6 Ways to Celebrate June Pride Month at Work

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Month is an annual celebration that remembers the Stonewall riots of 1969 and aims to bring awareness to LGBTQ+ challenges. One of the goals of Pride Month is to work towards equal rights and opportunities for the LGBTQ+ community. Since the Stonewall riots, there has been a surge in the movement to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ people. While there are many celebrations for Pride Month, some people wonder how they can celebrate pride in their workplace. Learn how to celebrate Pride Month at work and show your support of the LGBTQ+ movement.

When Is Pride Month?

Pride Month was initially called “Gay and Lesbian Pride Month” in 1999 and was changed to “LGBT Pride Month” in 2009. In 2021, President Joe Biden declared June “LGBTQ+ Pride Month.” The changes were made to be more inclusive of various sexual orientations and gender identities. People celebrate Pride Month in various ways, including parades, parties, concerts, workshops and picnics. All states celebrate Pride month in some way, with the most common celebration being parades where people can openly celebrate love, diversity and acceptance. Many Pride Month events also host memorials to honor victims of hate crimes and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Pride Month helps LGBTQ+ people and allies recognize the importance of the movement and how specific individuals have inspired change in their local, national and international communities. Much of the LGBTQ+ movement has shifted its attention to focus on LGBTQ+ youth and advocating for increased support and acceptance. The goal is to make schools, communities and other environments safer for young people to be who they are without fear of judgment or discrimination. Celebrating Pride Month in your workplace lets consumers know that your business is conscious of social issues and worthy of their time and money.

6 Things to Do for Pride Month

Whether you’re a member of the community or an ally, you likely want to find a way to celebrate the month and show your support. There are many Pride Month activities to participate in, but there are also ways of celebrating Pride at work. The following is a list of ideas you can use to celebrate Pride in the workplace:

1. Decorate the Workplace With Flags and Banners

The rainbow LGBTQ+ Pride flag is a clear indication of your support. There are also Pride flags for specific identities, such as the pink, orange, white and red lesbian pride flag or the blue, pink and white transgender flag. You can display multiple flags or banners to show that you support all identities and make others in your workplace feel included. Decorating the workplace with flags and banners lets employees and customers know that you’re an ally of the movement. They’ll feel more comfortable and safe to be who they are, knowing that you support them. You can even change your Zoom® or Google® Meet background to a Pride flag to indicate your support of diversity and inclusion.

2. Wear Rainbow Accessories to Show Your Support

Similar to decorating your workplace with flags or banners, wearing rainbow clothes or accessories during Pride Month shows that you support the movement. They can also be a unique and fun addition to your wardrobe. Different apparel and accessories you can wear include:

• Rainbow t-shirts: A promotional tie-dye t-shirt is a colorful way to show your support. Tie-dye shirts are unique since the design will be different each time.
• Reusable totes: Customized rainbow tote bags are convenient for carrying around office supplies or storing your personal belongings while you work. The identifiable rainbow also clarifies to your employees and consumers that you support the LGBTQ+ movement.
• Rainbow drawstring bags: Like tote bags, rainbow drawstring sports bags can help you carry everything you need throughout the day while showing that you’re an LGBTQ+ ally.
• Rainbow sunglasses: Customized rainbow sunglasses are a stylish way to show your support while protecting your eyes from the sun’s UV rays. You can even include the name of your business or logo to make it clear that your business supports the movement.
• Rainbow hats: A customized rainbow flat bill hat is a fashionable way to celebrate the movement and make your LGBTQ+ employees feel seen.
• Rainbow journals: Rainbow edge lined journals are fun and helpful workplace accessories that your employees will cherish. They’re a clear indication of your support and are useful every day.

3. Bring in an LGBTQ+ Speaker

An LGBTQ+ speaker can help educate employees and staff about the LGBTQ+ movement and the importance of inclusivity in the workplace. They can help employees be more inclusive in their everyday actions and teach them how they can be allies to the community. An LGBTQ+ speaker can also educate about the challenges people within the community face in their lives.

4. Evaluate Your Policies

Despite our best intentions, everyone has unconscious biases that can affect workplace policies and standards. Evaluate your current discrimination and diversity policies to see if there are places you can improve. You can also meet with your employees for feedback and brainstorm what to include in your discrimination and diversity policies to make everyone feel safe and included. Your employees will appreciate your effort to be an ally to the LGBTQ+ movement.

5. Host a Fundraising Event

Many LGBTQ+ nonprofit charities are dedicated to helping members of the community and enacting changes on a local and federal level. You can host an event within your company or community to help you fundraise money to donate to one of these charities. Different events you can host include:

• Galas
• Auctions
• Contests
• Art shows
• Bake Sales
• Fun run or 5K

Once you’ve raised funds, you can donate to various LGBTQ+ charities, including:

• Trans Lifeline
• The Trevor Project
• LGBTQ Freedom Fund
• The Marsha P. Johnson Institute 

6. Designate a Day or Week to Showcase Your Pride

Planning for a specific day or week in June to celebrate Pride can help boost morale among your employees and make the most of the month. You can coordinate with your employees and schedule a day where you’ll wear Pride apparel. You can also dedicate an entire week to celebrations and treat it like a spirit week in school, relating each day to a specific theme. Pride Month spirit week ideas include:

• Pride picnic
• Volunteer day
• T-shirt design contest
• Pride decorating contest
• Pride-themed team outing
• Pride parade outing

Show Your Pride With ePromos’ Selection of Promotional Items

Pride Month is a celebration of diversity, inclusion and the efforts of activities to end discrimination. Whether you’re a member of the community or someone who supports the movement, you can celebrate the month by wearing or using promotional items in the workplace. Your employees will feel supported, and consumers can trust your business to be morally conscious and considerate of different identities. ePromos has a wide selection of promotional items to fit your business’s needs. We have apparel, bags, drinkware, pens and journals you can customize with your logo and a rainbow design. We can help you with your logo and artwork so your items fit within your design vision. Contact us today to start planning your workplace Pride Month celebrations!