{"id":2540,"date":"2021-06-15T17:48:29","date_gmt":"2021-06-15T23:48:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pronto.io\/business\/?p=2540"},"modified":"2021-06-15T17:48:29","modified_gmt":"2021-06-15T23:48:29","slug":"companies-want-to-support-the-lgbtq-community-for-pride-month-now-what","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pronto.io\/business\/companies-want-to-support-the-lgbtq-community-for-pride-month-now-what\/","title":{"rendered":"Companies Want to Support the LGBTQ+ Community for Pride Month. Now What?"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/span> 6<\/span> min read<\/span><\/span>[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][divider line_type=”Full Width Line” line_thickness=”1″ divider_color=”extra-color-3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1623800606004{padding-top: 15px !important;}”]Throughout June, many companies want to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community. After all, it’s Pride Month, and your business wants to take part. However, many businesses aren’t sure what steps they should take to show their support for pride month. Changing your logo is a common step, but often, that doesn’t feel like enough to fully throw your support behind the LGBTQ+ community, whether the goal is to raise awareness about common issues faced by those individuals or to increase understanding, caring, and support within your organization.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Consider some of these suggestions that your organization can try this month and any other months throughout the year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bring in an LGBTQ+ expert.<\/span><\/h3>\n

Ask an expert to come in and prepare a presentation for your company. You may want to have that expert speak on common issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community, from <\/span>problems with discrimination<\/span><\/a> to challenges in finding public accommodations that work for them. Members of the LGBTQ+ community also face higher levels of mental health concerns, including greater levels of depression and anxiety and<\/span> higher suicide rates.<\/span><\/a> They also struggle with a lack of representation in popular media, which can make it difficult for them to identify with popular heroes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Consider finding ways that your expert can tie their presentation to your specific industry. If you work in education, for example, your LGBTQ+ expert may want to speak about ways that educators can show support for their LGBTQ+ students. If you work in fashion, you may want to discuss ways that you can modify your marketing or the clothing you present so that your message and your offerings align with the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. If you do not know how your business can show regular, daily support for the LGBTQ+ community, consider asking your expert to provide you with guidance that could help you make those vital decisions in the future.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Create content specifically for your LGBTQ+ audience members.<\/span><\/h3>\n

Most of the time, content geared toward your target audience focuses heavily on the members of that audience who most clearly fit societal and cultural norms. Unless you have products geared directly toward an LGBTQ+ audience, you may focus your marketing and content on your cisgender, heterosexual target audience members–even without meaning to.<\/span><\/p>\n

During pride month, consider creating content specifically focused on an LGBTQ+ audience. Ask these key questions to determine how you can best shape your content to fit those needs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Do you have LGBTQ+ audience members who regularly use your products or services?<\/span><\/h3>\n

You may already have a booming social media community with considerable audience involvement. Chances are, you have LGBTQ+ members in that community. They use your products. They appreciate your services. They may even already be your brand ambassadors. However, many of them may not be blatant about their sexuality in your forums.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As part of your support for Pride Month, consider inviting those community members to share their families with you. Invite them to share pictures of their partners or families using your products. Encourage them to connect with you and share their stories. Then, feature them on your website or social media pages.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Is there a specific way that LGBTQ+ community members can use your products or a modification to your products that can make them more accessible to the LGBTQ+ community?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Take a look at your products and their accessibility, inclusion, or convenience to the LGBTQ+ community. Making your products accessible can be particularly important if you offer products like clothing, which are frequently gendered. You may also find that materials intended for couples are frequently geared toward opposite-gender customers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What inclusive options can you offer for your LGBTQ+ audience? Is there a specific way you can make your products more inclusive, including offering specific products just for your lesbian or gay buyers? Highlight them on your website to show your support.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Do you have gendered content on your website?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Take a look at the current content on your website. Is it highly gendered or focused on heterosexual couples in some way? During Pride Month, you have the perfect opportunity to correct those errors. Take a look at your existing content and refresh it. Make it more supportive of the LGBTQ+ community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Do a fundraiser for an LGBTQ+ cause.<\/span><\/h3>\n

Does your business often conduct fundraisers to help support the causes that best line up with your goals or to raise awareness of your support within the community? If so, during Pride Month, consider focusing a fundraiser on an LGBTQ+ cause. Common organizations include The Trevor Project or the Family Equality Council. However, there is a wide range of organizations that help support LGBTQ+ individuals, from teens to adults. Do your research into <\/span>reputable organizations<\/span><\/a> that match the values your organization values or wants to support most.<\/span><\/p>\n

Get your employees involved in your fundraising efforts. During Pride Month, it’s important to remember that it’s not about raising overall awareness of your business or meeting your business goals. Rather, it’s about showing support for the LGBTQ+ community as a whole. However, that doesn’t mean that your fundraising efforts can’t reflect your business’s unique personality. Consider:<\/span><\/p>\n