Samuel (Shyam) Konnur (He/Him)’s Post

Why Companies Must Recommit to the Fight for LGBTQ+ Rights #commercewise. Share your thoughts about this. Upgrading your Brand New Adventure with @Commercewise. Let Commercewise bring this thoughts & ideas to your team, Book Dr. Tony Astro at www.commercewise.us.

Today is National Coming Out Day. Observed on October 11 each year, the day holds significant cultural and historical importance in the LGBTQ+ community. Established in 1988, this day commemorates the anniversary of the 1987 March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, where hundreds of thousands gathered in the Capitol city to advocate for LGBTQ+ freedom. For LGBTQ+ people, coming out is a deeply personal decision, often filled with both fear and hope. Naming your truth can be deeply spiritual. National Coming Out Day encourages those who identify as LGBTQ+ to share their identities, and asks supporting allies to stand in solidarity. This act of openness can inspire others to embrace their true selves and contribute to a more accepting society. National Coming Out Day also highlights the importance of allyship. Allies play a crucial role in creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals, fostering an environment where everyone can express their true selves without fear of retribution or discrimination. The support of allies can be transformative, helping to normalize LGBTQ+ identities and championing equality. At St. Michael’s, we have a long history of embracing people across the spectra of gender and sexual diversity. We do so not in spite of our faith, but because of it. We believe God made each of us in God’s image. The more we can embrace diversity the more fully we can see the beauty of God. Read more in this week's eNoticias: https://lnkd.in/ggX3TrSH

LGBT History Month Spotlight on Terminology: "Lavender Scare" The Lavender Scare: A Dark Chapter in LGBTQ+ History 🏳️🌈💔 In the 1950s, thousands of LGBTQ+ federal employees were fired or forced to resign simply because of who they were. Known as the Lavender Scare, this government-led campaign targeted LGBTQ+ people, labeling them a "security risk" during the Cold War. 🔹 1953: President Eisenhower’s Executive Order 10450 banned LGBTQ+ individuals from federal jobs, falsely claiming they could be blackmailed. 🔹 5,000 to 10,000 LGBTQ+ people lost their jobs, with many lives destroyed by discrimination. 🔹 This unjust persecution lasted for decades, and it wasn’t until the 1990s that these policies were reversed. The Lavender Scare fueled fear, but it also sparked activism. Early LGBTQ+ groups like the Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis fought back, laying the groundwork for the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. 🏳️⚧️🌈 Let’s remember this important history and continue pushing for equality and justice for all. 💪 #LavenderScare #LGBTQHistory #EqualityForAll #QueerResilience #LGBTQHistoryMonth #KnowYourHistory

We live in an era of Inclusion and Diversity. Or that we proclaim. Still this year, the Pride celebration has been met with unexpected hostility and controversy and rainbow Pride flags faced unprecedented attacks across the United States. The louder and prouder the LGBTQ community gets, the angrier people become . The backlash isn’t isolated; it’s part of a broader trend. Over the past few years, state lawmakers have introduced hundreds of anti-LGBTQ bills. Social media’s charged rhetoric further emboldens hostility. There are 213 million estimated openly LGBTQ+ community members. Nearly 1 in 10 adults identify as LGBTQ It is estimated 1 billion people might not have come out yet. As we are ending Pride Month, let’s recognize the resilience of LGBTQ+ communities. Controversy may swirl, but so does courage. Visibility remains our greatest weapon against hate. Share your stories.

🌈 New publication! Despite remarkable progress in LGBTQ+ rights, these rights remain actively contested across Europe. In my new research project, I examine how LGBTQ+ organizations strategize their advocacy efforts in sometimes hostile political environments. Using survey data, I demonstrate that elite opinion plays a significant role. When policymakers and politicians express support for LGBTQ+ equality, organizations tend to directly contact these political elites. However, when support wanes, so does activism. I find that in hostile political contexts, organizations not only have fewer direct contacts with politicians but also do not necessarily engage through protests, demonstrations, litigation or community work. These findings underscore a sobering reality: LGBTQ+ organizations may become less active when faced with hostility, thus further silencing marginalized groups. Read more at: https://rdcu.be/dAUxq

