across the country and will be a Gold Sponsor of the company’s hometown’s Pride Parade in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The company will have a marketing campaign across social media all month highlighting Kohl’s donation to The Trevor Project as well as the Pride Merch collection, some of which was designed by the company’s Diversity Design Council. Follow the hashtag #PrideAtKohls to learn more!
KPMG is launching a Pride Month kickoff video for employees featuring their CDEIO and National ERG co-chair, where they will:
Externally, many KPMG local chapters will be participating in local Pride Parades to encourage Pride and visibility in their communities. Some of these chapters include Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and San Francisco.
KPMG’s Houston Pride chapter will be volunteering at the Montrose/Hatch Youth LGBTQIA Youth Prom. Hatch Youth is Houston’s oldest, currently active social group dedicated to empowering LGBTQIA+ youth between the ages of 7 and 20. Hatch Youth groups provide a safe and affirming environment where youth can socialize, make new friends, and engage in educational and creative activities to help youth in and around Houston not just survive, but thrive.
Social media actions for Pride Month include KPMG’s CEO and CDEIO posting internal and external acknowledgements for Pride Month throughout the month of June.
Juneteenth is a firm-wide observance for KPMG, and all employees take the day off to honor this important date. As Juneteenth falls on a Sunday this year, June 20 will be the day off for employees.
On June 14th (subject to change), KPMG will be hosting “Building Black Wealth: A Juneteenth Conversation, Sponsored by KPMG” on Twitter Spaces, which will be a conversation on the Black workforce in the United States and tangible steps to building or enhancing financial wealth.
Description of Session: Despite significant progress that Black Americans have made in recent decades to attain higher education, corporate leadership positions, and entrepreneurship, there continues to remain a gap in large-scale wealth accumulation within this community. With more than 19 million Black Americans representing the nation’s workforce* and a projected spending power of $1.8 trillion by 2024**, it’s critical to ensure today’s Black talent—from corporate leaders to entrepreneurs—are armed with practical tools and resources to empower them to enhance their financial wellness for generations to come. As we head into Juneteenth, hear from financial experts from KPMG’s Private Equity practice and the Center for Black Excellence who share insights on:
i. Historical systemic challenges that have resulted in barriers to wealth accumulation for Black Americans—and how those barriers have been overcome
ii. Calculating your personal net worth by assessing assets and liabilities over time
iii. Actionable steps to convert income into wealth
iv. Considerations to keep in mind when selecting your financial planner
v. Ways to assess benefits and compensation provided by your employer
On June 16th, the African Ancestry Business Resource Group (BRG) will host a Juneteenth membership meeting intended to be celebratory (e.g., recognize individual key accomplishments) and a call to action for continued engagement in support of the firm’s Accelerate 2025 priorities.
At Merck, the Rainbow Alliance (RA) employee business resource group (EBRG) has events and activities planned throughout the month, including global webinars, local chapter events, and attendance at virtual conferences. The “Powered by Pride” Global Kickoff Webcast on June 1 will begin Pride month with an Executive Panel discussion on supporting DEI and LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace including Celeste R. Warren, VP, Global Diversity & Inclusion Center of Excellence and RA Global Co-Leads Erika Belsaas and Andres Lopez Castano. The webcast will also introduce the newest RA Chapters to share their perspectives from Asia, Southeastern Europe, Italy, Turkey, San Francisco, Central America and Caribbean, and Chile.
Following are highlights of Merck’s events this month:
Merck’s CEO, Rob Davis, will be posting a message about Pride Month on LinkedIn reinforcing his commitment to stand together with the LGBTQ+ community and support all our employees who bring their authentic selves to work each day. Throughout Pride month, there will also be stories on Merck’s website, including articles on a colleague sharing a story about feeling surprisingly welcomed and supported when they joined the company and a manager talking about supporting a transgender employee while they were transitioning. Employee stories will be shared on the company’s LinkedIn page, including “Finding the courage to come out after 20 years of marriage,” “How this HIV activist prioritizes wellness in his day-to-day,” and “4 LGBTQ+ employees share stories of finding freedom to be themselves at work.” A series of posts will highlight how we can all best support the LGBTQ+ community in improving equitability with our prescription: knowledge and education. Additionally, “Thought Leader Thursday” posts from colleagues will be shared in June on social media, including “Pride Month: Finding my place” from the RA Global Co-Lead Andrés López Castaño.
