The month of June is Pride Month, a celebration that originated as a tribute to those involved in the Stonewall riots in America, and has since evolved into so much more than simply recognising the LGBTQIA+ civil rights movement.
Instead, we now see a huge celebration across the world, from parades to special events, that not only advocates for the LGBTQIA+ community, but also celebrates individuality. Not only does this month honour the movement of LGBTQIA+ rights across the globe, but it also celebrates the culture of the community as a whole.
At Hype Invention, we are proud to take part in and honour pride celebrations to showcase our support for diversity and inclusion, and stand in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community.
But why is pride Month more than just a celebration for the LGBTQIA+ community? There is so much we can do to create a culture that is more inclusive of modern society as a whole.
The Power of Diversity and Pride Month
Pride month provides us with the perfect opportunity to not only express ourselves, but to also celebrate other people’s individuality, identities and diversities, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
But celebrating, or supporting, LGBTQIA+ individuals and their rights is not strictly limited to the members of this community. In today’s society, we also recognise that everyone comes from different walks of life, with different gender identities, sexual orientations, religions, race and backgrounds.
Most of us believe that all identities are deserving of respect, acceptance and love. Without individuality, we can all agree that the human race would be rather boring! But what can Pride Month teach us about embracing diversity and individuality, and why should we celebrate it?
When it comes to society, it can be rare to find somewhere that feels like a ‘safe space’. Without doubt, this applies to workplaces and other elements of our daily lives. However, Hype Invention is committed to creating an environment where diversity is celebrated, and individuals are provided with the opportunity to flourish, regardless of their background and individualities.
Hype prides itself on not being like ‘other workplaces’. With a relaxed work atmosphere, it is moving in the right direction to reflecting a diverse, multicultural and modern workforce. Pride Month provides us with the opportunity not only to celebrate, but to also reflect and identify areas for improvement.
By encouraging an open dialogue between employees, workplaces can enable every individual to not only be respected, but also feel seen, heard and valued.
There is still a long way to go for Hype Invention, other workplaces and parts of society to feel like a safe space for all of us, which is why we must continue to celebrate, support and show compassion for everyone.
How to embrace our differences
Whilst Hype has begun to pave the way for an inclusive workplace culture and diversity, there is still a long way to go. Sadly, the rest of the world has not entirely followed suit and embraced individual differences.
Pride has been celebrated in some shape or form in Sri Lanka since 2004. With the main force behind this movement being to decriminalise same-sex relationships.
Earlier this month, Colombo saw hundreds of members of the LGBTQIA+ community take to the streets to celebrate pride month, marching with their rainbow flags and spreading awareness and demanding equality for all.
In Sri Lanka, the laws still view homosexuality as a crime. Although there has been significant progress towards not only recognising, but also protecting LGBTQIA+ rights, there is still a long way to go. Despite the law moving in the right direction, and same-sex relationships looking to be decriminalised in the very near future, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to put an end to discrimination.
Embracing diversity and ending discrimination doesn’t mean you have to join in Pride marches, or wave rainbow flags! The fundamentals are recognising that there is a lot of progress still to be made, accepting individuals from all different backgrounds and identities, and standing up for them.
Whilst we are glad to see that progress is being made, we are proud to show our commitment to create a more diverse and inclusive workplace, not only to Sri Lanka, but also to the world.
Celebrating Pride and Encouraging Individuality
As June marks the global month of celebration for the LGBTQIA+ community, we must not only recognise and commemorate their struggles, but also acknowledge how far we have come throughout history.
We are proud to not only be celebrating Pride Month, but also to promote awareness, understanding and acceptance of different sexual orientations and gender identities.
At Hype, our workforce is more like a family, where everyone is welcome without boundaries. We promote an inclusive environment where everyone’s voices are heard, and every individual is celebrated, regardless of their backgrounds.
Diversity and inclusion are so much more than just buzzwords, used by some to create a perception that they support inclusivity. For workplaces and other parts of society to truly reflect modern society, we must embrace diversity and celebrate events such as Pride Month and much more.
Through not only recognising, but also celebrating different cultures, celebrations, holidays, observances, and most importantly, individuality, we can pave the way for future generations to come together and respect each other’s differences.
By promoting an open and inclusive work culture, and supporting employees regardless of their gender identities or sexual orientation, we can contribute towards creating a more accepting and diverse society for today and years to come.
Together, we can make a change! Join us in celebrating our differences, and continue to strive for a future where everyone can thrive, not just during Pride Month, but for every day of the year.