Sonali Dutta’s Post

🌈Why I refuse to stop using the term "Queer."🌈: It’s important to be sensitive to the fact that the word "Queer" was mostly used as a slur for most of the 20th century. Predominantly towards gay men, but it’s closely associated with anti-LGBTQIA+ hate speech in general and is still used as a slur today. Meaning that for some, the term is justifiably triggering to hear and read. However, the term has also been reclaimed by many within the LGBTQIA+ community as a self-descriptor, and this reclamation isn't new - Queer activists started reclaiming the term in the 80s, and "Queer" has a cemented place within the LGBTQIA+ initialism. As someone who identifies as Queer, I find the term best describes who I am, my relationship with my sexual orientation and gender identity, and also my perspectives on heteronormativity. As it simply describes someone who isn’t cis and/or straight, making it quite an open and inclusive label, that also challenges binaries and adherence to strict categories. And I’m part of a community of people who also see themselves as Queer, for their own similar and personal reasons. To invalidate our identity by refusing to use the term "Queer" based on your discomfort is disempowering and dismissive of our experiences, and I refuse to stop using it.  It holds significant and validating importance for me and other Queer people, and it's essential to respect that. However, I am mindful in my usage of the term. By not using it to describe people who aren’t Queer and using the LGBTQIA+ initialism as an umbrella term instead of Queer, to respect those who have a different relationship with the term, which I encourage others to do. Recognising both perspectives is integral to fostering inclusion. Hope this post helps - it marks day 30 of my “30 Days Of Gay” Pride month series🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 Meaning it’s the final post! Thank you to all who have supported and appreciated this series, it’s been a pleasure to do for Pride Month, and I’ll certainly continue to show up with more content that is hopefully useful, informative, and empowering. #linkedinlearning #inclusion #pride #pridemonth #lgbtq #lgbtqia

🌟 Exciting News! 🌟 Today, my team officially launched our EQUAL Allyship Campaign! Being an ally isn’t about having all the answers or being flawless; it’s about embracing a mindset of learning, listening, and growing as we support marginalized communities. Mistakes are part of the journey, and what truly matters is our willingness to acknowledge them, seek feedback, and continuously improve. Allyship is a journey, not a destination. It requires humility, empathy, and a deep commitment to building a more inclusive and equitable world for all. As we move from conversation to action,we extended a personal invitation to everyone to join EQUAL leadership and sign our Allyship Pledge, specifically supporting the queer community. This pledge is a powerful commitment to advocate for inclusivity and equity for people across the spectrum of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. By signing, employees are showing their dedication to making a tangible difference and helping to create safer, more inclusive spaces for LGBTQIA+ individuals. I’m beyond proud to lead a team that truly embodies what it means to practice allyship in action. Together, we are shaping a more inclusive future. 🏳️🌈🤝 #Allyship #Inclusion #LGBTQIA #EQUALLeadership #PrideInAction #InclusiveLeadership

It’s important for me to be an ally not just during Pride Month, but every month, because I believe in a country that doesn’t discriminate and that treats everyone equally. Being an ally means showing up for people, particularly LGBTQ+ people, and demonstrating our support. People have the right to live and work authentically, whatever that may look like for them. I joined the Human Rights Campaign and proudly display their logo on my car to demonstrate my support, but my allyship doesn’t stop there. Love is love. I—and now my children who are 14 and 11—have several friends, loved ones, fellow classmates, colleagues and AFSP board members who identify as LGBTQ+. I want to bring my kids up in a world that not only accepts people for who they are, but also celebrates everyone’s unique traits and differences. I feel like in many ways, we have regressed in this area and it’s so disheartening to see the negativity and not only a lack of acceptance, but active hatred, against people. We all have only one life to live, so why not let others live theirs? There’s no need to judge or to berate or discriminate against someone when it truly doesn’t impact or affect your own life at all. Just be a good and compassionate human. Actively listen, sign petitions that make sense and request equal rights, show up for people and make it known that you do not tolerate hate or discrimination on any level. If we can all start doing more of this, our country and the world would be a far better place. Please take the time to do your part. #PrideMonth #LGBTQ #ally

June 1st marks the beginning of the Pride month 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ I'm sure to see loads of companies post articles about LGBTQIA+ inclusion and have their logo in rainbow colours for a month. But is it enough? Definitely not 🙅♀️ Actions that show an image of inclusion should be accompanied by a real continuous support of #queer community's struggle for human rights, inclusion, and equity. So, what can each organisation do? Here are a few things: 🌈 Ensure that your leadership and team is trained to use LGBTQIA+ sensitive and inclusive language. 🌈 Review accessibility and relevance of your services, products, and projects to queer folx and work on identifying and removing possible barriers. 🌈 Guarantee unbiased hiring processes that would not exclude queer candidates. 🌈 Introduce and actively communicate anti-discriminatory principles and mechanisms for preventing and addressing discrimination and any form of aggression based on gender and/or sexual orientation. 🌈 Respect privacy of your team members, partners, and clients and do not reveal their identity unless they are comfortable with it. 🌈 Actively work towards improving LGBTQ+ inclusion and expanding rights of queer people throughout the whole year. I believe that this is especially important for the organisations working in the field of public #participation and #democracy innovation because we cannot talk about #inclusion yet leave the LGBTQIA+ community behind. Happy #Pride month, everyone! 💪 And please share your experiences with promoting #LGBTQIA+ inclusion through your work and at your work place.

