The Impact of PRIDE

Source: Crystal Williams, Chief Human Resources Officer, Corpay

PRIDE Month began as remembrance of the Stonewall Uprising in June 1969, when LGBTQ+ protesters clashed with police for six days in Manhattan. The celebration has since grown to include a celebration of those brave enough, and some not yet brave, to share their life’s journey with the world. Today, there are still many challenges and biases against the community, so we must all – gay or not – choose to join hands and accept, love, appreciate, and tolerate one another.

I’d like to focus on a topic that has been getting lots of attention these days – pronouns. What’s a pronoun you might ask… They are words that are used as substitutes for nouns or to describe someone in the third person like I, she, he, you, it, we, they, him and her. Now add to that list a variety of words that are specific to the LGBTQ+ community such as ve, xe, ze/zie, xem, hir, and xyr to name a few.

As one could imagine, people get confused about what to call others, why and when to use a particular pronoun, and even what to do if they use the wrong pronoun and inadvertently offend someone.

Here’s why pronouns are important. The LGBTQ+ community is continuously growing and helping members find ways to express themselves, and the use of pronouns is one way to define who you are and how you want the world to recognize you. Some people choose to be associated with gender-specific or neutral pronouns while others prefer gender-inclusive pronouns, which are not male nor female specific. How people choose to be referred to is their choice. However, it is everyone’s responsibility to educate each other on how we want to be referred to with patience, tolerance, and understanding.

To learn about pronouns, how to use them, and why they matter visit the LGBT Life Center.

While PRIDE Month is a celebration for members of the LGBTQ+ community, it’s also an opportunity for everyone to learn how to co-exist in a world that is made up of so many people from different backgrounds, places, sexual preferences, and gender identities. Regardless of a person’s exterior, we are all searching for the same thing – the ability to exist without fear of discrimination, persecution, threats of violence, or rejection.

Looking forward, Corpay will continue to make improvements to create a more inclusive work environment for all. Looking back, it is important to know where this community started and understand the landscape of the LGBTQ+ movement. That will help us all to be better equipped to change the future in a way that makes everyone comfortable and welcome.

According to a Berkeley University study, diversity enhances creativity and can improve a company’s performance and long-term growth. People are more innovative when they feel accepted in the workplace, so I implore each of you to take a moment to get to know someone who’s a little different than you on the outside because we are all the same on the inside. We are all just people who want to be loved and appreciated.