This year, Nasdaq will be hosting its annual LGBTQ+ Leaders conference on June 21, 2022, at its Marketsite Headquarters in Times Square in NYC. Each year, Nasdaq’s LGBTQ+ leaders conference attracts outstanding LGBTQ+ leaders and allies to share their experiences with our 300+ participants, across over 200 publicly traded companies.
Conference participants mostly consist of LGBTQ+ employees across a gamut of companies who are active in their companies’ LGBTQ+ employee networks and help to champion LGBTQ+ causes in their workplaces. This year, Nasdaq’s conference theme is “Queer Through the Years.” The aim is to spotlight the multigenerational queer experience in today’s workplace and explore the experiences of their leaders and their advice; what connects LGBTQ+ people across a myriad of intersectionalities; and what are some of the calls to action as a community.
Beth Ford, CEO of Land O’Lakes and the first openly gay female CEO of a Fortune 500 company will be a keynote speaker. Assaf Rappaport, Co-founder and CEO of Wiz, will be another keynote speaker. The company will have three panels.
Nasdaq will be celebrating Pride and covering the LGBTQ+ Leaders conference on its social media platforms.
Nasdaq will also be ringing the bell for Juneteenth and providing intersectional queer/Black Juneteenth resources for employees from the HRC.
New York Power Authority (NYPA) celebrates Pride Month by encouraging employees to get involved with their local Pride events. In a message sent internally, the company cited the history of the month, gave points on how to be an ally and show support to the LGBTQ+ community, shared a Microsoft Teams Pride-themed background for employees to use, and encouraged allies to participate in the company’s Pride in Power employee resource group (ERG). Furthermore, the company offered to pay entrance fees for local Pride festivals. Nancy Harvey, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, and The Pride in Power ERG also invited all NYPA employees to join them on Thursday, June 23, for a virtual Lunch & Learn as they presented “Supporting One Another Through Learning and Allyship.” The keynote speaker, Edward Simon from Diversity Advisors, will discuss how to understand underrepresented groups, allies and allyship, learning through ERGs, and more.
The Office of Civil Rights and Inclusion invited NYPA staff at the White Plains Office on a Lunch & Learn walk to visit the “The Harriet Tubman—The Journey to Freedom” statue in Renaissance Plaza. The sculpture honors and pays tribute to Harriet Tubman’s commitment to and resilience in the fight for freedom. The Office of Civil Rights and Inclusion hosted a Courageous Conversations conversation for NYPA and Canal’s Staff with facilitator and DEI expert, Dominique Hollins. Participants learned the history behind the Juneteenth holiday and were encouraged to reflect on the history and explore topics such as allyship and identity. Follow NYPA’s Instagram account and LinkedIn page for more information on how the company is celebrating this month.
Robert Half’s BELONG employee network group for LGBTQ+ professionals will lead celebrations for Pride Month through various internal programming and activities, following the weekly theme LIVE: Learn, Inform, Vocalize, Engage. The company will also update Microsoft Teams backgrounds and company email signature options and encourage employees to look for matching gift opportunities.
Externally, Robert Half and BELONG are partnering with It Gets Better, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to uplift, empower, and connect LGBTQ+ youth around the globe. With this organization, the company will be hosting a youth panel event. Robert Half will also be focusing efforts on deepening its strategic DEI alliance with Out & Equal, a nonprofit organization focused on LGBTQ+ workplace equality. The company is also sponsoring Lesbians Who Tech & Allies, the largest LGBTQ+ technology community in the world, and attending the organization’s 2022 Pride Summit.
The company’s social media actions include a blog post campaign, a series of posts to be featured on the Robert Half Blog; social media reel; posts on the organization’s Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter accounts; and a “Did You Know” campaign in partnership with Out & Equal.
Sodexo invites employees to celebrate and recognize the positive impact and legacy of the LGBTQ+ community at local, national, and international levels.
Employees can get Involved by participating in all or any of June’s events, listed below:
PRIDE 101: Safe Space | Wednesday, June 1, at 4 p.m. ET
Join the Pride National Leadership team as they create a space for employees to ask the questions that they might have never been comfortable to ask. The team will be talking and answering any and all questions related to the LGBTQ+ community. This will be a relaxed call with no judgment as everyone is always learning.
