Celebrating Pride Month: Five Perspectives in Showing up for the LGBTQIA+ Community

This month and every month – Otak unequivocally supports the LGBTQIA+ community.

It’s critical for us as an organization to not only set up policies and use our resources to create a welcoming, inclusive workplace for LGBTQIA+ people to contribute their professional passion at Otak, it’s also important to us to advocate for and demonstrate our commitment to psychological safety and inclusion.

From executive leadership to those in the field, we’ve gathered Otakian thoughts on what Pride Month means to all of us:

How is Otak Supporting our LGBTQIA+ Team Members?

Our support for the community shows up internally just as much as it does externally, and our policies are just one way we ensure all Otakians feel like they can be themselves at work.

In 2021, we updated the Otak Equal Opportunity Employer statement to be more than a check the box exercise to meet our compliance requirements. Our DEI Committee helped to draft our statement in a way that was more inclusive and speaks to Otak’s vision and commitment to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment. You can read more about it on our equal opportunity employer page!

Our medical benefits cover gender-affirming healthcare in full, and employees have full access to resources to help them navigate their journeys through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP). This isn’t just with one network. Otak also maintains a broader network of providers to ensure employees have the flexibility to find a provider they are comfortable with. We also carry this benefit across our insurance policies. All insurance plans Otak offers cover domestic and same-sex partners, a benefit that has been in place for over five years.

Training can come in a variety of ways while working at Otak. Our DEI Committee regularly hosts ‘Walk and Talk’ sessions where our teams walk to a nearby restaurant or happy hour while giving insight, perspectives, and stories related to social issue we face. We do this without judgement or censorship, because we welcome viewpoints that are opportunities to educate and inform – giving everyone a seat around table.

In fact, this month we’re leading a Walk and Talk for Pride with our communications lead, Tobias Wisner, where he will talk through proper use of pronouns, how to use more inclusive language, and how to be a better ally every month of the year.

What Does our Team Have to Say?

Hear directly from Otakians who wanted to share their experiences supporting the LGBTQIA+ community in honor of Pride, raising awareness for a few organizations close to their hearts. Using our platform to uplift is part of what we can do to continue that support throughout our business:

Matt pointed to the Gender & Sexualities Alliance Network (formally the Gay Straight Alliance Network) as an organization important to him — a nationwide nonprofit founded in San Francisco in 1998 as a youth-driven collective that connects LGBTQIA+ youth and school-based GSA clubs through peer support, leadership development, and community organizing and advocacy. You can get involved at their website above!

Tobias also had a nonprofit to share– The Trevor Project. This organization literally saves the lives of LGBTQIA+ young people daily, with a mission of ending the pervasive risk of suicide and self-harm among queer youth. They have resources like access to counselors in real time, learning materials on sexuality and gender identity, and spaces where LGBTQIA+ kids can meet and talk about their experiences. Whether you’re looking to volunteer or just learn, The Trevor Project is a great place to start.

In line with supporting her daughter, Tina pointed to Aces & Aros, an organization that seeks to raise awareness for asexual and aromantic people. Their mission is to spurn conversation about normative sexual identities, organize, educate, and advocate for the ace community on a national scale. We affirm with Tina that we stand with all queer people, no matter how they may identify, because we are all human and deserve no less.  Take a chance to learn more at their website!

Our support comes from listening and learning from our own staff and inviting conversation. When we listen and learn from each other, we ultimately create a better place to work – a place where all people can grow and thrive.

Learn more about Otak’s DEI work, and most importantly — Happy Pride!