The History of Pride at Work
Each June we celebrate Pride Month, a time to honor and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community’s history, visibility, and resilience.
For workplaces, it’s a meaningful opportunity to amplify inclusion and show support for employees of all identities, regardless of where they fall on the spectrum.
The Beginnings of Pride
The Stonewall Riots
The Stonewall Riots that occurred in 1969 marked a vital moment in the LGBTQ+ rights movement in the United States. Situated in New York City's Greenwich Village, the Stonewall Inn was a popular gathering spot for LGBTQ+ individuals. Following a police raid on the bar, the patrons decided to resist, resulting in a clash with law enforcement that lasted several days.
These spontaneous demonstrations not only symbolized the deep-rooted frustration with ongoing police harassment and discrimination but also served as a catalyst for LGBTQ+ activism and the rise of advocacy organizations throughout the nation. The Stonewall Riots became a turning point in the fight for equality and acceptance, leaving a long-lasting impact on the trajectory of LGBTQ+ rights.
Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, both activists, played vital roles during the Stonewall Riots. They were influential figures in the LGBTQ+ community and actively participated in the protests. Johnson and Rivera fought alongside other LGBTQ+ individuals, leading the charge against discrimination and police harassment. The tireless efforts and bravery of activists paved the way for future advancements in LGBTQ+ rights, inspiring generations to come.
The impact of the riots helped ignite a new flame of LGBTQ+ activism and paved the way for progress in the fight for equal rights. The protests at Stonewall Inn inspired the formation of advocacy organizations and a stronger sense of community belonging among LGBTQ+ individuals. These events brought the fight for equality and acceptance into the public eye, laying the foundation for significant advancements in LGBTQ+ rights within both public and personal spaces, and serving as a powerful symbol of resilience and allyship.
The History of Celebrating Pride in the Workplace
The Stonewall Riots marked a turning point in the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights and equity. The momentum of Pride only grew from there, becoming an important part of the year for not only individuals, but workplaces, cities, and communities across the world.
Milestones of LGBTQ+ Inclusion at Work
Here are some notable moments in the history of LGBTQ+ workers in the USA. This list is not exhaustive, and it’s important to note that milestones continue to take place, with laws and practices changing as our understanding of the intersection between inclusivity and LGBTQ+ rights continues to evolve.
1975: AT&T became one of the first major corporations to adopt a policy prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation.
1982: Wisconsin becomes the first state to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation within employment, housing, education, credit, and public accommodation.
1986: IBM added sexual orientation to its Equal Employment Opportunity policy, becoming one of the first major corporations to do so.
1992: Levi Strauss & Co. extended health benefits to same-sex partners of their employees, which was a groundbreaking move at the time.
1995: Disney offers domestic partner benefits to employees.
2004: Google started celebrating Pride internally and has since become known for its annual participation in Pride parades and events.
2006: The Transgender Law Center publishes a model called “Trans-Inclusive Workplace Policy”, which is used by dozens of employers.
2013: The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is struck down, paving the way for spousal benefits for same-sex couples.
2024: LinkedIn introduces optional pronoun fields and gender identity tags to improve workplace inclusivity on professional platforms.
For additional milestones, both work-related and otherwise, check these out:
Why We Celebrate: Discrimination at Work
According to the William’s Institute of UCLA report titled “LGBT People’s Experiences of Workplace Discrimination and Harassment” (2021), approximately 29.8% (one in four) of LGBTQ+ employees faced at least one form of employment discrimination. That includes being terminated or denied job opportunities due to their sexuality or gender identity.
On top of that, when identities intersect further, discrimination worsens. For example:
32.2% of LGBTQ+ employees of color reported experiencing employment discrimination compared to 26.3% of white LGBTQ+ employees.
48.8% of transgender employees reported experiencing discrimination compared to 27.8% of cisgender employees.
Harassment is also covered within the report. One-third of LGBTQ+ employees reported experiencing at least one form of harassment, with this number significantly increasing for people of color.
The report goes on to detail the reasons for discrimination and harassment, which includes a variety of reasons from misinformation to religious motivation. This causes LGBTQ+ employees to avoid discrimination by engaging in “masking” behaviours to fit in further with coworkers. This might mean changing their physical appearance, avoiding talking about their social life and family, or even resorting to infrequent bathroom use—all of which are not just demoralizing, but can affect both their mental and physical health.
That’s why it’s important (and even life-altering) to create an inclusive workplace that values and embraces LGBTQ+ individuals brings a wide range of benefits to both employees and companies.
How Do Organizations Support LGBTQ+ Employees?
Organizations of all sizes have an essential role to play in supporting LGBTQ+ employees by implementing inclusive policies, practices, and benefits, and being accepting and accommodating.
