5 things / pride month
Hi there -
Sorry this is late arriving to you! Tech issues....
Last week I saw a photo of an amazing Calvin Klein billboard in Times Square, New York. It's their Pride month ad representing perhaps the most marginalized members of the LGBTQ community: Black transgender women, starring model Jari Jones. This matters because visibility and representation can be catalysts for inclusion.
Here are a few more things that inspired me, and why they matter:
The Dixie Chicks is now The Chicks. Lady Antebellum is now Lady A. Both bands rebranded to distance themselves from symbols of slavery because they support racial equity. This matters because part of being anti-racist is dismantling systems of white supremacy that hold people of color back from success.
NASA has renamed its Washington, D.C. headquarters after Black engineer Mary W. Jackson. This matters because this prominent building provides Black visibility and amplifies, rather than erases, Black contributions to American history.
Yelp will allow businesses to self-identify as Black-owned. This matters because supporting Black-owned business is one way to be an anti-racist, and now it will be easier to find those businesses.
Zillow will now provide details on whether a community has LGBTQ-inclusive housing protections. This matters because, in 27 states, it's still legal to deny LGBTQ people housing, and this is one way to help people feel safe.
How can I help you in your work to be more inclusive? Schedule a time to connect with me at this link.
Thanks for all you do to build a more inclusive world.
All the best-