Three Ways to Promote Inclusivity All Year Long
Every June, people and businesses alike celebrate Pride Month.
Rainbow flags are donned in windows, as stickers, on social media posts, and on clothing.
While it’s great that we’ve devoted one month to celebrate the LGBTQA+ community, true allyship is an all year duty. Here are some simple, but powerful, ways you can promote inclusivity in your own or business life all year long.
Use those pronouns
If you are a heteronormative person, including your pronouns in your bio or on social media accounts may feel redundant. And sure, for you it may be. But for the trans community, having the freedom to express their pronouns is anything but redundant. The more people adopt this practice, the more normalized and safer it becomes for everyone. If you are unsure how to handle this when meeting someone new IRL, ask them what their pronouns are or which pronouns they prefer, and you will signal sensitivity and inclusivity from the very start.
Bonus: Ditch “guys” from your vocabulary. Using “guys” to address a large group of people has become so ingrained that many of us use it without even noticing. Make it a practice to replace that word with something gender inclusive like y’all, folks, pals, everyone, or friends.
Switch up your references
When discussing gay rights or feminism, go beyond what you were taught in school. This isn’t to say that people like Susan B. Anthony or Harvey Milk shouldn’t be celebrated or quoted, because they absolutely should, but why not include Alice Walker or Marsha P. Johnson into the mix? By referencing Black, trans, Latinx, or people from other historically marginalized groups, you are signaling that the version of history you ascribe to is an inclusive one and that you’ve taken it upon yourself to seek broader education.
Bonus: If you want to be highly entertained and get a masterclass is queer culture, look no further than Paris is Burning. You can stream it on Crave or Criterion, or rent or buy it on Apple TV.
Ask more, speak less
We have to have more and open conversations to really make progress in our society. If you are unsure about something, ask. It’s really as simple as that. But the key to a mindful conversation is active listening. Don’t interrupt, don’t overtalk, and don’t switch the focus to your feelings or experiences. If you are in a group setting, ask yourself some internal questions before engaging like, ‘Am I educated enough on the topic to weigh in here?’ or ‘Do I have any limiting beliefs on this topic’ or ‘Is my opinion necessary here, or is my presence my most powerful contribution?’ These types of questions can also help you assess your own privilege and any preconceived biases or assumptions that may be creeping up. The more we talk openly, and the more we listen, the less stigmatized these topics become.
This is by no means an exhaustive list. Add to it, adjust it, share it, let it grow and evolve in your life. If you feel like we’ve missed anything important, let us know! We are always evolving ourselves. Happy Pride everyone!
#YesSheCan
Author: Carlynn Overbury, Marketing Coordinator