We're here. We're queer. We're not going anywhere. Efforts to roll back LGBTQ+ rights and visibility not only hurt our community, but all marginalized communities. From a societal standpoint, this is unconscionable. From an economic standpoint, it's simply stupid and bad business. According to this article, companies are - and should - be standing strong in their DEI efforts, not buckling to political pressure. If it's true, that's good. The authors note that "rainbow capitalism" has a positive effect, which may be true in terms of more diverse hiring practices. I'm a bit uncomfortable with that term, though, as I would argue that "rainbow capitalism" connotes performative allyship - even the Wikipedia link that the article references states as such. As we head into Pride month, it's important to be aware of which companies are standing strong in their commitments to the LGBTQ+ community, how they are doing so, and which are not. #lgbtqia+ #lgbtq+ #dei

Looking Ahead with Hope As Pride Month 2024 comes to a close, I'm filled with hope for the future of the LGBTQ+ movement. We've made such incredible strides - from the Supreme Court legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015 to companies across the world proudly supporting their LGBTQ+ employees and communities. It’s part of the reason I’m so grateful to work at Nationwide which has been recognized for 20 of its nearly 100 years in business on the Human Rights Campaign’s Equality Index. And yet, our work is far from over. LGBTQ+ people still face discrimination, violence, and lack of legal protections in many parts of the world. Here at home, we must remain united against any efforts to roll back our hard-won rights and freedoms. LGBTQ+ rights are human rights and without support of our family and allies we wouldn’t have the protections we have today. If you are interested in learning more or showing your support, please consider joining a Pride resource group at your company, or if you’re a parent consider joining PGLAG. Lastly, consider supporting the community by shopping/dining at gay owned businesses (easily found in your area with a quick google search). So, let's take the energy and spirit of Pride and recommit ourselves to the fight for full equality. With perseverance and solidarity, I believe we can create a world where all LGBTQ+ people can live authentically without fear. A world of true liberation awaits - we just need to keep marching fearlessly toward it.

Join me and an excellent group of experts this Wednesday for a very important conversation! Are LGBTQ+ Rights Losing Ground?  Columbus Metropolitan Club Lynn Greer Legacy in Civic Engagement Forum Celebrating Inclusion & Equity for the LGBTQ Community    Wednesday, October 9, 2024 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm | Vue Columbus, 95 Liberty Street, Columbus OH ABOUT THE FORUM: An erosion of LGBTQ+ rights could be the latest casualty of America's deepening political and cultural polarization. With a laundry list of anti-LGBTQ+ bills piling up in the Ohio statehouse and some employers dropping corporate DEI initiatives, are efforts to safeguard and grow LGBTQ+ rights losing ground in Ohio? Polling research announced earlier this year by nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute also disturbingly showed US public support for LGBTQ+ protections falling for first time since 2015, illustrating the dangers of taking newly won freedoms for granted. With a panel of experts, we take stock of the state and trajectory of LGBTQ+ rights in Ohio and look at what the post-election environment may hold in store for LGBTQ+ Ohioans and their families. Learn more and register today: https://lnkd.in/ghAQa4zb

During Pride Month, we celebrate the LGBTQ+ community's resilience, strength, and diversity. It's a time to honor the Stonewall Rebellion, which took place in June 1969, and to recognize the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ equality. Pride Month is also a time to reflect on the progress that has been made. In recent years, we have seen significant advances in LGBTQ+ rights, such as the legalization of same-sex marriage and the increasing visibility of LGBTQ+ people in the media and public life. But there is still much work to be done. LGBTQ+ people continue to face discrimination in many areas of life, including employment, housing, and healthcare. In many parts of the world, LGBTQ+ people are still criminalized and even face violence. Pride Month is a reminder that we must continue to fight for LGBTQ+ equality. We must work to create a world where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

In today’s world, inclusion is more than a corporate buzzword —it’s a moral imperative. HBR’s piece "Why Companies Must Recommit to the Fight for LGBTQ+ Rights", serves as a reminder that standing up for LGBTQ+ rights isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s essential for fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and belongingness. ✨ But here’s the truth ✨ : you don’t have to be LGBTQ+ to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. Advocacy starts with allyship. Also next year, I’ll be publishing a study for OUT Moris, supported by the Kaleidoscope Trust. This research will provide invaluable insights into the lived experiences of Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender individuals in Mauritius, focusing on how Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belongingness (DEIB) frameworks resonate—or fail to resonate—with their realities. #LGBTQRights #DEIB #Allyship #Mauritius #OUTMoris #InclusionMatters #Advocacy