Bumble Inc.’s Post

This Pride is particularly special for me — my first as Bumble Inc.'s Chief People Officer. I’ve had the honor of kicking off the month of celebrations, leading community events with our Pride @ Bumble Employee Resource Group, and speaking with the media (thank you, CNBC) about openly leading at work. As I reflect on my own life and career journey, it’s the learning and the progress that I celebrate this year for Pride. I also can’t overlook the issues & hostility presently facing our LGBTQ+ community. Many in our LGBTQ+ community experience shame, humiliation, discrimination, and a lack of support and protection both at work and at home. Our Transgender community, in particular, still faces daily threats of retribution and backlash. Fellow allies: please speak up and stand up for your beliefs, for your friends, and for your colleagues. Your voice and your actions in support of human rights and equal protections are needed now more than ever. It’s just not complicated or controversial to stand up for equality. Companies have an important role in setting the example of doing well and doing good. The work we do can have an extraordinary impact on our self-worth, so couple that with the feeling of being supported (or not) by your employer and colleagues for just being who you are. Trust that when employees don’t feel respected and protected, you’re not getting the best of what they have to offer and that’s a loss for everyone. I’m proud to work for Bumble as we celebrate all of our employee communities year round. And for our LGBTQ+ community specifically, it’s not just about adding Pride-themed swag or joining parades (though we certainly do these things) – it’s about the tangible benefits: showing up for our employees and working together to disrupt the systems that prevent progress so that everyone can move forward together. At Bumble, we prioritize the emotional and physical well-being of our employees through comprehensive healthcare benefits, mental health support, and inclusive policies that protect and uplift our whole community. We also offer gender-affirming healthcare coverage, and continuous education on LGBTQ+ issues to ensure a supportive and inclusive environment. In our Bumble app, we worked with GLAAD to help ensure our LGBTQ+ community can more authentically, openly, and safely express who they are and find the connections they’re looking for. As part of this, nonbinary people and people with same gender-connections can now set and respond to an Opening Move, ensuring a more inclusive and empowering experience for our users. We also have a partnership with Trans Lifeline to support their mission of connecting transgender and nonbinary people in North America to lifesaving resources and educating our employees on how best to support this community. Thank you for the support. #Pride2024 #LoveWins #BumblePride

Transforming Workplaces Through LGBTQ+ Storytelling In our journey towards truly inclusive environments, the narratives we share and celebrate can bridge gaps, build understanding, and foster a deep sense of belonging. MIST champions the transformative power of storytelling within the LGBTQ+ community, not just as a method of expression, but as a strategic tool for inclusion in every workspace. Why Storytelling? Storytelling is an ancient art form that remains incredibly relevant today, especially in promoting diversity and inclusion. For the LGBTQ+ community, sharing stories is not just about recounting experiences; it's about visibility, empathy, and creating spaces where everyone feels understood and valued. The Impact of LGBTQ+ Narratives in Workspaces: Fostering Empathy: Personal stories allow individuals to connect on a human level, beyond labels or identities. They cultivate empathy, one of the most critical components of an inclusive workplace culture. Challenging Stereotypes: By sharing diverse experiences from within the LGBTQ+ spectrum, storytelling challenges stereotypes and broadens perspectives, encouraging a deeper understanding of the community's richness and complexity. Empowering Voices: Storytelling empowers individuals by giving them a platform to share their truths, promoting a culture of openness and authenticity. Educating Allies: Through stories, allies gain insights into the experiences of LGBTQ+ colleagues, helping to shape more supportive and effective allyship practices. How Can Workplaces Leverage LGBTQ+ Storytelling? Host Storytelling Sessions: Regularly organized events where employees are encouraged to share their journeys can foster a culture of openness and mutual respect. Incorporate Stories into Training: Embedding real-life experiences into diversity and inclusion training can make the learning process more engaging and impactful. Celebrate Diverse Dates: Use occasions like Pride Month, Transgender Day of Visibility, and others as opportunities to highlight stories from those specific communities. Support LGBTQ+ Initiatives: Encourage and support the participation of your workforce in LGBTQ+ storytelling projects, podcasts, or community events. In our quest for truly inclusive workplaces, the stories of LGBTQ+ employees and allies alike are our most powerful tool. They remind us of our shared humanity, celebrating both our differences and our common grounds. Let's embrace the art of storytelling to create work environments where everyone is seen, heard, and valued for who they truly are. #LGBTQInclusion #Storytelling #EmpathyInAction #DiversityAndInclusion #PrideInWork #MIST