In celebration of Pride Month, explore the research of PhD student, Hao Wu. Hao's study focuses on the lives of queer males in Chengdu, China, and examines how they navigate their identities within societal and political constraints. His work highlights the creation of hybrid queer spaces, both physical and digital. Read more: bit.ly/3Xw5s2a #PrideMonth #LGBTQ #UCLGeography #Research

Good People lets think together 🤞🏽 I want to start by emphasizing that my intention is not to criticize the LGBTQ community, but rather to share some thoughts that have come to me during my morning reflections. The other day, I discussed the potential risks of imposing a narrow definition of inclusivity and suggested that we need to rethink what it means to truly be inclusive. True inclusivity should recognize that humans are inherently shaped by their cultures. If a particular culture does not embrace certain behaviors or lifestyles, it's important to avoid imposing these on them and labeling them as "loveless." Genuine love encompasses understanding and respecting diverse cultures. Furthermore, have you ever considered why, in many gay and lesbian relationships, one person often adopts a more masculine role [ acting as the husband/man] while the other takes on a more feminine role [ acting as the girlfriend/wife], akin to that of a traditional husband and wife? Doesn't this observation prompt us to consider the influence of natural inclinations? I'm approaching this with an open mind and a genuine desire to learn. I encourage open discussion, free from any form of disrespect. Let's use this as an opportunity to truly practice inclusivity and tolerance.

I am working on speaking sessions for pride and had to look up a statistic. What I found made me stop and write this post. In 2024 (that's only about 60 days right?!) Over 400 bills anti LGBTQ bills have been introduced. 400. These bills target our basic rights - where we can use the restroom, what we learn about, if we can to the healthcare we need to survive. They challenge our very existence in public spaces. By nature, I am a calm person. I am the person that people call to de-escalate a situation. I am the mediator in conflicts. I am the one you want on your team in a crisis. But even I find myself needing to take some very deep breaths. If you've been hesitant to talk about LGBTQ inclusion at work, let this be the moment you start. Our workplaces might be one of the few places where we can provide education and have meaningful conversations on LGBTQ inclusion. We can't control what happens everywhere but we can control what happens to us at work. We can be accountable to one another at work in a way that we can't be everywhere else. At work, we have the power to create spaces where LGBTQ people can feel safer. So why wouldn't we? If you don't have conversations about LGBTQ inclusion planned, it's time to plan them. Plan for Trans Day of Visibility. Plan for Pride. Plan for a random Tuesday. It's okay if it's not perfect. It's okay if it's not enough. All that matters is that we start somewhere. To help with this, I'm opening up a few additional speaking slots, DM me if you want to snag one. This wave of anti LGBTQ sentiment is not inevitable. We can do something to create a better future for us all. #LGBTQ #Transgender #Pride #Inclusion #DEI

Very insightful and terrifying.

We are thrilled to share that Renesas was awarded the highest “Gold” rating on the PRIDE Index for three consecutive years! The index, established by work with Pride in 2016, evaluates workplace initiatives for LGBTQ+ and other sexual minorities within companies and organizations in Japan. Its mission is to create inclusive and accommodating workplaces through five key areas: Policy (Action Statement), Inspiration (Educational Activities), Development (Personnel Systems/Programs), and Engagement/Empowerment (Social Contribution/External Activities). The Gold rating indicates that Renesas has met the standards for all five criteria defined by the index. Hiroshi Karasawa, Sr. Manager, Procurement/Purchasing and a leading member of Diversity Promotion Group in Japan, and Alex Hutchins, Sustainability Promotion Specialist, attended work with Pride 2024 Conference in Tokyo to receive the award on behalf of Renesas. “As a global company, Renesas has the opportunity to set a benchmark for inclusivity, and in turn create a ripple effect in Japanese society. This event also served as an important reminder that, as we take further steps to adopt inclusive practices, we must work to ensure that our policies and systems can be used freely by all LGBTQ+ individuals regardless of their coming-out status,” said Alex. Learn more about Renesas’ DE&I efforts: https://bit.ly/3XZmG7M #LGBTQ #pride #DEI #sustainability

When you think of or hear LGBTQ, what comes to your mind first? Love and acceptance, or who one shares their bed with? If it’s the latter, it’s time to reframe your perspective because LGBTQ is actually about: ✅ Love, commitment, acceptance, and authenticity. ✅ Dreams, aspirations, struggles, and victories. It encompasses self-discovery, embracing identity, and challenging societal norms. ✅ Envisioning a future, whether alone or with family (partner, kids, parents, siblings, pets, and more). It's about hope and optimism. ✅ Courage to live openly and honestly in the face of adversity Reducing one's identity to their life behind closed doors is unfair and disrespectful, and is only reflective of your perspective. Doing so perpetuates misconceptions and ignores the reality of lives and experiences. Also, when someone comes out to you, it’s not to discuss their private life or to express romantic interest toward you. It is to share an important part of their life so you can understand their perspectives, challenges, and experiences better. It’s their gesture of trust and your opportunity to respect and support them. To shift your thought process, start by listening and empathizing with LGBTQ stories. Challenge your own biases, educate yourself about the community's history and struggles, and engage in conversations with an open heart. Recognize the humanity in their experiences and understand that their journey is about seeking love and authenticity. By doing so, you'll begin to see that being LGBTQ is fundamentally about embracing and celebrating love in all its forms. Looking for a speaker this Pride month or beyond? Schedule a time with me - https://lnkd.in/eJtnsQj8 #PrideMonth #LGBTQ #Inclusion #Diversity #Equality #Equity #Belonging #LGBT #LGBTQI #LGBTQIA #queer #loveislove #lovewins #empowerment #Pride #lgbtqrights #transrights #equality #diversity #Inclusionmatters