Pride Month is celebrated globally every June. While originally established to mark the celebration and anniversary of the Stonewall Riots (in response to mass arrests of the gay community in New York City in 1969), Pride has evolved into diverse celebrations from parades, workshops, and corporate celebrations, to celebrate the history and culture of the LGBTQ+ community.
As we honor the trailblazers of our past, we must forge the way to our future with more LGBTQ+ members around every table. This month, we will be drawing attention to just a few trailblazers and heroes at TeamSnap who deserve a round of applause.
Sheila Repeta, VP of People
My personal journey with Pride month has evolved over time. I lived in the closet for decades, so when I finally came out it wasn’t a big show, but more of a slow, quiet creep into the world as a gay woman.
And Pride? Woah. That’s a lot of colors for a woman who has an actual closet composed entirely of black, white and gray clothing. Embracing pride was not my jam. The idealistic voice in my head rationalized there was no need to have to be “out” because I just wanted to be “normal” (whatever that means). I justified that the LGBTQ+ community should just be accepted, not need all the fanfare. But alas, past and present history have not afforded that reality. Over time I learned that ignoring the rich history of the LGBTQ+ community minimizes success in the face of adversity and the beauty of a community that is often overlooked. And over the years, I’ve learned to celebrate. And I’m so proud to be at a company that celebrates along with me and my LGBTQ+ peers.
There are many opportunities to keep the month fun and exciting. As a reminder, we are always looking for TeamSnappers to join our employee resource group (ERG) events. We’re so lucky we have had several volunteers step up to share their voices, experiences and time to help us with the upcoming month of programming. Some of the great things you can expect this month:
Check out this recent article that shares 6 Fun and Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Pride Month With Your Kids!
We encourage you to take some time to recognize and reflect on some of the impactful ways members of the LGBTQ+ community have helped to shape technology, sports and the world. Have questions about our other Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)? Contact our People Experience Team at px@teamsnap.com.
Learn more about how we’re building community at TeamSnap in our Culture Playbook.