Adrien Gaubert and Pierre Gaubert, twins from France, are transforming the professional landscape for the LGBTQ+ community with their groundbreaking platform, myGwork - LGBTQ+ Business Community — dubbed the “pink LinkedIn.” Their journey started in a small town where they struggled to find acceptance and inclusive work environments. Adrien pursued a career in finance, while Pierre found his niche in marketing. Despite their professional success, they noticed a glaring gap in the market: a lack of support and resources for LGBTQ+ professionals. “We have both experienced homophobic attitudes and behavior in previous employment. I suffered from gossiping and the stereotypical attitudes from colleagues and Pierre had to deal with very rude sexual jokes from his managers. myGwork’s impetus came after the passing of our mother; mum was always worried we could not find a good job because of other’s prejudice. myGwork was created to address this issue, and make sure we are all given an equal chance to succeed in the workplace.” In 2014, driven by their personal experiences and a shared vision, they launched myGwork. This platform is designed to be more than just a job site. It’s a comprehensive professional network tailored specifically for LGBTQ+ community, where you can find inclusive employers, access mentorship programs, and participate in events and webinars that foster professional growth and community building. Adrien and Pierre’s dedication to their cause has paid off. myGwork’s latest funding round was of €1.5 million, most of which has been dedicated to UX enhancements and global expansion. The platform, now with half a million users and partnerships with hundreds of corporations, connects LGBTQ+ professionals with inclusive employers, provides e-learning through myGwork Academy, and supports intersectionality education. It also boasts tens of thousands of job listings and runs global events that attract tens of thousands of attendees. The impact of myGwork extends far beyond its members. By advocating for inclusive workplaces and providing a safe space for professional development, Adrien and Pierre are driving significant cultural change. “We want to empower the LGBT+ community and this can only be done if we manage to federate our community and make it strong. The future generation will not be afraid to come out at work, or anywhere, as long as together with inclusive employers we create a new diverse and inclusive ground. We also believe our community has everything to win when helping each other. To be heard, we need to be seen and present ourselves as one community, one big family.” Adrien and Pierre Gaubert are not just entrepreneurs; they are pioneers of a movement that champions equality, inclusion, and professional growth. Their story is a testament to the power of resilience and the importance of creating spaces where everyone can thrive. #Pride #PrideMonthCampaign #91Ninjas

Celebrating Pride and Our LGBTQIA+ Employees! 🌈 This Pride Month, we're celebrating incredible individuals in the LGBTQIA+ community who make Featurespace such a vibrant and innovative place to work. But first, a reminder of why inclusion and advocacy are crucial all year round: · Over 7 million adults in the UK are LGBTQIA+. They are our colleagues, friends, and family. · There’s been a 112% rise in hate crimes on the basis of sexual orientation over the last five years. Hate crimes against transgender individuals are particularly prevalent. · These crimes often involve violence or threats of violence, further highlighting the need for a safe and inclusive environment. · While this year’s slight decrease of 6% is positive, there’s much more work to be done. To better understand the experiences of our LGBTQIA+ employees, we recently hosted a panel discussion for our global team. Here’s what we learned: ✴ Visibility and positive representation matters: It’s important to see yourself reflected in the workplace, including through the use of inclusive language. ✴ Actively listening can help creating a safe space: Being aware of biases can help work towards a more inclusive workplace culture. ✴ Authenticity at work is powerful: It’s crucial to feel comfortable to be yourself at work, without fear of judgment. ✴ Normalise what’s traditionally been seen as different: Create a workplace where LGBTQIA+ lives are seen as ordinary, not ‘other’. In the words of one panellist, ‘make us boring!’ Featurespace is committed to ongoing action: This panel discussion was just one step in our journey towards a truly inclusive workplace. We're dedicated to fostering an environment where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. #PrideMonth #DiversityandInclusion #LGBTQIA+ #BeYouAtWork

