Pride Month and beyond: Building inclusive workplaces through learning

In recent years, there’s been significant progress in advancing LGBTQ+ rights and fostering a more inclusive society. It’s crucial for organizations to actively support their LGBTQ+ employees and stay updated on current issues.

In this article, we offer a range of resources and recommendations to help create an inclusive workplace environment, enhance understanding and address the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community. From addressing bias to gaining insights into global LGBTQ+ experiences, these materials are designed to empower employers and employees on their journey toward equality and acceptance.

To access a diverse selection of resources tailored to different circumstances, we encourage you to explore our playlist available on Cornerstone Cares. This free website provides timely online learning content to assist your organization in facilitating open conversations, providing better support to all employees and empowering your workforce.

In order to effectively enact change and inspire action in the workplace, it’s important to first identify existing biases. By educating employees on what bias-driven behaviors look like, companies can help staff learn to avoid them — and then teach others to do the same.

To learn how to pinpoint bias, create your free Cornerstone Cares account today and listen to:

Then, to develop strategies to stop instances of bias before they happen, listen to:

And finally, to get better at discussing bias in the workplace and begin using these conversations to drive change, explore:

These courses offer small but impactful steps that managers and workers can take to make their workplace a safer and more inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ (and all other) employees.

The Cornerstone original series, A Seat at the Table is an unscripted series that demonstrates the power of honest conversations in fostering unity, respect and celebration of differences among employees. It provides a platform for open and respectful discussions on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB). Each course in the series is accompanied by learning activation materials, enabling participants to apply their learning and equip managers to lead similar conversations when the need arises.

One of the episodes, "Talking about LGBTQ+ Pride" explores the significance of Pride Month, why people celebrate it in the workplace and how companies can enhance LGBTQIA+ inclusivity. This episode delves into the importance of creating an environment that embraces diversity and supports the LGBTQ+ community.

By utilizing A Seat at the Table, organizations can cultivate a learning culture that recognizes DEIB as a professional skill. Through unscripted and honest discussions, this series facilitates self-directed learning and guides managers in safely and effectively navigating DEIB conversations. It serves as a means to encourage employee engagement while mitigating discriminatory behavior within the organization.

Too often, transgender employees are left out of conversations about workplace equality. For advice on effectively communicating with this marginalized community, listen to:

This honest and thoughtful TED Talk offers recommendations for having respectful, meaningful discussions that prioritize listening and empathizing with their unique experiences. Jackson Bird also clears up misconceptions about pronouns, transitioning, bathrooms and other elements of transgender life.

Ready to learn more? To educate yourself on appropriate terminology within the LGBTQ+ community, navigate the challenges of LGBTQ+ inclusion efforts, recognize a microaggression against an LGBTQ+ colleague and other resources, subscribe to Cornerstone Content Anytime.