Download flags like this one, read up on how to be a better LGBTQ+ ally, and learn more ways to show your pride by visiting the Spectrum website.
Pride events have been cancelled across the nation in an effort to avoid large public gatherings, and Fermilab’s own Pride celebration – a follow-up to last year’s dazzling debut – has been postponed. Don’t worry if you can’t hold your pride in! Spectrum – Fermilab’s resource group for the LGBTQ+ community — has a solution. Several, in fact!
The Spectrum webpage features a Celebrate Pride Month section with several Zoom backgrounds that LGBTQ+ employees and their allies are encouraged to use in lab meetings. Even if you just want to make a statement about inclusion, join in! Having these images appear in Zoom meetings across the lab will help promote visibility and awareness of our community.
The flags include the More Color More Pride flag, with black and brown stripes to recognize people of color in the LGBTQ+ community. The fist flag image was suggested by Fermilab’s African-American/Black Association. Spectrum members believe such support is especially important now as people are actively amplifying black voices. You may also use the bisexual, transgender and pansexual flags.
We’re also asking employees to take a photo of themselves, family or friends celebrating Pride. Take a photo of yourself holding up a Pride flag, against one of the Pride Zoom backgrounds, or doing anything creative and fun. Depending on how many photos we get, we’ll create a collage or slide show to share as a Virtual Pride Parade. Email photos to Anne Heavey by Friday, June 26.
Also included in the Celebrate Pride Month section of the Spectrum website is a set of Pride-related links about celebrating Pride in the time of COVID, how to be a better ally, and connecting Pride celebrations to Black Lives Matter. This last article covers positive ways this is being done as well as some missteps. This should help educate us all in ensuring our well-intentioned efforts are truly supportive.
Let’s show our Pride!
Pete Cholewinski is Fermilab’s senior compensation analyst and co-leader of the Spectrum laboratory resource group.