How do you celebrate Pride virtually at work?
Pride Month is just around the corner! Pride is a time for celebration, reflection, and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community. As we continue to navigate our new virtual environments, it’s necessary to find new and exciting ways to celebrate Pride. In this blog post, we’ll explore some ideas for how you can celebrate Pride virtually at work.
10 ways to celebrate Pride virtually at work
Here are 10 ways that you can celebrate Pride Month virtually at work:
Host a virtual Pride parade
Organize a virtual panel discussion
Hold a virtual film screening
Create a virtual Pride playlist
Host a virtual game night with Pride Month trivia & more
Donate to LGBTQ+ organizations
Wear Pride colors
Host a virtual cooking class
Celebrate LGBTQ+ milestones
Create a virtual art exhibit
Keep reading to see which of these events is the right fit for your team!
1. Host a virtual Pride parade
One of the best things about Pride is the parade, which brings people from all walks of life together to celebrate love and acceptance. While it may not be possible to join your community’s in-person parade if your company is distributed, you can still host a virtual Pride parade for everyone to join in.
Encourage your colleagues to dress up in their most colorful and festive attire and join a video conference call. You can also set up a virtual background that includes images of a Pride parade or decorate your workspace with rainbow flags and balloons. You could even make the workspace decoration a competition for best Pride parade “float!”
2. Organize a virtual panel discussion
Hosting a virtual panel discussion on LGBTQ+ issues is a great way to educate and engage your colleagues. Invite members of the LGBTQ+ community to participate and share their experiences and insights.
Topics could include the history of Pride, the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community, and ways in which allies can support the community. You can also invite LGBTQ+ organizations to participate and share information about their work. Be sure to allow time for questions and group discussions.
3. Hold a virtual film screening
Watching LGBTQ+ films is a fantastic way to celebrate Pride virtually at work. Whether it's a documentary, drama, or comedy, there are numerous films that showcase the diversity and stories of the LGBTQ+ community. Some examples include "Moonlight," which tells the story of a young Black man coming to terms with his sexuality, "Paris is Burning," a documentary about the ballroom culture in New York City, and "Love, Simon," a romantic comedy about a high school student navigating his coming out journey.
You can organize a virtual screening by sharing a link to the film and setting up a time for everyone to watch it together. Afterward, you can hold a discussion about the film's themes and how they relate to the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals.
4. Create a virtual Pride playlist
Music is a powerful way to celebrate Pride and express yourself. Creating a Pride playlist that includes songs by LGBTQ+ artists or songs that celebrate the LGBTQ+ community can be an enjoyable and inclusive activity. You can add popular songs such as "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga, "I'm Coming Out" by Diana Ross, or "True Colors'' by Cyndi Lauper to your playlist. You can also use a pre-made playlist like this one from Topsify on Spotify. Share the playlist with your colleagues and encourage them to add their favorite songs to it. This can be a fun way to discover new music and bond over shared interests.
Additionally, you can organize a virtual dance party where everyone can dance to the playlist together. Dancing is not only a great way to exercise but also a way to lift your mood and connect with others. So, put on your dancing shoes and get ready to celebrate Pride!
5. Host a virtual game night
Hosting a virtual game night is a fun way to celebrate Pride while building team spirit. There are plenty of games you can play virtually, including trivia, charades, and bingo.
You can also create a Pride-themed game, such as a scavenger hunt where everyone has to find items that represent historical moments or achievements in the LGBTQ+ community. Give out prizes for the winners, such as gift cards to LGBTQ+ owned businesses or organizations.
Don’t know where to start? Bar None Games offers 3 unique Pride Month games and activities, including Pride Month Trivia, Pride Month Celebration Games, and (our newest) Pride Month Music Mashup! Our professional live hosts will lead you 60 minutes of games and activities - you’re bound to both share some laughs and learn something new. Plus, when you book a game with us, you’re supporting an LGBTQ-owned small business.
6. Donate to LGBTQ+ organizations
Pride is not only about celebrating but also about giving back to the community. Encouraging your colleagues to make a donation to an LGBTQ+ organization that supports the community is a meaningful way to contribute to the cause. Additionally, setting up a virtual fundraiser and encouraging everyone to participate can be a fun and collaborative way to make an impact.
There are many organizations to choose from, including The Trevor Project, GLAAD, and the Human Rights Campaign. The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ youth. GLAAD focuses on accelerating acceptance and advancing equality through media advocacy. The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national LGBTQ+ civil rights organization working to achieve equality for all individuals. By donating to these organizations, you can help support the community and make a positive impact on the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals.
7. Wear Pride colors
Wearing Pride colors is a simple yet powerful way to show your support for the LGBTQ+ community. Encouraging your colleagues to wear rainbow-colored clothing or accessories during a video conference call can create a sense of unity and inclusivity. You can even take it a step further by explaining the significance of each color in the rainbow flag - red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, blue for harmony, and purple for spirit. This can help increase awareness and understanding of the symbolism behind the flag.
If you want to take this event a step further, you can host a virtual fashion show where everyone can show off their Pride-themed outfits. This can be a fun way to showcase individuality and creativity while also celebrating diversity and inclusion.
8. Host a virtual cooking class
Food is not just nourishment for the body, but it also has the power to bring people together and create a sense of community. Hosting a virtual cooking class where everyone can learn to make a dish that celebrates LGBTQ+ culture can be a fun and delicious way to celebrate Pride at work. For example, you can teach everyone how to make a rainbow cake or rainbow sushi, which are popular celebratory dishes for Pride Month.
Invite a LGBTQ+ chef to lead the class and share their favorite recipes. This can be a great opportunity to learn about cuisines and cooking techniques while also supporting LGBTQ+ professionals in the culinary industry. Plus, cooking together can be a therapeutic and stress-relieving activity that can help foster teamwork and collaboration.
9. Celebrate LGBTQ+ milestones
Pride is not just a celebration of the present, but also a remembrance of the past struggles and milestones achieved by the LGBTQ+ community. It is important to educate ourselves and our colleagues about the significant events that led to the progress and acceptance we enjoy today. For instance, the Stonewall Riots and the first Pride parade were instrumental in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and equality. By sharing their history and significance with your colleagues, you can help raise awareness about the struggles and victories of the community.
Pride is also an opportunity to share personal stories and experiences. Encouraging your colleagues to share their own experiences and stories of progress and challenges within the LGBTQ+ community can create a safe and supportive space for everyone to express themselves. It can also help foster understanding, empathy, and support among colleagues, which can lead to a more inclusive and welcoming workplace culture.
10. Create a virtual art exhibit
Art is a powerful medium that can inspire, educate, and create meaningful connections between people. Encouraging your colleagues to create and share art that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community can be a great way to promote self-expression, creativity, and social awareness. There are many forms of art that can be used to celebrate Pride, such as painting, photography, poetry, music, and performance.
You can create a virtual art exhibit where everyone can showcase their art and provide a brief description of its significance. This can be a great opportunity to learn about different art styles and perspectives while also promoting diversity and inclusivity. Additionally, you can invite a LGBTQ+ artist to speak about their work and share their personal experiences and inspirations. This can help foster dialogue and understanding while also supporting LGBTQ+ professionals in the art industry.
Host virtual Pride Month games with Bar None Games
Celebrating Pride virtually at work is about creating a sense of community, inclusion, and support. By engaging in a variety of virtual activities, from panels to Pride Month games to cooking classes, you can celebrate LGBTQ+ culture, history, and progress while building team spirit and empathy. Remember, the most important thing is to show up, listen, and learn from each other. Happy Pride!