Winston & Strawn LLP’s Post

This month, let’s not just celebrate Pride. Let’s RADIATE Pride!   In many ways, this is a tough moment for the Queer community. Extremists forces are trying to dim our light. But even in the moments that feel overwhelming and filled with doubt, we can still demonstrate solidarity and unity. We can speak up and speak out. And like we have always done, we can outshine and persevere.   Here’s what you can do: 🌈To those who identify as LGBTQ+: Radiate Pride by wrapping yourself in our community. Queer joy is powerful. Queer resilience is real. When we work together, our community is unstoppable.   🌈To company and organization leaders: Radiate Pride by focusing on the future. Right now, it may seem easy to downplay and deprioritize the values of DEI. I’d ask you to look past this moment—and lean into what’s ahead.   🌈To allies: Remember, you have an important role to play in pushing our movement forward. Radiate Pride by supporting the LGBTQ+ community all year round.   Together, we can build a world where everyone belongs. For an even deeper view on my thoughts on Pride this year, read more here: https://lnkd.in/eaTKqzJJ #BusinessOfBelonging #Pride

An excellent post on how, Allies, corporations and those in the community can work to continue to move forward on progress in spite of the negative forces confronting us. Now more than ever, companies need to double down on and publically reinforce their commitments to diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace policies and positions. Those that do will attract and retain the top talent needed to take them into a successful future.

🌈 Poll Result: Understanding Allyship Challenges 🌈 We asked you about the biggest challenges allies face when supporting LGBTQ+ people, and here’s what you shared: ✍️ The biggest challenge allies face when supporting LGBTQ+ people is a lack of understanding (38%), followed closely by a fear of making mistakes (32%) and resistance from others (27%). We value your insights, and we invite you to join myGwork - LGBTQ+ Business Community at the upcoming panel, where we'll delve more deeply into this topic: https://lnkd.in/eNp3XAgd #LGBTQAllyship #Inclusivity #Poll

Creating a sense of belonging for all of our people is a central tenet of our firm. This includes all of our transgender, nonbinary, gender-expansive and other LGBTQ+ colleagues. We stand with them. #TransDayofVisibility In the last five years, our lawyers have contributed more than 13,600 hours of pro bono services for LGBTQ+ causes on behalf of 70+ clients. Among many other matters, we have assisted in name change clinics, advocated for persecuted individuals seeking asylum and represented national organizations seeking to overturn bans on gender affirming care. Learn more about this groundbreaking work on Law360: https://bit.ly/3IYzSkY

Content warning: Reference to conversion practices. On 1st March, MPs will be voting on the second reading of a bill to ban conversion practices. Think conversion practices are a thing of the past? Think again. - Trans people are twice as likely as other LGBTQ+ people to have been subjected to conversion practices. - Nearly half of trans people who have been subjected to conversion practices experienced them at the hands of a religious organisation. - More than a quarter of Black trans people and more than a quarter of Asian trans people have been subjected to conversion practices. #BCT #BanConversionTherapy #Trans

Dive into the importance of active listening in LGBTQ+ conversations with our latest article from Mark Harbison. Listening with openness is fundamental to understanding and supporting diverse perspectives. Read about it here: https://lnkd.in/emCmaj99

When do you think to celebrate Pride? June? August? How about every day? Pride isn't just a month-long celebration. It's a daily commitment to visibility, equality, and respect for the LGBTQ+ community and everyone. Every. Single. Day. It's crucial to stay vigilant against discrimination and ensure that everyone feels safe and valued all year round. Let's make inclusivity and support a permanent part of our lives. Where are you focusing your efforts to create a more inclusive world? #Pride365 #EqualityForAll #InclusionMatters ❗ Repost this to spread the message

Are brands pulling back on support for Pride this year? It has been a few weeks since I chatted about this with Allison Carter at Ragan Communications and PR Daily and I still believe that they are not. Rather, I think we are seeing fewer brands veering into the rainbow-washing space given the heightened risk of criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates (and vocal anti-LGBT activists) on inauthentic or superficial and performative allyship. However, those brands that understand that action earns trust are continuing to support Pride by uplifting their work to embrace inclusive policies, creating impact-focused purpose-driven campaigns, and promoting a culture of belonging by celebrating and uplifting their employees, consumers, and partners. These brands are not backing away from those values and there is plenty of data to show that this will continue to drive growth, as noted by this year's #ReturnOnLeadership (ROL) Index, comprised of companies with strategic clarity, alignment, focus, and a sense of meaning, showing that the ROL Index (+49%) has outpaced both the S&P 500 (+26%) and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (+11%) over the past three years.

Have you seen our new featured LGBTQ+ Keynote Speakers page? What better time to highlight this, than during Pride Month! We've recently added some new pages to our website, focusing on topics that are a bit more niche, but incredibly valuable! Check out the new page: https://lnkd.in/eky7SDBC #Pride2024 #PrideAwareness #EqualityMatters #InspirationalSpeaker #MotivationalSpeakerBusiness

As June comes to a close, remember that celebrating diversity is about what you do all year, not just in one month. Check out this article on steps you can take to make your workplace more LGBTQ+ inclusive: https://lnkd.in/dbWdDej