6/8/2026:  Pride, Belonging, and the Power of Inclusive Communities

June is Pride Month. 

Why talk about Pride Month in a business blog?

Because businesses help shape culture, community, and belonging.

Pride Month traces back to LGBTQ+ activism following the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York City and was formally recognized nationally in 1999.

Often marked by parades, Pride month may seem like a big party, but the intention is coordinated activism.  At its core, Pride Month highlights important truths: 

• People deserve safe spaces
• Communities thrive through belonging
• Businesses influence culture
• Empathy and respect matter
• Leadership means making room for people

Specifically, I want to focus on the part that LGBTQ+ populations play in the workforce, and how, as a society, we can create a sense of belonging and inclusivity for these individuals.

Approximately 6% of the US workforce is LGBTQ+ and almost half of these individuals do not share their sexual identity with management or coworkers for fear of harassment in their workplace. 

Businesses that intentionally create cultures of diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect often see stronger employee retention, engagement, and workplace satisfaction.  Companies who actively support their LGBTQ+ staff, see a 55% increase in employee engagement and reduced turnover (Trevor Project). 

Companies that support all employees help create workplaces where people feel safe, valued, and connected.

Not only are these policy makers saying “we do not tolerate hate and exclusion” but they are saying “we are creating an environment of trust, respect, understanding, tolerance, diversity, inclusion…”. 

What impact can these employers have on larger communities – the ones we live in?

Businesses have an opportunity to promote a culture of belonging. 

I think many times, we (business and/or individuals) shy away from speaking too loudly what we believe in, or at the very least what we believe to be right, because we do not want to create friction or have to defend our beliefs. 

What if, by speaking what we believe to be right, we lead people to do the same, and welcome everyone to a community – whether it work, home, or play?

Each of us has a unique opportunity to be a leader, support thriving and inclusive communities, and create safe spaces for all to belong. 

What if speaking up about kindness, inclusion, and respect encouraged others to do the same?

What if creating welcoming spaces at work, at home, and in our communities helped someone feel less alone?

According to the National Institute of Health, individuals who have supportive communities suffer from lower rates of mental illness, self-harm, and suicide. 

My question for you, what kind of family member, friend, community member, co-worker, leader, etc do you want to be?

Here is who I choose to be.

I choose to love my people fiercely, no matter who they love or how they identify.

I choose to raise daughters who know they are free to become who they are meant to be.

I choose to work alongside and serve all people with dignity and respect.

I choose communities that value belonging.

What do you choose?

Will you help create spaces where people feel safe, respected, and welcome?

Personal Perspective: One of the biggest barriers to inclusivity is often history and upbringing. I have spent 38 of my 40 years living in a very conservative state, and I grew up in environments that were not always open to people who were “different.” It would be easy to stay rooted in those experiences or use them as an excuse for ignorance.

But as adults, parents, leaders, and community members, we have the opportunity to grow, learn, and help create a better future.

I do not allow the beliefs or perspectives I was surrounded by in the past to define the values I choose today.

I want my children to experience people, cultures, perspectives, and lives that may look different from their own. I want them to grow into kind, thoughtful humans who lead with empathy, respect, and acceptance — while still learning to think for themselves and form their own beliefs.

Sometimes it can be difficult to find that space of belonging, and there are several great resources for LGBTQ+ populations in need of more than the communities around them.  Here are just a few:

The Trevor Project-crisis intervention and suicide prevention  https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

The Mental Health America (MHA)-community building resources https://mhanational.org/resources/lgbtq-communities-and-mental-health/

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)-education, advocacy, support https://www.nami.org/community-and-culture/lgbtq/