Creating an LGBTQ Celebrating Work Place

Gathering your employees to march in a Pride Parade, or creating a rainbow-colored logo for June, is A-OK. We’d encourage it. But especially now, while so much hangs in the balance, it's not enough. If concrete actions do not back it up, then it can even seem hollow or performative. 

As a mom of two incredible LGBTQ+ kiddos, Pride Month is more than a colorful celebration. It's personal. It’s a time when I reflect on how we can build spaces where our children, colleagues, and neighbors feel seen, safe, and celebrated—not just in June, but every day.

At City of Light, we’re proud that our team is a safe space for LGBTQ+ team members. Their leadership, creativity, and resilience help shape not only our work but our values. Building a workplace that truly celebrates LGBTQ+ people isn’t just about a one-time training. It’s about culture, conversation, and commitment.

Here’s what we’re learning about making an LGBTQ+ celebrating workplace:

1. Representation matters.
When LGBTQ+ people see themselves reflected in leadership, communications, and decision-making, it signals that they belong. 

2. Celebration and accountability can co-exist.
Pride is joyful, and it’s also rooted in activism. We ask ourselves how we’re showing up for queer communities facing systemic harm. Celebration is important, but so is the hard work of building equity.

3. Listening leads the way.
We don’t assume we know it all. As a leadership strategy, care and empathy should lead us to the right path. If we make our workspaces a safe space to share feedback, even when we need to hear something hard, then we can build workplaces where everyone feels included and important.

Pride Month allows us to reflect and recommit. As a parent, a colleague, and a leader, I want to be part of a workplace where everyone—no matter who they love or how they identify—feels not just included, but celebrated. 

This month, and every month, we’re waving the rainbow flag with purpose.