Pride Month Toolkit
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Pride Month Toolkit June marks LGBTQ+ pride month around the world. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, during this time, people would gather and celebrate with parades, festivals, gatherings, and reflections. Pride month was created to foster a sense of community; to remember that while united by differences, people come together to support and uplift one another. Coming together as a community has traditionally provided strength to LGBTQ+ folk in time of adversity. One of the most notable instances of the LGBTQ+ community coming together is the Stonewall riots of June 1969, when LGBTQ+ folks united to push back against harsh mistreatment. Every year since, LGBTQ+ folks and allies have designed June as the time to gather, to remember, to celebrate, and to move forward. Just as during 2020, how we create community this year is impacted, as pride celebrations are being canceled again or rescheduled to be mostly online. And although LGBTQ+ people will not be able to come together physically, the community aspect of pride is still crucial. With that reality in mind, the RAIN Best Practices group would like to provide a Pride Month Toolkit for agencies to use when planning activities to show support for the LGBTQ+ community. Participating in pride month is a small gesture to show LGBTQ+ employees in your agency and customers that you support them, and an even bigger step towards creating a more respectful and inclusive environment year- round. Please reach out to Best Practice co-chairs Haley Roady (she/her) at [email protected] or Marisa Sanchez-Reed (she/her/they/them) at sanchez- [email protected] with any questions! The Rainbow Alliance & Inclusion Network (RAIN), Washington State Employees’ LGBTQ+ Business Resource Group (BRG) is an equal opportunity resource group. RAIN does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, color, national origin, religion, creed, military status, veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. We welcome all Washington state employees who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or other diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression groups, and their allies. RAIN encourages all members to bring their authentic selves to the BRG. Pride Month Toolkit LGBTQ+ Resources: Awesome Ally (LNI) ...................................................................................................................................5 Coming-Out-Handout (Safe Zone) ............................................................................................................ 6 Flags and their designation (LNI) .............................................................................................................. 7 Gender Unicorn (TSER) ........................................................................................................................... 23 Language-Do-Don’t- Handout (Safe Zone) .............................................................................................. 24 LGBTQ-History-Timeline-References (GLSEN) ....................................................................................... 25 Notable Figures (LNI and Best Practices) ................................................................................................ 30 Pride Ted Talk Handout Draft (LNI) ......................................................................................................... 49 Talking About Pronouns (HRC) ................................................................................................................ 50 Trans-Ally-Letter (LNI) ............................................................................................................................. 53 Vocabulary (Safe Zone) ........................................................................................................................... 54 COVID Resources for LGBTQ+ folk .......................................................................................................... 61 Rain Resources: Non-Gendered Language and Gender X................................................................................................... 62 Bathroom Packages ................................................................................................................................ 64 Learn more about RAIN by visiting our website www.lgbtq.wa.gov/rain or email us at [email protected] LGBT Pride Month Toolkit Showing Support Background In the recent survey, A Workplace Divided: Understanding the Climate In New York City, in June for LGBTQ Workers Nationwide, conducted by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation , 46% of LGBTQ surveyed workers said they are \1969, a group of LGBTQ+ individuals bravely stood closeted at work, and 1 in 10 LGBTQ workers said they left a job up against harassment because the environment was not very accepting of LGBTQ people. and oppression. This soon Creating a supportive and accepting environment for LGBTQ+ became known as the employees allows them to bring their true selves to work. This toolkit Stonewall Riots, which is designed to provide some ideas on how each agency can take were the spark that started small steps to acknowledge and show support for the LGBTQ+ the gay rights movement. community during Pride Month. 30 years later, June was Current Practices declared Gay and Lesbian In early June, the state kicks off Pride Month with the Governor Pride Month to reflect and raising a pride (rainbow) flag at the Capitol building. honor the Stonewall Riots. Several agencies across the state celebrate in different ways. For example, Labor and Industries (L&I) has its own LGBTQ+ resource In 2009, June was changed to be Lesbian, Gay, group that puts up a table of information, pronoun pins, and Bisexual and Transgender handouts in the lobby. The agency also displays a variety of (LGBT) Pride Month. LGBTQ+ flags around their rotunda, holds TED Talk viewings, and hosts speakers and community lunches. Today, June is still a time Some Ways You Can Participate for the LGBTQ+ • Visual displays in lobby or entrance (ex. hang a flag) community to remember • Print resources to hang up or have available those who courageously • Have LGBTQ+ speakers come to talk paved the path before • Hold a lunch and learn panel now, rejoice in the • Compile local LGBTQ+ resources accomplishments, and • Consider starting an agency LGBTQ+ resource group remember there is still • Mark gender non-restrictive bathrooms in the facilities map more work to be done for equality. Moving Forward Every June, celebrations This toolkit is meant to be a foundation for agencies to build their and parades take place own Pride Month show of support. The resources provided are basic across the globe to mark printable flyers and visuals from various sources, including L&I’s LGBT Pride Month. LGBTQ+ resource group. Although Pride Month is a good time to acknowledge the LGBTQ+ community, showing support for LGBTQ+ employees and customers is not limited to the month of June. This document was created to support the work of the Best Practices Subcommittee of the RAIN BRG (Rainbow Alliance and Inclusion Network) for the State of Washington. The information presented doesn’t represent the author(s) or any Washington State agencies past, present or future, unless specifically cited. What does an awesome ally look like? Looks for opportunities to be An open mind supportive Actively listens without judgments Uses their voice to advocate for LGBTQ+ people Shoulders some of the burden of educating others by spreading Has empathy and compassion their knowledge of the LGBTQ+ for people whose experiences community. are not their own. Has the courage to stand up for their belief that Reaches out to all people are equal LGBTQ+ people feel safe and supported Lets LGBTQ+ people take the Shows up in big ways and little lead, listens to their direc- to be a visible participant in tion, and works with them creating equality to support their needs. Created by Melissa Crumb www.TheSafeZoneProject.com lesbian lesbian gay Bisexual Pansexual trans Asexual Demisexual Ally Gender queer Intersex Nonbinary Two spirit Lesbian: women who are exclusively attracted to other women Gay: men who are exclusively attracted to other men Rainbow flag: the general symbol for LGBTQ+ identities Bisexual: people who are attracted to more than one gender Pansexual: people who are attracted to multiple genders or whose attraction is not gender based. Intersex: people who have multiple gender characteristics Transgender: people whose gender is different from the one assigned at birth. Non-Binary: people whose gender that is different than either male or female. Or whose gender changes over time. Asexual: people who do not experience romantic or sexual attraction. Demisexual: people whose sexual or romantic attraction is dependent on an emotional connection. Genderqueer: people who don’t subscribe to conventional gender distinctions or identify with multiple genders. Ally: people who actively support and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. Two spirit: indigenous Americans who are said to be blessed with both male and female spirits inside them and are sacred for their ability to see through the eyes of both genders. LGBTQ-INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE DOs and DON’Ts AVOID SAYING... SAY INSTEAD... WHY? EXAMPLE Hermaphrodite is a stigmatizing, "What are the best practices for "Hermaphrodite"