Pride & Joy
Listen to the full episode here:
Happy Pride!
We’re super busy with Pride workshops this month, and I was recently on a planning call with one of our clients and Erma from our team. The topic of the shocking amount of new anti-LGBTQ+ laws came up, and as they spoke about how those laws will be addressed during the panel, Erma passionately leaned into joy. My approach would naturally be much more practical – but Erma had me sold. Pride is about joy.
Radical joy. When there are many reasons to be angry – at Bud Light, at Target, at Uganda, at DeSantis……We can choose joy. Joy in community. Joy in authentic self-expression. Joy in movement. Joy at work.
I’m obsessed with work, but the older I get, the more I find joy outside of work. This Pride, I’m finding joy in stand-up comedy, in pickleball, in camping, in family and chosen family, and in doing all things as my full authentic self. In doing all of that, I’ll have the stamina to use my privilege to keep up the good fight. How are you committing to joy this Pride?
This Week’s Good Vibes:
The National Park Service (NPS) is working to incorporate more Black history into its storytelling about America. This includes considering the establishment of a Black Panther Party National Historical Park, and other new parks in locations related to civil rights, such as the 1964 murders of civil rights workers and the 1955 lynching of Emmett Till. The goal is to establish new national parks that facilitate conversations about race. I’m hopeful that all of these come to fruition so these stories continue to be heard and remembered.
The North Face is fighting back against backlash from conservatives for partnering with drag queen Pattie Gonia to promote their "Summer of Pride" event. However, unlike other companies that have faced similar backlash, The North Face is standing by its brand partner and expressing support for LGBTQ+ equality. When other brands have backed down, this response is significant as it demonstrates a commitment to inclusion and sends a message to other businesses about the importance of embracing LGBTQ+ consumers and employees.
Mexico has introduced a new policy allowing citizens to identify as nonbinary on their passports, with the option to select "X" as their gender marker. The U.S. and Canada already have this policy in place. This is significant as it demonstrates Mexico's progress in advancing LGBTQ+ rights and the acceptance of gender beyond the binary. The indigenous Muxe of Oaxaca live and are widely accepted in their “third gender.”
Texas now has the CROWN Act. The CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) aims to protect individuals from discrimination based on their natural hair in workplaces, schools, and housing policies. This affects mostly Black and Brown folks who have dreadlocks, braids, twists, and other natural hair. These folks are often burdened with the white supremacy standard of "professional” hair. There are about 20 states with this protection.
In a strange turnabout, another company which faced recent conservative backlash was Chik-Fil-A, when people realized the company had a Vice President of DEI. The irony is that the fast-food restaurant chain has a history of partnerships with anti-LGBTQ organizations and has been boycotted by many people like me, who love that chicken but go to Popeye’s instead. The good news here is that (I hope) Chik-Fil-A is showing some commitment towards greater equity and inclusion…my hope is that it’s not lip service, but they haven’t released any statements.
Call to Action: