Every year, in the month of June, communities around the world gather together to commemorate the persistence of the LGBTQIA2+ spirit. This spirit emphasizes the respect and dignity innate across all diverse expressions of the human experience and celebrates that diversity. This time of year is fittingly referred to as Pride, as it’s a reminder to take pride in and bond with others as our authentic selves. Pride month is also a time to unite with allies, to make sure our diverse voices for equality and representation are heard—and to ensure we take space in the public discourse.
At BenchSci, this year's Pride month was full of memorable programming led by a diverse group of allies and employees, from QueerSci—BenchSci’s LGBTQIA2+ Employee Resource Group (ERG), BenchShe+—BenchSci’s women-identifying ERG, and Black@BenchSci—BenchSci’s Black-identifying ERG, BenchSci’s regional Chapter leads and allies at large. Rather than a flashy keynote event, QueerSci opted for a series of activations spread throughout the month. We explored the cultural significance of Pride, brought awareness to important milestones throughout history while acknowledging the ongoing challenges via our #chatter-rainbow Slack channel, and highlighted Queer-owned businesses and the importance of supporting them. We looked for opportunities to spark joy for our colleagues.
Celebrating Identities through Edu-Tainment
We set out to create some learning opportunities anchored in edu-tainment—the concept of educating through entertainment. We prioritized a variety of mediums and brought people together to attend a Science Drag show, film screenings, and a book club. We’ve found these to be meaningful ways to engage folks while increasing the number of takeaways.
Early in the month, we sent four lucky BenchSciers to the award-winning show, "Science is a Drag''. Hosted by the Royal Canadian Institute of Science, this event provides a platform for LGBTQIA2+ scientists and science communicators to be their authentic selves while sharing science in a unique and engaging way. The show offers a unique blend of performance art and science communication, as active researchers are invited to present their findings through a dazzling performance that centers on authenticity. Science is a Drag reminds us that behind the lab coats and formalized publications are real people who are smart, creative, and more than just their research.
We organized an in-office movie night featuring the iconic documentary "Paris Is Burning,” which sparked some meaningful conversations about the evolution of drag culture, the contrast of the commercial version of drag that is so popular today, and actionable ways to support the community.
Lastly, we partnered with BenchShe+ to co-host a Queer themed book club featuring, "The Song of Achilles" by Madeline Miller. This collaboration extends past the month of June and is one small example of how we intend to extend the spirit of Pride at BenchSci. We’ll be getting together next month to discuss the novel, and we’re anticipating some rich discussions on identity, relationships, and the power of storytelling.
Highlighting Queer Owned- and Supporting- Businesses
It was not only important to us to focus on education but also to encourage our team to take meaningful action throughout Pride month (and beyond) QueerSci and its allies organized a crowdsourcing campaign to find Queer-owned—and Queer-supporting—charities and businesses. In times when faceless transactions are becoming more and more frequent, it can be troublesome to know where you are spending and to whom it benefits. With a focus on personal connection, we encouraged BenchSciers to seek out and share businesses that speak to their interests and demonstrate their commitment to the spirit of Pride. Together, we were able to build a list of businesses like the Glad Day Bookshop in Toronto, the oldest surviving LGBTQIA2+ bookstore in the world, and Sleepy Head Coffee in Chattanooga, Tennessee, a coffee shop and explicitly safe space for anyone to read a book or enjoy a cup of coffee.
BenchSci’s regional Chapter leaders also supported this initiative. This year's Pride month just so happened to overlap with a BenchSci favorite event, Bench-a-licious, where colleagues gather in person or virtually to share a meal. To complement our campaign to support Queer owned and supporting businesses, our ERG community partnered with the planning committee of Bench-a-licious to crowdsource Queer and minority-owned restaurants. From the fantastical ambiance of Storm Crow Manor to the elegant setting of Banu, each meal was a celebration of diversity and culinary delight shared among friends.
Spreading Joy
As we started planning our Pride month programming, our team was determined to make sure that joy was at the heart of our events. Beyond our focus on education, and supporting Queer-owned businesses, we wanted to make sure there were opportunities for folks to connect and have fun in the spirit of Pride. We embraced creativity with a hands-on rainbow bracelet-making session. Sent colorful beads and yarn, BenchSciers crafted wearable mementos in every shade of the rainbow, symbolizing our collective pride and connections to each other. We also unveiled a photo booth in our office, creating an interactive space for capturing moments of connection in person. People took selfies with our glitter backdrop, and we displayed them on our photo wall.
Reflecting on our journey as a remote-first company structure, we found ways to overcome distance and grow as a community and celebrated, educated, and advocated LGBTQIA2+ voices.
As we continue our journey, let's carry the spirit of Pride with us every day. Pride is a commitment to fostering inclusivity, spreading joy, and supporting the vibrant tapestry of our community. Together, we amplify our voices and celebrate our authentic selves—365 days a year.