Seramount Member Webinar | Thursday, June 2, at 12 p.m. ET
Celebrate Pride Month with Seramount! This program will offer equal parts inspiration and practical tips and tools to empower individuals, ERGs, and communities to do their best work. It will feature stories that amplify and uplift the efforts of individuals and employee resource groups working to support the LGBTQ+ community both at their organizations and in the communities in which they serve.
SoTogether Mid-Atlantic & PRIDE Present Gambling on Greatness—Career Risk Taking in Pursuit of Your Passion | Wednesday, June 8, at 3:30 p.m. ET
Join the conversation with the amazing talents behind Little Rock Films + Studios. Dynamic Atlantic City-based partners—in production and in life—Dina Engel and Sherry McCracken both walked away from successful business careers nearly a decade ago to pursue their passions in storytelling and bring quality projects to the world.
Toastmasters | Tuesday, June 14, at 12:30 p.m. ET
Toastmasters can help improve leadership skills through public speaking in a supportive and comfortable setting. Employees can learn online meeting skills to become a better communicator, public speaker, and leader. AJ Francavilla, PRIDE USA Chair & Global Pride Co-Lead, will present “Why Inclusive Language Matters and How to Incorporate Inclusive language in a Simple Way.”
Gallery Walk with i-Gen: Intergenerational Reference Points, LGBTQ+ Leadership and You | Wednesday, June 22, at 2 p.m. ET
This event asks: Have you been caught off guard that the song you’ve been singing is already a decade old? Where does the time go? And how do our generational reference points manifest in our LGBTQ+ leadership? One answer: “Belonging is fostered by the recognition that our diverse life experiences enrich us as a collective, rather than divide us. When we talk about ‘LGBTQ history’ we need to recognize these differences and ensure that we account for them in creating reference points that compel action and forge understanding.”—Deena Fidas, Managing Director, Chief Program and Partnerships Officer, Out & Equal
Join the i-Gen ERG in partnership with PRIDE for an intergenerational look at LGBTQ+ milestones across the decades and how they’ve impacted our communities.
Coqual Presents: Keeping Course on the Journey to Full LGBTQ+ Inclusion | Thursday, June 23, at 2 p.m. ET
This event will present key findings from Coqual research about this sizable cohort and provide actionable ways companies can recognize and meet the needs of LGBTQ+ employees. Viewers will learn about the impact and importance of allyship and share tips for building more inclusive workplaces.
Leadership Talk with Dr. Steve Yacovelli (AKA “the Gay Leadership Dude”): The Top 6 Leadership Competencies Everyone Should Know & Grow | Tuesday, June 28, at 2 p.m. ET
In this session, Dr. Steve Yacovelli will share with employees what he’s discovered to be the Top 6 Leadership competencies (or skills) everyone wanting to be a rock star leader should focus on.
Sodexo will also feature employee voice social media postings throughout the month in honor of Pride.
In celebration of Pride Month, TransAmerica will be hosting a happy hour for employees to create greater connection. The company is also hosting a speaker from the organization Rainbow Railroad, a nonprofit organization that helps LGBTQ+ individuals escape violence and persecution in their home countries, to discuss what the organization does and how employees can be involved.
TransAmerica is sponsoring the Cedar Rapids Pride events and some of the St. Pete Pride events this year. The company is also participating in the Denver Pride Parade. Throughout this month, the social media team will be posting updates, including pictures, related to the company’s Pride celebrations.
TransAmerica will also be honoring Juneteenth by giving employees the day off to celebrate and learn about the holiday and will also have a social media campaign to bring awareness to Juneteenth.
In honor of Pride Month, Unity is hosting an Allyship workshop presented by PFLAG, a Queerness in Gaming event hosted by Game Master Guy Sclanders, a Fireside chat with LGBTQ+ ERG executive sponsors, and a video compilation of employees describing “what pride means to me.”
The company will also host local pride events and marches in 20+ offices around the country.
Their social media actions include posts to LinkedIn and Instagram stories and a blog post highlighting LGBTQ+ employee in their “Faces of Unity” campaign.
Unity is honoring Juneteenth with a companywide holiday.US Foods
US Foods is hosting an event titled Mental Health & Pride with a guest speaker from Included Health. The theme is You Matter, I Matter, THEY Matter. In addition, US Foods is hosting a Pride Coffee Talk LGBTQ+ Trivia and a Pride & Juneteenth Celebration Week, as well as an LGBTQ+ Allyship event.