At companies like Duda, a supportive workplace is not just a perk; it’s the bare minimum. Head to Built In to read how 10 companies are walked with the LGBTQ+ community, in June and year-round. #Hiring #NowHiring

Let’s talk #PrideMonth (or rainbow logo month, as I like to refer to it) 🏳️🌈 While I think it’s ‘nice’ that so many brands and businesses fly the rainbow flag during June, 99% of the time it just comes off as tokenistic. Changing the colour of your logo once a year along with one social media post saying something vaguely about ‘supporting’ or ‘celebrating’ LGBTQ+ staff is a bit of tick box exercise, isn’t it? Sexual orientation is a protected characteristic, so you kind of have to support your LGBTQ+ staff. If businesses REALLY care about Pride and REALLY care about their LGBTQ+ staff, I don’t care about a rainbow-hued logo, I care about: 🏳️🌈 Parental and Adoption Leave Policies that make starting a family as a non-heteronormative couple accessible, affordable and as stress-free as possible. 🏳️🌈 Intentional recruitment practices which include actively advertising roles in queer spaces, creating diverse hiring panels and recognising that unconscious bias and outright homophobia or transphobia may have contributed to stunted career progression in some cases. 🏳️🌈 Equitable benefits that address the specific needs of queer people, such as LGBTQ+ specific employee assistance programmes. 🏳️🌈 Actively supporting LGBTQ+ causes all year around through corporate partnerships with charities and corporate-social responsibility initiatives. 🏳️🌈 Investing in consistent and continuous employee training to break down stigma, misconceptions, barriers and foster a more inclusive and understand culture where living authentically isn’t just a buzzword. 🏳️🌈 Understanding the difference between equality and equity, and that LGBTQ+ people may have been held back in their career through no fault of their own and may benefit from more fast-tracked or focussed training and developing opportunities. 🏳️🌈 A concerted effort to understand the particular needs and values and buying behaviours of your LGBTQ+ customers, including specific market research. 🏳️🌈 Inclusive marketing featuring appropriate, non-tokenistic LGBTQ+ depictions in imagery and messaging, actively seeking out and working with queer influencers, abasadors, freelancers and partnering with queer-owned businesses ALL YEAR. START with these things and maybe then we can talk about Pride-themed logos and rainbow cookies in the canteen. Otherwise, in the immortal words of Julia Roberts’ Erin Brockervich . . .

Today is National Coming Out Day. Today is a day where we celebrate LGBTQ+ individuals that step forward and reveal their truth. Coming out is a big deal, as for many people it is one of the hardest things they may do, and it takes bravery and inner strength to utter the words publicly. Today is a day of celebration. As a Two-Spirit individual, this day is special for me. Three years ago today, I came out publicly. Prior to this, I walked in two worlds where I felt I couldn’t share this very vulnerable part of me publicly. I thought I could lose everything I worked so hard for. It killed me that I couldn’t be 100% honest. It led me down a very dark path. After years of being out to family and friends, I decided to free this part of me, but I did it in an unconventional way. I came out via Facebook. I did it in a surprise photo shoot. In this photo, the photographer (who also happened to be a lifelong friend) asked me, “How do you feel right now?” I responded “I feel free.” At that moment, I lost it. She captured this moment. After this day, the doors that opened were plentiful. For the first time in my life, I am complete. As I am immersed in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work, I bring my authentic self to work every single day. Furthermore, I didn’t realize the impact of sharing my story publicly. Several young people that I mentored who were questioning felt comfortable sharing their own stories. This also led people to come together and find a way to create a more inclusive and welcoming community for ALL. In the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion world, creating inclusive spaces requires organizations to lead with intention. If you believe that DEI represents the organizational beliefs and values, it needs to be embedded in everything the organization does. Part of this is creating a culture that allows employees to embrace their authenticity. When employees bring their authentic selves to work, they bring their A-game. When you treat employees as humans and create environments for them to foster their human beingness, they in turn deliver their best work. Today we celebrate the coming out stories of the LGBTQ+ Community, the journey to get to that point and what happened after, but also call to action to become allies for the LGBTQ+ community and create an environment for ALL people to live their lives authentically and in their truth. “No more running, no more hiding No more hurting, no more crying No more trouble, no more sighing No more falling, no more striving No more heartache, no more fighting No more fears, only flying” #intentionalinclusion #diversityequityandinclusion #twospirit #LGBTQ+

