Honoring Inclusion – Vectorworks’ LGBTQIA+ Pride Month
LGBTQIA+ Pride month is celebrated each year in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan — a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. These Pride celebrations are a meaningful reminder of the past generations who fought passionately for LGBTQIA+ civil rights. In the last 54 years, equal rights have shifted for many members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and many organizations have mobilized, making huge strides across the world for equality, but the fight remains today.
At Vectorworks, we believe that strength lies in differences, not similarities, so we constantly seek to broaden our perspectives through insight from people with different experiences. We strive to encourage and actively practice our core value of Inclusion by learning about the past and from each other.
“LGBTQIA+ issues and advocacy are at the forefront of corporate social responsibility and consumers,” said Marketing Specialist – Architecture and LGBTQIA+ subcommittee member Vu Nguyen. “Our community operates in a dual role of educating our peers on LGBTQIA+ inclusive practices to build an equitable workplace while also ensuring that our community aids the business to elevate LGBTQIA+ voices and increase representation at Vectorworks."
Throughout June, Vectorworks was dedicated to remembering the activists who paved the way for the LGBTQIA+ community, celebrating and supporting members of this community, and encouraging all staff to learn more about the history of Pride around the globe. Vectorworks’ DEI Committee and its recently formed LGBTQIA+ subcommittee worked closely with the Vectorworks People + Culture team to plan activities and events that were both fun and educational for the entire team.
“The idea to form an ad hoc committee for LGBTQIA+ support at Vectorworks was initiated from a desire to increase awareness internally about the increasing threats to LGBTQIA+ rights and to provide a forum where members of the community and allies could feel safe and comfortable to discuss these issues in addition to organizing various activities to support the Vectorworks LGBTQIA+ community,” said Product Marketing Manager and LGBTQIA+ subcommittee member Luc Lefebvre.
Staff celebrating Pride Month at Vectorworks’ headquarters space.
The month kicked off with a special Pride Trivia Happy Hour. Our global staff came together virtually to test their knowledge and gain new insights and perspectives with Pride-themed categories and questions like, “Who designed the Pride flag?” (Gilbert Baker) and “What country currently holds the world record for having the largest Pride parade?” (Brazil.)
Throughout the month, members of the LGBTQIA+ subcommittee also shared interesting facts on Pride, like the history of Pride in the U.S., the history of Mardi Gras/Pride in Australia, and information and resources on intersectionality in queer identities.
“With the help of many individuals, we put our Pride on display with several awareness messages and organized Pride month activities,” said Lefebvre. “Staff from Australia, Germany, Canada, the UK, and the US showed their support during the month of June.”
To close out Pride Month, staff came together in person and virtually for brunch and Drag Queen Bingo hosted by Naomi Thee Ratchet.
Staff participating in Drag Bingo.
Supporting the LGBTQIA+ community isn’t something that only happens once a year, however. The Vectorworks DEI Committee is a proud supporter of the Build Out Alliance. This organization promotes and advocates for the inclusion of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities within the building design and construction industries. Additionally, the LGBTQIA+ subcommittee strives to continually find and create opportunities to offer additional support to staff and external communities through education, volunteerism, and more.
"To me, building pride centers around community and creating a sense of belonging. While the Vectorworks’ LGBTQIA+ subcommittee was only formed a few months ago, it has already deepened relationships and fostered conversations between people across various departments and teams,” said Nguyen. “The future of Pride with Vectorworks is about a space to embrace those that are marginalized year around — not just in June.”
To learn more about Vectorworks and our commitment to our core values, visit vectorworks.net/company/values.