The company’s Pride Alliance and BRIDGE (Black Resources for Inclusion, Diversity, Growth and Empowerment) ERGs will also team up during a weeklong celebration.
US Foods is celebrating Juneteenth by increasing awareness through education and celebration in partnership with the Black Resource for Inclusion, Diversity, Growth, and Empowerment employee resource group (ERG). The following events are being hosted:
Verisk will host employee network events; Pride parades in London, Edinburg, and Houston; panel discussions; and LGBTQ+ employee awareness training.
External actions include US community partnerships, a RISE partnership, and a hiring and career fair in India. Verisk’s social media campaign will feature employee stories and videos on LinkedIn in June.
Every year, Verizon’s employee resource groups (ERGs) help to cultivate a diverse and inclusive culture to include Pride Month. In partnership with the PRISM of Verizon ERG, representing our LGBTQ+ community, the company will celebrate Pride Month, embracing the 2022 theme of “Never Hide Your Pride.” Craig Silliman, EVP & Chief Administrative, Legal & Public Policy Officer, and Executive Sponsor of PRISM of Verizon, will jump-start Verizon’s celebration with a personal note to all Verizon employees acknowledging the significance of PRIDE Month.
Reinforcing the organization’s commitment to Pride by uplifting the voices of LGBTQ+ employees, external partners, and suppliers, Verizon will host a series of events, sponsorships, and donations. Throughout Pride Month, Verizon will spotlight voices of the LGBTQ+ community by amplifying their stories and share powerful examples of change across social media on Twitter and Instagram. These initiatives are part of Citizen Verizon, Verizon’s responsible business plan for economic, environmental, and social advancement.
Verizon has committed $1 million to partner with Encircle, a nonprofit dedicated to creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth, to develop custom tech-inspired learning spaces within four new and existing Encircle homes with emerging technology, including 5G connectivity where available. Additionally, Verizon pledged $250,000 to PFLAG National, the nation’s first and largest organization for the parents, families, and allies of the LGBTQ+ community. The donation will focus on PFLAG National’s creation of a virtual community and pathways to support communities of color through national virtual support meetings. The donation will also expand the organization’s support to parents, families, and allies, with a strategic investment in staffing and technology.
Citizen Verizon is a company-wide responsible business plan, detailing how Verizon intends to use resources, technology, and employees to bring economic, environmental, and social advancement to local communities. Verizon has committed to achieving 2.5 million employee volunteer hours by 2025, and the 2021 ESG report confirmed the company has achieved 1.07 million volunteer hours to date. One organization Verizon has partnered with on a global level is The Trevor Project, which is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ youth.
Highlighted internal events for Pride Month include:
In partnership with Verizon’s BOLD of Verizon (Black Originators, Leaders Doers) ERG, Verizon acknowledges Juneteenth to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. The 2022 theme for Juneteenth is “Knowledge of Your Worth Is Powerful.” The Juneteenth Celebration will have a range of programs and volunteering opportunities allowing all Verizon employees to remain engaged and connected.
The Office of Staff Diversity & Inclusion invites employees to join LGBTQ+ community members and hear what they say about fostering inclusiveness at Weill Cornell Medicine. Each week, their LGBTQ+ employees will answer one question about their identities, ideas, and experiences. Weill Cornell has started off already by asking “What does Pride Month mean to you?” and “What are some misperceptions people may have about the LGBTQ+ community?”
In the next few weeks, Weill Cornell will continue to explore how its LGBTQ+ community has navigated some unique workplace challenges, what it is like to be heard and seen, how people can be better allies, and how WCM can be a more LGBTQ+-inclusive company.
Pronouns are one of the many ways employees identify themselves. As employees join WCM’s workforce, they are encouraged to use various pronouns as WCM wants to respect everyone’s identity. During this Pride Month, WCM is proud to announce the launch of the WCM Pronouns Guide. The Pronouns Guide discusses the importance of asking about people’s pronouns and the different types of pronouns, and shares best practices on how to start a conversation about pronouns and how to signal inclusion through employees’ everyday practices. WCM encourages employees to share the guide with their teams or ask their managers about it.