It’s Pride, y'all! To celebrate Pride Month, which honors the LGBTQ+ community's history, struggles, and achievements, I wrote an article that provides strategies that brands can use to authentically support the LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month and beyond: 🏳️🌈 Educate and Raise Awareness: Use your platform to share the history of Pride Month, highlight significant milestones in LGBTQ+ rights, and promote understanding of ongoing challenges. 🏳️🌈 Show Genuine Support Year-Round: Demonstrate commitment through inclusive policies, supporting LGBTQ+ causes, and fostering a diverse workplace culture. Some organizations may see Pride as a cash grab where throw up a couple of rainbow flags in June but then never show commitment to LGBTQ+ communities throughout the year. There are occasions dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community, such as  National Coming Out Day and Transgender Awareness Week. 🏳️🌈 Collaborate with LGBTQ+ Creators and Organizations: Partnering with LGBTQ+ creators and organizations ensures that your Pride campaigns are respectful and impactful. 🏳️🌈 Promote Inclusivity in Products and Services: Offer inclusive products and services that affirm LGBTQ+ identities. For instance, LEGO's "Everyone is Awesome" set celebrates LGBTQ+ inclusivity with the colors of the Progress Pride flag. 🏳️🌈 Support LGBTQ+ Employees: Ensure your workplace is safe and inclusive by offering diversity training, creating employee resource groups, and implementing non-discrimination policies. 🏳️🌈 Engage in Meaningful Advocacy: Take a stand on issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community by supporting policies and legislation promoting LGBTQ+ rights, participating in Pride events, and using your influence for positive change. You can read more on our blog: https://lnkd.in/e5ResWVx

As an LGBTQ+-owned business, Pride Month holds special significance for our company. Celebrated every June, Pride Month honors the LGBTQ+ community's history, struggles, and achievements, commemorating the pivotal Stonewall Riots of 1969. It serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing fight for equality and the need for continued advocacy, especially in light of over 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills currently under consideration in the U.S. Here are key strategies for brands to authentically support the LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month and beyond: 🌈 Educate and Raise Awareness: Use your platform to share the history of Pride Month, highlight significant milestones in LGBTQ+ rights, and promote understanding of ongoing challenges. 🌈 Show Genuine Support Year-Round: Demonstrate commitment through inclusive policies, supporting LGBTQ+ causes, and fostering a diverse workplace culture. Authentic support goes beyond June, showing that LGBTQ+ inclusivity is integral to your brand's values. 🌈 Collaborate with LGBTQ+ Creators and Organizations: Partnering with LGBTQ+ creators and organizations ensures that your Pride campaigns are respectful and impactful. 🌈 Promote Inclusivity in Products and Services: Offer inclusive products and services that affirm LGBTQ+ identities. For instance, LEGO's "Everyone is Awesome" set, designed by VP of Design Matthew Johnson, celebrates LGBTQ+ inclusivity with the colors of the Progress Pride flag. 🌈 Support LGBTQ+ Employees: Ensure your workplace is safe and inclusive by offering diversity training, creating employee resource groups, and implementing non-discrimination policies. 🌈 Engage in Meaningful Advocacy: Take a stand on issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community by supporting policies and legislation promoting LGBTQ+ rights, participating in Pride events, and using your influence for positive change. The Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index is a valuable benchmarking tool for tracking corporate policies and practices. By embracing these strategies, brands can be crucial in advancing LGBTQ+ rights and fostering a more inclusive world. Sincere dedication to these efforts enhances your brand's reputation and contributes to the ongoing fight for equality and justice for all. Happy Pride! You can read more on our blog: https://lnkd.in/eGVnqFjM

🌈 50% of people believe it's important to support the LGBTQ+ community all year round, according to DISQO and Do The WeRQ’s new #LGBTQ+ advertising & brand experience insights. Hear from our VP of People Operations Lyndsay McShane in Built In about how DISQO supports and empowers LGBTQ+ team members during #Pride and beyond. https://hubs.li/Q02FhSbS0