Juneteenth, Pride, and Our Vision for a Belonging Society
Happy Juneteenth! Happy Pride! Learn from three insightful Black trans and nonbinary leaders how these two distinct celebrations are interconnected to clarify your vision for a belonging society.
Today, we find ourselves at the intersection of two important celebrations: Juneteenth and Pride.
While each commemorates distinct and pivotal moments in U.S. history, their contemporary significance is profoundly intertwined.
Juneteenth marks the true end of slavery for those in Texas, and Pride honors the Stonewall Uprising as a catalyst for the modern LGBTQ+ human rights movement.
Both celebrations share themes of liberation, resilience, and justice as we work toward imagining and building a belonging society.
Freedom is a Constant Struggle
At their core, Juneteenth and Pride highlight the historical and ongoing struggles against systemic oppression and interpersonal discrimination.
Juneteenth reminds us of the brutal legacy of chattel slavery and the long, arduous journey toward Black liberation, even after the Emancipation Proclamation.
Pride illuminates the discrimination, criminalization, and isolation endured by the LGBTQIA+ community, from legislative battles to societal prejudice.
The echoes of these struggles resonate deeply today, reminding us that pursuing “freedom is a constant struggle,” as Angela Y. Davis states.
Both celebrations serve as a powerful call to action, urging us to upend inequality at work and beyond by giving each of us what we need to live with dignity and respect.
The Role of Intersectionality
Intersectionality is a crucial lens to understand the connections between these celebrations, which is…
This lens recognizes that individuals holding two or more marginalized identities often experience compounded forms of discrimination.
For Black and LGBTQIA+ individuals, the burdens of racial injustice can merge with the challenges of homophobia and transphobia, creating unique and intensified experiences of marginalization.
Acknowledging this lived reality is paramount when building spaces of belonging at work, in community, and beyond.
By understanding these layered experiences, we can build a more robust Belonging Movement that gives each person what they need to be successful at work.
Solidarity In Our Belonging Movement
Today’s current conditions underscore the urgency of building solidarity within our Belonging Movement.
We’re witnessing a distressing surge in anti-trans legislation, accompanied by increasing violence against LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly Black trans women.
Simultaneously, systemic racism and discrimination negatively impact Black communities, leading to economic and health disparities, and tragically, violence.
These challenges demand a holistic approach, recognizing that building anti-racist and LGBTQIA+ inclusive workplaces are not separate issues.
Rather, these are interconnected issues to help level the playing field, ensuring that each employee has access to equal opportunities at work.
Current attempts to erase our history and dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals underscore the need for solidarity as we grow our Belonging Movement.
Growing the Belonging Movement
To celebrate Juneteenth and Pride, I am warmly inviting you to explore the archive of our Belonging Membership Community’s Learning Library.
We are featuring the interviews of three incredible Black trans and nonbinary leaders who generously share insights about the importance of solidarity across our struggles.
If your workplace is celebrating Juneteenth, please use some of your free time today to learn more about the significance of this day and month from the following leaders:
This Pride, Build More Belonging for Your BIPOC LGBTQ+ Employees. Kylar W. Broadus, Founder of the Trans People of Color Coalition, unpacks the intricate intersections of Pride, Juneteenth, dynamic Employee Resource Group (ERG) programming, and the transformative power of BIPOC LGBTQ+ leadership. This conversation is an absolute must for organizational and people leaders committed to building spaces of belonging for all their employees.
Center Racial Equity, Center Black Trans Lives. Aryah Lester, Deputy Director of the Transgender Strategy Center, provides powerful insights into why workplace efforts centering racial equity are inherently incomplete until Black trans people are unequivocally included. This critical call addresses recent legal and policy changes impacting transgender people in the workplace and offers actionable ways you can show up for racial justice this Pride season and beyond.
Upend Anti-Blackness at Work. Vashti Boyce, Founder of Wild Iris Consulting, shares powerful insights into how anti-Blackness manifests in our people & culture practices, and our workplaces, as a whole guiding us to recognize our own internalized biases and offering strategies to mitigate them. Learn about the specific harms endured by Black people in the workplace due to anti-Blackness, and learn how to upend them through anti-racist actions and behaviors. While all forms of racism are deplorable, this conversation focuses specifically on how anti-Blackness shows up in workplace settings.
If you found these resources from our Belonging Membership Community’s learning library helpful, consider becoming a member to access the entire archive.
Take An Act of Allyship!
Do you want to take an act of allyship during Pride?
Then, please express your objection to the U.S. EEOC's attempt to remove gender identity and sexual orientation as protected bases on EEO Complaint Forms.
Send your objectionable comments to the Treasury PRA Clearance Officer, 1750 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 800, WDC 20220, or email PRA@treasury.gov.
To read more about this proposed change, go here, and to learn more about the incredible leaders pushing back against such changes, learn about Pride in Exile.
I'll be interviewing leaders from Pride in Exile including, Chai Feldblum, Former EEOC Commissioner, and Judge Karen Ortiz at the EEOC.
The interview goes live on Monday, July 7 here. Before then, please share this link with your colleagues, and encourage them to listen to this podcast series.
Thanks for growing our Belonging Movement!