In my recent newsletters, I’ve shared content from Janet and I on how not to be performative for LGBTQ+ Pride and Juneteenth, since both cultural moments are in June. This time, let’s taIlk some history and social context about this intersection of communities. 

It’s because of transgender people of color that we have Pride in the US. Pride was started a year after the Stonewall Riots in New York City. In 1969, transgender people of color specifically said ‘no more’ to police brutality and raids, and one year later, liberation marches began to bring visibility and voice to the community. 

50 years later, in June 2020, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and LGBTQ+ folks came together in joint marches and peaceful protests. I had the privilege of wearing rainbow regalia and carrying Black Live Matter signs with thousands of others merging into one display of mutual allyship across identities, showing once again that the histories of these two communitities — the LGBTQ+ community and the Black community — are interconnected and interdependent.

Also in 2020, SCOTUS made a decision to protect LGBTQ+ people at their jobs — companies could no longer fire someone for being LGBTQ+. Why? The Civil Rights Movement. The 1964 Civil Rights Act protects gay, lesbian, and transgender employees from discrimination based on sex. 

Our histories and our futures are tied together. 

And here’s why this matters: The way we’ll be humans together, is to remember that we are all interdependent – marginalized and dominant populations, DEI benefits everyone. Change can come from a person with a relative position of power knowing someone who is historically marginalized, hearing stories about that person’s experience, and being an accomplice in pursuing change. 

We each hold many identities. I am a White, gay woman with Native American ancestry and a mom of two kids with disabilities. In some rooms, I have privilege and unearned power based solely on the color of my skin. In other rooms, I’m a second class citizen by gender and/or orientation. This is the power of the accomplice. To leverage power for the good of those who don’t have the same power in situations for the benefit of all. 

What we learned in 2020 is that we cannot unsee, unhear, or unfeel. What do we do? 

We use our language. The most free, immediate, and accessible tool you can employ to be an ally. Our language can unite us or divide us. It can reinforce or wreak havoc on the status quo — if (and that’s a big if) we use it consciously and intentionally. If we exercise our right to choose how we show up. If we’re conscious communicators.

Kim’s new shoes are creating wounds on her heels. She shares this analogy as advice on how to participate meaningfully in creating a more inclusive (work) environment.

LGBTQ+ – What does the acronym mean?
Acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. The Q generally stands for queer when LGBTQ organizations, leaders, and media use the acronym. In settings offering support for youth, it can also stand for questioning. LGBT and LGBTQ+ are also used, with the + added in recognition of all non-straight, non-cisgender identities. Both are acceptable, as are other versions of this acronym. The term “gay community” should be avoided, as it does not accurately reflect the diversity of the community. Rather, LGBTQ community or LGBTQ+ community are recommended.

*NOTE:  Ask people what terms they use to describe their sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression before assigning them a label. Outside of acronyms, these terms should only be capitalized when used at the beginning of a sentence.

Source: GLAAD Media Reference Guide

As you know, we are teaming up to co-author a book called The Conscious Communicator: The fine art of not saying stupid sh*t. It’s now available for pre-order.

It’s a guide for organizational communicators to help their communications have more DEPTH to avoid being performative and generating employee and social media backlash. D.E.P.T.H. is a 5-step model to ensure messaging and content are meaningfully and intentionally created through a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) lens. 

We bundle your pre-order of our book with a free live Zoom session with us on the last Thursday of each month. Our next Zoom session with Janet and me is Thursday, June 30th. 

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