June 28 marks LGBTIQ+ pride month in the aftermath of the Stonewall riot in 1969, which consisted of a series of demonstrations in response to the raid and police repression that took place in the early hours of June 28. It is recognized as the first major occasion where the community came together to fight against a system that harassed them.
In our experience addressing gender and diversity issues in institutions, from Grow-gender and work we usually have to answer a recurring question: Why isn’t there a heterosexual pride day?
come out of the closet
To explain it, we must first start from a fundamental concept: being heterosexual is part of the norm, because we assume that all people are heterosexual and cis gender (those people who perceive themselves as having the same gender as the one they were assigned at birth). Straight people, for example, don’t have to “come out” as such.
The missing rights
Nowhere in the world is heterosexuality punishable by law, nor is anyone kicked out of their home for being cisgender. Homosexuality, for example, is still seen as a crime in several countries around the world, and in some even punishable by death. There are still many, too, who do not have a gender identity law, equal marriage, among other rights.
equality has not arrived
It is often believed that there is currently no discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation. However, the numbers reflect another reality. From the workplace, for example, in Latin America and the Caribbean, 83% of people with non-cis normative gender identities expressed suffering workplace violence, according to research carried out by Grow-gender and work, together with the regional project FESMINISMOS de the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (2022).
In addition, according to a report by Grow-gender and work (2022), the situations of symbolic violence most witnessed in the workplace refer to jokes about gender identity (73%) or sexual-affective orientation (71%).
How to commemorate pride in organizations
From Grow we suggest, in the first instance, talk about commemoration and not celebration on this date, since it is important to understand the context of hostility that surrounded it and still persists. On the other hand, so that June is not only a date for visibility but also for the construction of more equitable societies, we advise:
- Work to close gaps: Do your organization’s licenses take into account the diversity of families?
- Check if the organization to which you belong has protocols that promote safe and violence-free work spaces, where the challenges and problems faced by the LGBTIQ+ community are recognized, and commit to providing real support.
- Generate communications that promote respect for gender identity and sexual orientation.
Building more equitable societies is the responsibility of all of society.
Grow Communication Team- gender and work
Source: Ambito
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
