Kathryn Latham’s Post

Historically, our team doesn't change our social media for Pride Month because its seen as “Pink Washing.” Pinkwashing is a critical term used to refer to the practice of attempting to benefit from purported support for LGBTQ+ rights, often to profit or to distract from a separate agenda. In simpler terms, it can appear that corporations act like allies for June to capture business, only to distance themselves for the other 335 days of the year. This year I am making the switch. Why? I am an individual that operates a mortgage brand within a national corporation… a corporation that doesn’t historically change their social media presence for Pride Month, just like I didn’t. But, Pride Month or not... I am personally LGBTQ+, I employ LGBTQ+ teammates, and I serve our community. I’ve been a victim of housing discrimination, lost jobs within the mortgage industry, lost friends/family, and I’ve been physically assaulted due to my sexual orientation. I have been strong and lucky enough to rebound, but MANY people haven't. Thankfully, those moments became much less frequent when corporations also signaled of their acceptance during Pride month with even the smallest of gestures... changing their social media iconography. Now that companies are starting to backpedal this support, I find it more important than ever as the leader of our mortgage team and brand to specifically state that my team supports EVERY American. Equal housing for all. Happy Pride! #pride #pridemonth #adrianhallteam

🌈✨ Celebrating Pride Month with Pride! ✨🌈 As we celebrate Pride Month, let's honor the resilience, strength, and vibrancy of the LGBTQ+ community. This month is a reminder of the importance of diversity, inclusion, and equality, values that are essential in all aspects of life, including our financial journeys. We are committed to providing inclusive and supportive financial advice that respects and understands the unique challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community. Whether it's planning for a secure future, saving for a dream home, or investing in a brighter tomorrow, we're here to help you achieve your financial goals with pride and confidence. 🌟 Financial planning tips for the LGBTQ+ community: Know Your Rights: Stay informed about the legal and financial protections available to you. Estate Planning: Ensure your loved ones are protected with comprehensive estate planning. Retirement Planning: Plan ahead to secure a comfortable and fulfilling retirement. Invest in Yourself: Prioritize your financial health and invest in your dreams. Let's continue to support and uplift each other, creating a world where everyone can thrive and be their authentic selves. Happy Pride Month! 🏳️🌈💼❤️ #PrideMonth #FinancialPlanning #Inclusion #Equality #LoveIsLove #LGBTQ+ For a comprehensive review of your personal situation, always consult your legal advisor. Neither Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, nor any of its representatives may give legal advice.

🌈 Today we remember and reflect on the the #StonewallRiots of June 1969. 🔍 Understanding the Context The Stonewall Inn, located in New York City, was one of the few safe havens where the LGBTQ+ community could gather. But like many such places, it was frequently targeted by police. On June 28, 1969, the community decided they'd had enough. They resisted the police harassment, sparking a series of protests that lasted several days. 🎖️ Notable Figure: Marsha P. Johnson In the midst of this uprising, one name stands out - Marsha P. Johnson. A transgender woman, Johnson was a key figure during the riots. Her bravery and spirit made her a beloved figure and a leading voice in the fight for equality. Johnson dedicated her life to activism, co-founding the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), an organization that provided support to homeless queer youth. 🌈 The Impact The Stonewall Riots didn't just mark the end of silence - they ignited a flame. They served as a catalyst for the LGBTQ+ rights movement, both in the United States and around the world. 💬 Join the Conversation I'd love to hear your thoughts. How can we, as leaders and colleagues, ensure that we're creating inclusive, accepting environments in our workplaces? What steps are you taking to promote and celebrate diversity? #Pride2024 #StonewallRiots #Inclusion #Diversity #Leadership

Last night was truly special. I was honored to join an intimate dinner hosted by Fabrice C Houdart of the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors and Matthew Schaab of JPMorgan Chase & Co. bringing together some of Miami's most influential LGBTQ+ leaders and board members. In the vast sea of 5,670 Fortune 500 company board seats, a mere 34 (or 0.7%) are held by LGBTQ+ individuals. This number shrinks further when we set aside the 4 LGBTQ+ CEOs, highlighting an even smaller presence of independent directors. The scenario is more stark in Fortune 1000 and other public companies. Why am I sharing this? When exploring your next career move, one key question to pose to your potential executive team is about the composition of their Board of Directors. How many seats are held by women, people of color, or those who identify as LGBTQ+? If your interviewer is at a loss for answers, it might signal that this company isn't aligned with your values. We each have the power to choose what matters to us, especially in environments where board decisions can directly affect our lives. Stay inquisitive, seek answers, and arm yourself with knowledge. The link below provides more on the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors and the significance of diverse board representation. #representationmatters #retailpride #askquestions

Authenticity MATTERS! 57% of LGBTQ+ workers say their employer recognizes pride month in some way, but 62% said it’s worse to make a half-hearted pride month effort than do nothing at all... This is incredibly important and timely for brands to understand, especially as it relates to new product launches or marketing tactics centered around Pride in June. Every year, companies are blamed for Pink-washing - the practice of adopting superficial measures to appear supportive of issues while lacking genuine commitment to the cause. Changing your logo is not enough! Commitment to causes, such as Pride and the Queer Community, takes long-term investment and recognition all year long.   So, take this as a reminder to:  1. Embrace learning from your LGBTQIA+ friends/co-workers on allyship  2. Celebrate with the community  3. Shop local and support Queer-owned business in the MSP area such as Rora , underDARE, Urban Growler Brewing Company, and many more! #Pride #TwinCitiesPride #Purpose #LGBTQIA+ #June #Consumer #Retail #Strategy