During Pride, it is a good time to review your processes and ensure your organization is:
Providing equal opportunities and protections for all employees, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Establishing clear non-discrimination policies and procedures and ensuring that LGBTQ+ individuals are safeguarded from any form of harassment or bias in the workplace. Not sure where to start? Download our Free DEI Policy Guide!
Offering comprehensive benefits that address the specific needs of LGBTQ+ employees, such as transgender-inclusive healthcare coverage, which will help demonstrate a genuine commitment to their well-being.
Actively engaging in Pride Month celebrations, organizing educational workshops on LGBTQ+ issues, and providing ongoing LGBTQ+ resources to employees.
By taking these proactive steps, companies send a powerful message of solidarity and create a safe and inclusive environment where LGBTQ+ employees can thrive and make valuable contributions to the business's success.
Tips for Celebrating Pride at Work
✅ Offer Gender-Neutral Restrooms
These create safe, inclusive spaces for everyone. Especially for nonbinary, trans, and gender-diverse employees, guests, and clients.
✅ Use Chosen Names and Correct Pronouns
Whether it’s for internal or external communications, this simple practice affirms identities, signals respect and contributes to inclusive cultures. An easy way to include both is to include pronouns in email signatures or, at public-facing events, provide name badges where people can indicate their chosen names and pronouns clearly from the get-go.
✅ Make Participation Voluntary
This might sound counterintuitive, however not everyone experiences Pride in the same way. For many people it can be a complicated, emotionally challenging time. By respecting that not everyone experiences it the same way and not making attendance and participation mandatory, you are protecting LGBTQ+ employees who may not feel safe or comfortable.
It’s essentially saying, “You’re welcome here whether you want to wave a flag or quietly observe”, and that’s huge.
✅ Avoid Tokenizing Your Employees
It’s important to remember that it’s not the role of marginalized individuals to assist and educate others. Tokenism often undermines genuine diversity efforts, and leads to a lack of trust and engagement among employees.
Pride Activities for Every Workplace
Organizing Pride-themed events is an impactful way for workplaces to support and celebrate LGBTQ+ inclusion actively. Here are a number of great ideas for celebrating pride in your organization:
Workshops and Training: Offer educational opportunities for employees across all teams to learn about LGBTQ+ history, terminology, and allyship, equipping employees with knowledge and tools to be supportive allies.
Displaying Your Pride: Display Pride flags across the workplace year-round to show that your workplace celebrates diversity and is providing a safe space for LGBTQ+ employees and clients.
Pride Trivia: If you have a monthly/biweekly team lunch or similar team-bonding activity, consider creating a Pride-themed activity like trivia. Create a set of questions relevant to Pride, and educate and spark reflection across employees.
LGBTQ+ Film Screening: Organize a film screening featuring LGBTQ+ movies or documentaries followed by a discussion. This can be a great way to raise awareness, educate, and generate meaningful conversations. Some choices might include: Paris is Burning, Moonlight, and Disclosure.
Pride Fundraising: Organize fundraising activities or donation drives to support LGBTQ+ charities, nonprofits, or local LGBTQ+ community organizations.
Pride Events Across the World
Paris Pride also known as Marche des Fiertés, showcases a grand parade, accompanied by music and dance.
Stockholm Pride is held in the capital city, is a week-long celebration filled with parades and live performances.
Athens Pride celebrates diversity and promotes LGBTQ+ rights, aiming to create a more inclusive and accepting society.
Taipei Pride has become one of the largest Pride events in Asia, attracting thousands of participants each year.
Sydney's Mardi Gras is an internationally known LGBTQ+ event featuring a parade and a month-long festival.
Tokyo Rainbow Pride has grown in size and visibility, working towards LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance.
Manila Pride has gained attraction as an annual LGBTQ+ event, bringing together communities and providing education.
Beirut Pride, an annual event since 2017 that includes a series of family activities and events and parties celebrating diversity.
New York Pride March is consistently North America's biggest pride event, with over 2 million attendees annually.
San Francisco Pride is famous for its vibrant parade and festivities in the historic LGBTQ+ neighborhood of Castro.
Toronto Pride also known as Pride Toronto, hosts a massive Pride Parade and a month-long celebration of LGBTQ+ culture.
São Paulo Gay Pride Parade has been recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest Pride parade globally.
Berlin Pride (also known as Christopher Street Day) is one of the largest LGBTQ+ events in Europe.
Amsterdam Pride, known as "Canal Parade," takes place on the city's iconic canals, attracting thousands of spectators.
London Pride is a major event that includes a lively parade through the city.
Madrid Pride (or Orgullo Madrid) is one of the world's largest Pride events, attracting millions of visitors.
Final Thoughts
Remembering that Pride is more than a parade is an important step in celebrating it across the workplace.
It it a reminder that everyone deserves to feel safe, valued, and seen. By honoring the history of Pride and committing to inclusion year-round we can create workplaces where everyone truly belongs.
