This introduction was written with the individual’s consent.
Nearly a decade ago, two close friends and I sat in our favorite neighborhood café, discussing the usual things that occupied our young minds: college, social gatherings, and the like. We’d grown up together since childhood and were getting accustomed to seeing each other less, stretching to fit into a new phase of our lives. A beat after one of our lighthearted conversations, my dear friend, Christine, casually revealed, “By the way, guys, I’m bi.”
Christine and I first got acquainted during a pacer test in fifth grade. We decided to gamify one of our most dreaded gym activities, and the rest is history. She and I had seen one another through many seasons, and there weren’t many people who knew me as well as she did. I was confident I’d seen most sides of her, too.
After coming out, she remained the same Christine, who was confident, brave, and creative. The added label further empowered her to express herself wholly, and without the burdens of heteronormative expectations. If she was unapologetically herself before, she was bolder than I ever thought possible because she embraced every part of her being without uncertainty or shame. On the sidelines, I was inspired to watch her grow into an impressionable woman who could love limitlessly regardless of what traditional society dictated.
Authenticity is liberation, and everyone deserves to live freely.
Christine and my close circle of queer friends always pushed barriers and demanded visibility in spaces that sought to exclude them. Throughout the years, their relationship with authenticity encouraged me to question rigid binaries and discover a world bigger and more wondrous than what I was taught. Despite injustice after injustice, they continued to show up fully, joy and pride being their strongest weapons against thoughtless hate. I'm privileged to learn from them, and more importantly, I delight in fighting for a more inclusive future alongside them.
Author, poet, and activist Audre Lorde reminded her readers:
“When we define ourselves, when I define myself, the place in which I am like you and the place in which I am not like you, I'm not excluding you from the joining—I'm broadening the joining.”
Just as we connect over our similarities, we must build strong bridges with those who differ from us. Their liberation, their ability to come as they are and live true to themselves, is also ours. LGBTQ+ people seek recognition not because they want to dominate heterosexuality but because they deserve fundamental human rights like healthcare and safety. Women ask to be in decision-making rooms not because they expect to steamroll over men but because they want to contribute equally. Immigrants come to America not to steal jobs but to assimilate, improve the economy, and secure a brighter future for their loved ones.
Authenticity encourages diversity, and diversity empowers all communities to thrive. We stand at the precipice of great change, a turning point that challenges both individuals and organizations to stay rooted in their values.
Pride Month looks different this year; it calls for real unity.
Given today’s climate, it’s no coincidence that several corporations have ceased their yearly pride parade sponsorships, merchandise, and donations. In a recent Gravity Research study, 39% of 200 surveyed companies decreased their involvement with pride, instead choosing to convey support in more subdued ways.
While discouraging, this shift enables us to better identify which businesses participated in rainbow activism and which truly align with their promises to consumers. Brands like Converse and Lego continue to support the LGBTQ+ community by spotlighting their stories and partnering with nonprofits like It Gets Better and the Trevor Project. Despite potential backlash, they seemingly hold firm in their beliefs. In the long run, sticking to their values may prove to be beneficial, as customers consistently prioritize transparency and trust.
By pulling back DEI initiatives or public support for underrepresented groups, companies imply that their actions are subject to change depending on who is in power. Inconsistencies in messaging fragment relationships, and if leaders try to state otherwise, people will be less likely to listen.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur seeking to preserve your brand or an executive overseeing your company’s reputation, the circumstances of this year’s Pride Month teaches us to do the following:
1. Remember your core mission and purpose.
When we call for more diverse communities, we do so with an understanding that participants share a common mission but with different perspectives and ideas to bring it to life. You may disagree on strategies, metrics, and timelines—not on who you believe deserves certain privileges based on their identities or circumstances. Now may be the time to clarify your messaging:
- What is your end goal?
- Why do you believe in what you do?
- How do your efforts bring you closer to the future you envision?
- How can you prove you’re making a difference?
- If not, what are some practical steps you can take? How will you measure your growth?
2. Cut the fluff and reexamine your culture.
There’s no nice way to say it, but you need to put your money where your mouth is. You can voice whatever you wish, but how you choose to use your profit speaks greater volumes. Changing your default picture to a rainbow logo is nice to have but can easily come off as performative if you don't follow it up with action. Instead, focusing on solutions that will actually benefit marginalized populations and making them a reality will be more effective.
If your company has publicized its donations or provided tangible DEIA resources to its employees, ensure that it commits annually. Should your leadership withdraw the support that was previously available, its absence will be even more noticeable to your audience.
3. Empathetic, truth-based storytelling remains a top priority.
People fear what they don’t know, making them vulnerable to misinformation. And if presented with only cold, hard facts, they may feel threatened and dig their heels deeper in the sand. But sand is a shaky foundation, prone to erosion at the hit of every wave.
It’s why storytelling proves to be such a powerful balm. Stories remind us of our shared humanity. We all yearn for belonging and security, and it’s a common goal that can bring many of us together. Storytelling encourages us to widen our worldview, practice empathy, and do the hard work of confronting biases. Although it doesn’t always reach the masses, even one change of heart signifies hope. One person, transformed by another’s narrative, can be who you need to someday plant more seeds in an otherwise barren field.
Progress is slow-going. If not for those in the present, we speak from our hearts for those who come after.
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