This year, #pride seems to be a bit less colorful than in years past; as states implement restrictions on DEI programming and cut funds for such programming at corporations, universities, and offices, being a proud ally or celebrating the LGBTQ+ community feels more defiant than it has in recent years. However, even in this climate, some major companies have created campaigns that feel modern, relevant, and impactful. Read our latest blog post, highlighting some of our favorite #advertising campaigns to come out of #Pride2024. https://lnkd.in/eG8Xpdr9

Been wondering whether to add Pride into your marketing calendar? 🏳️🌈 While it’s fantastic to get the pride flag out there and show support, some efforts have been seen as “rainbow washing”. So, what can you do to ensure you're always showing LGBTQ+ support, not just for one month of the year? Here are 4 ways to support the LGBTQ+ community all year… 1) Don’t just use a rainbow because everyone else is Choosing to support the LGBTQ+ community should come from a place of sincerity. If you genuinely support the community, absolutely go ahead. But if you’re simply following the crowds and hoping that it’ll lead to more sales or clicks, it’s probably not something you should be doing. 2) Offer your support to the LGBTQ+ community Whether it’s through contributing a portion of the money you make on certain products to the LGBTQ+ community, or simply going right back to basics and ensuring your work-place is inclusive to all members of the community, show your genuine support. Queer people should feel safe and seen in any business. 3) Make sure your campaigns are inclusive Are you representing people from the LGBTQ+ community in your marketing and advertising campaigns? If not, consider why, and whether this is something you can look to change. The queer community is still massively underrepresented. While things are getting better, we’re not fully there yet. There are queer and trans CEOs, managers, and professionals out there, meaning representation is key. 4) Listen and give a voice Learn as much as you possibly can from people in the queer community - and give them a voice. It’s the best way to become an ally and show your support. While Pride is in June, it's better to show genuine support, listen and be inclusive all year round. After all, as Luke Brennan, our Technical Expert, says "At KAYBE, Pride isn't confined to just June. We celebrate diversity and inclusivity every day of the year. Our commitment to equality is all year round, and we are all proud to say so!" Want the support of an LGBT-friendly marketing agency to get your message out? Get in touch 🏳️🌈 #pride #pridemonth #marketing #inclusivity #marketingagency

In recent years, we've witnessed a troubling trend of inauthentic engagement from brands during Pride, with misguided product executions like LGBT Sandwiches and Tops/Bottoms burgers being some memorable, and slightly humorous examples. These attempts at allyship often miss the mark, reducing meaningful support to mere marketing gimmicks. This year, however, a new challenge has emerged: a noticeable decline in brands participating in Pride celebrations. Fear of backlash—from both the LGBTQ+ community, wary of inauthenticity, and critics who label allyship as “woke”—seems to be driving this retreat. I've always believed that true allyship should be an all-the-time commitment, extending beyond mere marketing campaigns to genuine support and advocacy. Brands that have previously championed Pride but are now "going back into the closet" risk losing their status as allies, in my opinion. As the political landscape shifts across many Western societies (e.g. here in the UK but also in America and France), it will be fascinating to observe how brands navigate their roles in Pride and LGBTQ+ conversations in the coming years. The need for authentic, unwavering support is more critical than ever. #pride #allyship #brandstrategy #brand https://lnkd.in/eKG3iKFQ

🌈 As Pride Month kicks off, you may notice a surge in rainbow-coloured logos and Pride-themed content. But does their support for the queer community go beyond the posts? 🏳️🌈 Rainbow washing, or Pride washing, refers to companies superficially adopting Pride symbols to profit from the Queer community without enacting real inclusive practices. 📈 Pride Month has become an economic tool for businesses, with many leveraging the visibility to boost their brand image and sales. However, true support for LGBTQ+ rights goes beyond marketing—it's about having diverse hiring practices, supportive policies, and an inclusive culture year-round. 💡 Did you know? Inclusive companies are not only ethical but also economically smarter. A diverse workforce can drive innovation, improve employee satisfaction, and lead to better financial performance (McKinsey, 2020). 💬 Know any organizations truly committed to LGBTQ+ inclusion? Tag them in the comments below! Let's celebrate and support businesses that make a real difference. 🌟 * If you're looking for cutting edge, highly engaging, future focused program and product for your DEI or PoSH compliance requirements, drop us a line at [email protected]! We'd love to hear from you. #PrideMonth #RainbowWashing #Inclusivity #DiversityAndInclusion #LGBTQSupport #EconomicTool #Pride2024 #QueerRights #BusinessEthics #LoveIsLove

Every Pride Month, It Gets Better shares a blog highlighting the brands that walk the walk and talk the talk by investing in LGBTQ+ youth. This year especially, that support could not be more important! As we celebrate Pride Month, we must recognize the brands and organizations that have been unwavering allies to our community. Allyship isn’t easy — in fact, it’s when allyship gets difficult that you see who is really in it for the long haul. We are incredibly grateful to the many brands that have shown they understand what being an ally looks like — that are staying the course even as threats from anti-LGBTQ+ groups make a lot of noise on the sidelines. We could not do our life-affirming and often life-saving work in support of LGBTQ+ youth without the support of our brand partners. This year, the brands supporting It Gets Better are a collection of longtime partners and new friends — all of whom agree that standing by LGBTQ+ youth in good times and bad is not only a priority, but a responsibility. Please take a look and join us in thanking the many brands that are supporting It Gets Better in 2024. AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS INC. Converse UGG Bath & Body Works MAC Cosmetics Ulta Beauty E.L.F. BEAUTY Banter by Piercing Pagoda Humble Bundle Planet Fitness and many more! PRIDE MONTH BRANDS 2024: https://lnkd.in/gDBaXmjT #pridemonth #brandsupport #corporatepartnerships #pride #lgbtq #lgbtqyouth #itgetsbetter