Duolingo’s Post

I was absolutely honored to be able to contribute to Eptura's most recent blog about the importance of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging in the workplace. This is such an important topic to consider, especially during 🌈 Pride Month 🌈 . Thrilled to get to work for a company that prioritizes inclusion and diversity--check out the article below!

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 When you celebrate pride, you're sending a message out into the world for anyone and everyone that sees it that this world has a place for us. There's a lot going on right now if you're LGBTQ+. We're used as corporate props to access demographics. We're painted as monsters to sway disconnected voters. We're having basic human rights stripped away. We're being put on lists. Elected officials are calling for us to be eradicated. Its easy to feel scared. But on days like today - the anniversary of Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) legalizing #marriageequality - we remember that the angry bigoted mobs and the people at their helm haven't won. Progress has been made. Kindness, determination, and love of humanity triumphed over thoughtless hate, misinformation, and violence. You don't have to uproot your life with grand sweeping efforts to support LGBTQ+ people. All it takes is one #pride post, one update to your profile, one 𝒍𝒐𝒖𝒅 message to your social sphere. Then suddenly the world around you is a little more gentle and the people who share your space will be a little less scared. When you are seen celebrating others it gives them the space to celebrate themselves. Make the world a kinder place, by being loud about pride. Happy pride.

As we commemorate Pride Month and Juneteenth, I am reminded of the ongoing journey towards equality, freedom, and dignity for everyone. Pride Month is a time to honor the LGBTQIA+ community’s resilience and the strides made towards achieving equal rights. It’s a celebration of love, identity, and the courage to be oneself in the face of adversity. Juneteenth, marks a pivotal moment in American history—the end of slavery. It’s a day to reflect on the struggles for racial equality and to recommit to building a future where everyone can thrive without discrimination. Both Pride Month and Juneteenth embody the spirit of liberation and the importance of standing up for what is right. They raise our level of awarness about the importance of LGBTQIA+ rights and the historical significance of Juneteenth. They remind us to be vigilant and proactive in recognizing the value of every individual. On my team, we have a saying - "Do the right thing" ...and doing the right thing means standing up for human rights, advocating for social justice, and ensuring our daily practices align with these values. To the African-American, Black, Native and Indigenous people in my life - know that you are seen, celebrated, and affirmed for simply existing. Your contributions to society are absolutely necessary. Equality is the minimum and equity is on the horizon. Stand fast in your value, in your dignity, and in the greatness that you are. To the LGBTQIA+ folks in my life - let's celebrate this month! Celebrate our visibility and acceptance, knowing that visibility in and of itself is a privilege. To my LinkedIn connections - let’s continue to do the right thing. To build cultures that celebrate diversity, champions freedom, and strives for a better future for everyone. Remember, if you truly believe in something, you can – and will – affect the outcome. #PrideMonth #Juneteenth #ISMs #Culture #ImpactTheOutcome

🗓️ June is one of my favourite months of the year 6️⃣ 🌈 While I read posts celebrating Pride Month, I realize is also the 13th anniversary of the Ruggie’s “Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. “🔖 The intersection of both occasions is clear: business have a vital role towards the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people. And businesses are built by the people! As I reflect on my journey towards an LGBTQIA+ ally, here are some steps I have taken: ➡️ I took time to educate myself on language use or historical events such as the Stonewall riots. ➡️ I tried to ask and listen before stating. Because only members of the community can say what feels right - or wrong. ➡️ I worked to challenge and unlearn the biases ingrained in my upbringing. ➡️ I started to speak out against exclusive statements or microagressions. Today beyond my corporate role, I continue on my learning journey. 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈Because the basics are in the Human Rights Declaration: all human beings are equal. #pridemonth #humanrights

Looking for tips on how to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion in your business year-round? Look no further than this insightful Forbes article. Don't miss out on these valuable insights. 🌈👇

As we celebrate this vibrant and empowering month, it’s important to remember the significance of pride and the impact it has on so many. Visibility & Representation: Pride Month provides a platform for LGBTQIA+ individuals to be seen and heard. Representation matters, and seeing diverse identities celebrated helps to normalize and validate the experiences of LGBTQIA+ people. Community & Support: Pride events and activities foster a sense of community and belonging. They offer a safe space for people to connect, share their stories, and support one another. Advocacy & Education: Pride month is an opportunity to educate others and advocate for equal rights. It highlights the ongoing struggles and achievements of the LGBTQIA+ community, paving the way for a more inclusive and accepting society. Self-Expression & Authenticity: Being able to be yourself without fear of judgement or discrimination is crucial for mental and emotional well-being. Inspiration & Empowerment: Seeing others live authentically and proud can inspire and empower individuals to embrace their own identities. Continue to support and uplift one another. Not just during Pride month, but all year round. Together, we can create a world where everyone feels safe and free to be themselves 🌈🏳️⚧️

The word “ally” is simply that — a word — until an individual puts it into action. As such, allyship takes on various forms and meanings based on one’s lived experience. At our PRIDE: Championing LGBTQIA+ Leaders & Allies summit, we sat down with Raytheon's Vivian Ramos, Allison Whitaker, and Dan Gaylord to learn more about their views on allyship, including how Raytheon encourages active allyship in the workplace. ✨ Check it out: https://bit.ly/3PWK2FK

Pride Month 2024. Symbolic events have so often been co-opted and capitalised that somewhere we forget the reason for their existence in the first place. Pride month is rooted in resistance, protest and activism. Ask yourself, how many queer/trans people of colour do you see in leadership roles and positions of power. How many of those come from the global south, lower socio-economic classes, and are from ethno-linguistic and caste minority communities. This pride month, disengage with companies profiting off of performative ‘rainbow coloured profiles’ and engage with queer/trans voices, artists and activists. Take a moment to learn about cross movement solidarity and the need to support movements of resistance around the world. Begin your allyship by centering queer/trans lived experiences in your workspaces over the next four weeks and by ensuring inclusivity is intersectional and not transactional moving forward. Till then I leave you with a quote from one of favourite authors, the black lesbian feminist activist Audre Lorde- “There is no thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.” #pridemonth2024 #queerrights #transrights #intersectionality

A meaningful Pride month at your organization: Recognizing the importance of equity and inclusion and matching that recognition with action to improve and address gaps. An opportunity to reflect on how your organization interacts with, engages and empowers the LGBTQIA+ community. A moment to take stock and consider updating your diversity statement. A real and measurable effort towards reaching this often marginalized community through focused programming and targeted campaigns.

This Pride Month, we want to take the opportunity to celebrate the individuality of everyone, whether they're a UKFCU member, UKFCU employee or anybody else. We are built on community, and that's why we're proud to recognize the LGBTQIA+ community! Check out this article to learn more about how LGBTQIA+ Americans can overcome barriers to building credit: https://ow.ly/u9hy50S7gre