It’s here. June marks the beginning of a month-long rainbow wave: Pride campaigns proliferate, corporate logos get a prismatic makeover, storefronts explode in color and glitter pops up everywhere.
Over the past decade, the rainbow-fication of June has become part of the zeitgeist of Pride month. Colorful symbolism recognizing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual people appears all over the place — including landing pages, company t-shirts and even mouthwash. Yet while overwhelming corporate support for Pride represents major progress in cultural LGBTQIA+ acceptance, people today are looking for companies to reach beyond the rainbow and take meaningful action. Half of all Americans see Pride-themed campaigns as a marketing tactic, while just 21 percent believe themed items are a genuine reflection of company values, according to a survey by analytics firm YouGovAmerica.
As Dolly Parton once said, “If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain!” Pride is as much about the hard work of dismantling discrimination, challenging biases and promoting equality as it is about celebrating the culture. So we talked to local tech employers about how they are celebrating Pride and empowering LGBTQIA+ employees long after the glitter washes off.
Grubhub is an online and mobile food-ordering and delivery marketplace.
How does your company support and empower the LGBTQIA+ members of your team?
We take pride in celebrating our people and encouraging them to show up to work as their authentic selves.
We strive to provide a safe space for LGBTQIA+ members with an open and welcoming culture that encourages employees to be authentic. Last June, we launched our LGBTQIA+ employee resource group, GrubPride Connect. This employee-led group provides opportunities for individuals to foster a more inclusive workplace and make a difference in our communities. We also host events, such as networking and professional development opportunities, throughout the year for employees to participate in.
How is your company celebrating Pride throughout June?
We will host events and programs for our people and continue to champion our restaurant partners.
GrubPride Connect will host events to celebrate and build a more inclusive community. Each week, the group will have a new theme to inspire conversations and programming. The schedule will include social events, wellness hours and a guest speaker who will discuss gender inclusivity and allyship in the workplace.
Grubhub will support the LGBTQIA+ restaurant community through:
- Community impact: Grubhub’s Donate the Change program will support the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce in June.
- Restaurant profiles: The company will feature stories of LGBTQIA+ restaurateurs through its social media and blog.
- Restaurant roundtables: The company will lead restaurant partners and LGBTQIA+ leaders in real conversations that move the industry forward.
Prove provides digital identity authentication solutions.
How does your company support and empower the LGBTQIA+ members of your team?
Inclusion and belonging are some of the core focus areas that we chose to elevate in our people strategy since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re adding new tools like Bravely, a platform that helps coach and train leaders and employees to fight against unconscious biases and reinforce cultural diversity. Our leadership team is invested in making Prove a workplace that supports diverse voices, inclusive initiatives and equity as we work toward a common vision.
How is your company celebrating Pride throughout June?
This month we’ll be celebrating our LGBTQIA+ community with our employees and their allies. Prove is partnering with local sports organizations such as the Colorado Rockies to have a Pride night, and we're also giving back to local advocacy organizations such as One Colorado and The Center on Colfax. We have also invited a special keynote speaker to share education that will help us support this vibrant community and help focus on our DEI efforts.
Ultimately, our goal is to create a welcoming community where everyone feels they can thrive, feel accepted and be their authentic self.”
Beyond June, what are some examples of ways your company supports or advocates for the LGBTQIA+ community?
As we scale and grow, we’re also working to build out a range of employee resource groups to make sure that Prove is an organization that fosters an environment of inclusivity and diversity. Establishing an LGBTQIA+ employee resource group has garnered high interest from several of our Provers, and we’re working with these employees to explore this specific ERG. Ultimately, our goal is to create a welcoming community where everyone feels they can thrive, feel accepted and be their authentic self. We’re currently launching our first diversity council and ERGs will be a vital part of the council’s strategy.
