Loving Yourself Is The Greatest Revolution

Pride Month is celebrated everyJune as a tribute to those who were involved in the Stonewall Riots. It’s alsoa month that gives everyone permission and encouragement to embrace who theyare by letting the world know — in style — that loving yourself is the greatestrevolution!

The rainbow aptly signifies thecolorful activities of this month-long celebration which includes massiverallies, pride parades, parties, workshops, concerts, and countless more LGBTQ+events to attract participants from all over. Commemorations and memorials arealso held for members of the community who have lost their lives to hate crimesand HIV/AIDS. Campaigns and rallies aim to promote and preserve the history andwell-being of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. (1)

Pride month also creates a timefor businesses to show their support to the LGTBQ+ community by changing theirlogos to rainbow colors or doing special edition items to promote equality.This year more than ever it seems like businesses are amping up theirpromotions even more — which raised a conversation with our core team here atPerspire.

Is this really helpful to theLGBTQ+ community?

Our CEO Lee Braun, shares histhoughts on this:
“As someone both a member of the LGBTQ+ community and a business owner I usedto have mixed feelings about businesses using rainbow logos. The cynical partof me thought corporations aren't as committed to their public statements ofpride and shouldn't pander to us. It could seem corporations use pride as amarketing ploy to drive sales and of course I laugh at the funny memes postedonline. But then I snap out of it and quickly remember how lucky I am to be witnessingsuch an incredible amount of exposure these businesses are bringing to theLGBTQ+ community. Whether the leaders of corporations care or not about PRIDEit doesn't matter to me anymore, they realize they have to recognize us. Pluswho doesn’t love rainbows?”

Yea, who doesn’t love rainbowsaaaaand glitter?!

No matter how you celebratePride, in a public parade, or in the comfort of your own home, making adonation to the Trevor Project or with the purchase of a rainbow logo item fromyour favorite brand — you are helping to celebrate and recognize the LGBTQ+community and giving permission to every human to live authentically.

Pride is so much more than amonth, it’s how you honor and celebrate your everyday moments, big and small.It’s a time to capture all the unique and simple life moments that make yourlife even more remarkable.

Braun says,
“To me, #pridemonth brings an overwhelming sense of belonging and visibility.It's a colorful celebration of life as well as a month-long reminder on how farwe have come and how much farther we have to go in recognizing and appreciatingdiversity.”

Pride Month is a greatopportunity to learn about the fight for what's right. Here are some numbers tolook at while deciding how you’d like to celebrate pride month this year:

• 52% – the percentage of LGBTQpeople who’ve experienced depression recently.
• 1 in 8 – the number of LGBTQ people who have experienced unequal treatmentfrom healthcare staff.
• 46% – the percentage of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people who are open abouttheir sexual orientation with their family.
• 4.1% – the estimated percentage of women who identify as LGBT.
• 350,000 – the number of people in the LGBTQ community that are transgenderwomen.
• 1 in 5 – the number of LGBTQ women living in poverty.
• 43% – the percentage of LGBTQ employees who haven’t revealed theirorientation at work.
• 50% – the percentage of LGBTQ workers who recently got federal protectionfrom discrimination.
• 10% – the amount of time LGBT workers spend hiding their identities.
• <$12,000 – the annual income earned by 22% of LGBTQ people.

Some projects and services toconsider donating or supporting this month:

• The Trevor Project
• Human Rights Campaign
• GLAAD
• It Gets Better

Sources

·      https://nationaltoday.com/pride-month/

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Author

RAQUEL DORSEY

Author | Brand Engagement

Raquel is a long time Perspire team member and IR saunafanatic. Her fav infrared benefit: Skin Health (hello glow!) She’s an avidwriter and loves all things social. She dreams of working from wifi on a warmisland with her two boys and husband.

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