June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate love with your partner, friends, families and colleagues. There are so many LGBTQ+ events taking place over the next few weeks – virtually of course – as well as other celebrations and so it got us thinking; how can we celebrate Pride at work?
Lunch and Learn
Did someone say lunch?
Getting together with your work fam – virtually or otherwise – when you don’t have to talk spreadsheets and reports is the best. With so much on everyone’s mind at the moment, let’s use this time to answer some questions in a safe space, explore and learn.
Why not encourage the conversation to have a focus on Black Leaders who paved the way for LGBTQ rights. There couldn’t be a better time to shine a light on the unique experiences of Black LGBTQ individuals and their invaluable contributions to our civil rights. A couple of Black LGBTQ heroes we’ve recently been learning about are Audre Lorde who described herself as a ‘black lesbian mother warrior poet’ and Bayard Rustin who was a close advisor to Martin Luther King and an openly gay activist.
Have no Fear, Rainbow Cookies are Here.
This month we’re spreading the love with Letterbox Pride Cookies, which can be delivered to your colleagues nationwide. If you’re struggling to get together to celebrate Pride at work, sending a box of cookies to your team is a simple and uplifting way to mark the occasion. You’ll also be donating to an awesome organisation as 100% of profits from these rainbow treats will be donated to UK Black Pride – a fantastic organisation that advocates for black LGBTQ individuals and QTIPOC who often experience intersecting oppressions based on race, gender, sexuality and other factors.
Cookies, rainbows and donations – it might not be the parade but it’s a great way to celebrate Pride. If you decide to get a box for yourself or a colleague, don’t forget to tag us on Instagram.
>>> Buy your Pride Cookies and donate to UK Black Pride here <<<
Cancelled Shmancelled, The Show Must Go On
Cancelled? Sorry that word isn’t in my vocabulary…
The world is hosting virtual event, on virtual event, on virtual EVENT! And Pride is at the heart of them all. The trouble is, fitting it all in your calendar. To get the word out there for your employees, a feature in your next newsletter or creating an event recommendation list might encourage people to seek out these amazing and inclusive events. Whatever your flavour – music, webinars, comedy – there is something for everyone. Here’s a few to get you started:
Raise Funds like You Raise Moral!
One great way to show support and create community engagement is fundraising. Reach out to your team and brainstorm fun (it’s in the name) ways you can all do together to raise money for charities, like LGBT Charity and Kaleidoscope Trust who are doing incredible work for and within the LGBTQ community.
- Office Quiz – Each member of the team hosts 1 round; all proceeds go to a charity of the winner’s choice.
- Virtual Bake Sale – It will be hard to judge on taste so put all your efforts into your gateau’s looks! Send pics to the Teams chat and again, winner picks the charity!
- Reintroducing… The Swear Jar – Team members source a swear jar, or similar, to keep in their home office. All proceeds, you guessed it, go to the winner’s – or loser in this case? Well, whoever swears the most’s – charity pick!
- Raffle – Prizes can include a 2-hour lunch break, choosing the theme for the next team quiz, or a box of Pride Cookies! Proceeds go to an agreed LGBTQ charity.
June is but a drop in the ocean and a great reminder to the world about this empowered community. It’s a time to encourage reading, listening, reaching out and supporting others. We’re sure there are endless more ways to commemorate this wonderful month in ways that suit you best, whether that be having a 1 to 1 chat over a tea and biscuits, or shouting it from the top of your Instagram mountain! There is no wrong way to celebrate Pride, and we look forward to celebrating it with you.
Don’t forget to donate to UK Black Pride by buying your postal cookies here
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