As June approaches, so do the many exciting parades, parties, and celebrations associated with Pride Month! Millions of participants rally to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community and promote inclusivity and equality around the world. Pride Month also provides a time to memorialize those who we’ve lost to HIV/AIDS or tragic hate crimes. But how does this affect your workplace? While many employers are shifting their policies to promote inclusion, there’s plenty of ways to celebrate Pride on a more personal level. We’ve created a guide for celebrating Pride Month in your workplace to support office camaraderie, inclusion, and enthusiasm for all people this June.

How do you celebrate Pride Month in the workplace?

Pride is a powerful motivator. and in the workplace, it can help support camaraderie and enthusiasm in the workplace across all disciplines. If you’re looking to make your workplace more inclusive and supportive of the LGBTQIA+ community, here are five ways to celebrate Pride Month in your office.

1. Donate to an LGBTQIA+ charity

Pride is a time to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community, but you don’t need to march in the parades to show your support. One idea is to donate to an LGBTQIA+ charity. To encourage charitable giving within your workplace, you can set a goal for the office to hit as a whole and encourage people to share new of the office’s efforts with friends and family. You can also post information around the office with different ways to support LGBTQIA+ nonprofits. Don’t forget to create a custom QR code with links to submit donations online.Here are some great organizations to consider:

• The Trevor Project is a 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention helpline for LGBTQIA+ youth. The organization also offers resources and support materials, as well as training programs for teachers and other professionals who work with young people.
• The HRC Foundation works at the intersection of policy and culture to advance equality for all people through education, advocacy, and research. The HRC Foundation produces public education materials on issues facing the LGBTQIA+ community, including their All Children - All Families program, Transgender Justice Initiative , and Workplace Equality initiative ; the latter is an excellent resource for identifying ways to advance LGBTQIA+ in the workplace through inclusive employment practices, policies, and benefits.
• The Point Foundation empowers LGBTQIA+ students to achieve their academic and leadership potential through financial support, mentorship, leadership training, and scholarships.

Take a look at this list of charities for more ideas.

2. Host an inclusion workshop

Hosting an inclusion workshop is a great way to promote awareness and celebrate diversity in an inclusive environment. Here are some tips for hosting a workshop within your workplace:

• Involve everyone. Send out a survey to gather information such as preferred speakers, and invite employees to participate in planning the event. Take suggestions and requests from personnel before the event to make it personalized to your group.
• Carve out time for everyone to attend during work hours, with pay. Consider hosting the workshop virtually if your employees do not all come in on any given day.
• Get in touch with a diversity consultant. Inclusion workshops can be a big undertaking, and it’s important to know what you’re doing.ThoughtCo has some good tips for making your workshop a success.
• Gather feedback after the event. Create a QR code for anonymous suggestions and constructive feedback to see what can be improved come next June.

3. Assess how inclusive you currently are

It is important for companies to celebrate pride in the workplace because it creates an inclusive culture where employees feel comfortable being themselves. In addition, it sends a message to everyone — clients, vendors, and job candidates included — that you are welcoming and inclusive. As an ally for the LGBTQIA+ community, here are some ways to celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion and create an environment where everyone feels accepted:

• Be aware. Never assume someone’s gender identity or sexual orientation. Ask employees how they prefer to be addressed and what pronouns they use. Encourage employees to speak with management or HR with any personal concerns. Use inclusive language in written and verbal communications.
• Make sure your facilities are inclusive. Gender-neutral restrooms are a great way to make everyone feel considered and respected.
• Offer benefits that promote inclusivity. Review HRC’s resources to identify any gaps in your existing benefits package and workplace policies in areas such as health insurance for domestic partners, family and medical leave, and bereavement.

4. Create a book club celebrating LGBTQIA+ authors

Promote inclusivity by creating a book club that celebrates LGBTQIA+ authors and their work. Not only will this help spread the word about books that may not be getting the attention they deserve, but it will also help you create an interconnected group of readers who share an interest in LGBTQIA+ issues. ExactHire offers the following tips for launching a book club at work; remember to tailor your messaging for diversity, equity, and inclusion:

• Generate interest through a group email, a Slack message, or in person at a company meeting. Create fun events like a happy hour or in-office breakfast to encourage quality discussion about each book.
• Purchase the texts for your participants, recommend libraries nearby, or encourage audiobook options to ensure access.
• Schedule meetings to be convenient for everyone— say, immediately after a team lunch.
• If your team works remotely, you can create an online discussion through a Facebook Group or a Slack channel. Be sure to assign a moderator who will monitor comments and facilitate friendly discussions.

Whether your book club is in person or online, a custom QR code can help you organize your meetings and discussions. From sending people a list of books online to gathering feedback, you can use your dynamic Flowcode to keep everyone in the know.

5. Recognize pride month throughout the year

Many companies like to change their logo to a rainbow color scheme for the month of June. While their intent may be good, members of the LGBTIA+ community generally consider this insincere or even performative . Take pride in your organization’s morals and values by going beyond this simple show of support. Use June 1 as the kickoff to permanent policies, procedures, and benefits that promote inclusivity 365 days a year. Your workplace culture and policies should speak for themselves, rather than relying on a rainbow logo alone.

Ready for Pride Month?

Pride Month is closely linked with the LGBTQIA+ rights movement, but it’s also a reminder to celebrate inclusivity, acceptance, and individuality in the workplace for all people. As an employer, you have an opportunity to recognize how diversity strengthens your business — through better employee engagement and satisfaction, improved customer relations, and reduced prejudice and discrimination.