Pride Month is not just about updating your logo to the Pride flag. Carat’s Alice Raitt believes there is more we can do to embrace inclusivity of the LGBTQIA+ community and shares some suggestions. This article is part of a series celebrating Pride Month, curated by the MFA DE&I Advisory Council.
Pride Month is a really special time of year for me and played a massive role in my coming out story.
I was traveling the US alone and found myself at the NYC Pride march, it was the highlight of the trip and I was sending photos to my girlfriend and a few friends back in Australia but I was apprehensive to post anything on social media in case my family or my wider group of friends saw it.
It washed over me that I was surrounded by a community of tens of thousands of people who were brave enough to unapologetically be who they were, what was I so scared of? It gave me the courage to come out properly and be truly proud about it.
Pride Month in the context of work and the industry
Pride Month at work is always a fun time. It’s always a highlight to attend events from influential speakers and educational sessions to Drag Bingo.
It is also a time to be reflective and ask whether the companies we work for and engage with are more than just updating their logo to the Pride flag; it’s important to ask if they are also following through with their internal policies, whether that’s hiring processes, parental leave or gender confirmation surgery leave.
3 things I wish people understood better about Pride Month and the LGBTQIA+ community
First, Pride matters so much because for so long (and still, in many communities) the LGBTQIA+ community was told to feel ashamed so it’s important not to disregard that historic collective trauma.
Secondly, members of the LGBTQIA+ community often don’t just come out once, but rather on a nearly daily basis – which is a lot of work.
Thirdly, if everyone put their pronouns in their signature and used more gender neutral language then coming out wouldn’t feel so intimidating to do.
Actions we can all take
Pride Month is a unique opportunity to both reflect on the rich history of the LGBTQIA+ community while also keeping a firm eye on the future.
One of the key ways people can contribute to this future is by immersing themselves in LGBTQIA+ culture. To reflect this, the MFA DE&I Advisory has put together a bank of resources designed to enrich our industry’s understanding and literacy, including lots of podcasts, TV shows, movies and books. Take a look HERE
The SBS Inclusion DE&I training program, available to all MFA member employees, includes a LGBTQIA+ course, designed to improve the understanding of the LGBTQIA+ community. Register for the SBS Inclusion Program.
Alice Raitt (she/her/hers) is a Media Strategist at Carat Melbourne.
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