How can your company show up during Pride Month?

Each year, June marks Pride Month for the LGBTQ+ community and our allies. This is a time for both celebration and acknowledgment of the progress we have yet to make. In recent years, there has been significant attention on the role that businesses play during Pride Month. As the CEO of one of the largest LGBTQ+ organizations in the U.S., I’ve worked with numerous companies—across all industries, sizes, and locations—looking to support our community in meaningful ways. Here are a few insights to guide how you show up for the community during Pride, and beyond: KNOW THE DATA Nearly 1 in 10 adults in the U.S. identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. For Gen Z adults, that number climbs to more than one in five. As societal progress allows more and more people to openly identify as LGBTQ+, the average company’s consumer base, audiences, investors, and employees reflect that growth, too. It’s estimated that the LGBTQ+ community in the U.S. had roughly $1.4 trillion in buying power in 2021 (a figure that has surely gone up since then)—and that estimate grows to $3.9 trillion worldwide. While the news cycle and current climate around LGBTQ+ policies may change from moment to moment, one thing remains constant: LGBTQ+ people are here to stay. Supporting the LGBTQ+ community is a long-term investment that signals how in tune you are with your audience. Whether you have been a decades-long supporter, or are considering showing up for the first time this Pride Month, your options for being a meaningful ally are limitless. SUPPORT LGBTQ+ PEOPLE WHO WORK AT YOUR COMPANY Pride Month is a great opportunity for business leaders to consider how they’re supporting their LGBTQ+ employees through their policies and practices. Employers should consider whether the benefits offered are inclusive of LGBTQ+ staff needs. For example, do you offer adoption and family planning support benefits? Do employer-sponsored health insurance plans cover gender-affirming care for transgender and nonb