Sebastian Dziuk 🌈’s Post

LGBTQ+ businesses face challenges. 😳 A lack of confidence 🤝 A lack of (visible) role models 🤔 Invasive and inappropriate personal questions 🏳️🌈 Discrimination And more (see below). These challenges apply to LGBTQ+ writers, too. How can we, in the publishing world, better support LGBTQ+ writers and writing, creating more inclusive books and publishing?

Is one of your yearly goals to read more diverse books? When I was 20, that was also my goal. I wanted to read more queer books, as I had just moved to the U.K. from a country that is not the most LGBTQ+ friendly in Europe. That's how my queer book blog started, and it is a wonder how I kept it up and running for all these years, but I did! It is not a profitable hobby, it's just a regular old hobby that brings me nothing but joy (and a few headaches). However, it does keep me reading more and more, and for that, I am entirely grateful . So this is a bit of a bragging and self-plug post, to tell you all that if you are looking for queer media (particularly books) to discover and devour, my little blog is perfect for you: litforqueers.wordpress.com I also appreciate any feedback, keeping in mind web design and graphic design are definitely not my area of expertise 🤣🌈🎉

If you're looking for an insightful and moving read, we highly recommend “Queer Intentions” by Amelia Abraham. Amelia takes you on a personal journey through LGBTQ+ culture, traveling across various countries and engaging in heartfelt conversations with LGBTQ+ individuals from all walks of life. Each chapter is a blend of accessible writing, queer theory, statistics, history, and personal stories, offering something truly unifying and outstanding. It's a book that moves you, educates you, and brings a deeper understanding of politics, religion, spirituality, capitalism, education, and exploitation within the LGBTQ+ community. A must-read for queer individuals and allies alike. If you're curious about LGBTQ+ culture, this book covers everything from drag, to pride, to survival, and even explores the concept of a queer utopia. Happy reading! #Pride #Allyship #DGLRecommends

I won't do this even though it would probably be a wildly effective lead magnet. 👇🏻 I'll never make an "inclusivity checklist" for brands to make their websites more appealing to LGBTQ folks. I could probably double my email list with a freebie like that! But I wouldn't do that to other queer people. Because here's the thing... If you need me to provide a checklist for you to talk the talk, I'm not convinced you know how to walk the walk. You might make queer people feel safe working with you before you're actually equipped to provide them with the service they deserve. I'm not willing to give anyone a cheat code that could land them in that situation. Here's what I'll do instead. ➡️ I'll help you find queer educators and DEI experts in your industry from whom you can learn. That deeper engagement will mean way more than a quick checklist ever could.

What a brilliantly useful course! It's only an hour long; I completed 10 mins a day, putting several actions/reminders from each chapter in place. Sustainable LGBTQ+ Allyship! Check it out: https://lnkd.in/erSEAyRz #lgbtq #allyship

🏳️🌈 Happy Pride 🏳️🌈 From my family to yours. There are many ways that you can show support for the LGBTQ+ people in your life. At work: - Add your pronouns to your email signature or share your pronouns when introducing yourself to new friends or colleagues. - If you hear an anti-LGBTQ+ comment or joke, speak up and explain why such comments or jokes are harmful and offensive. - Integrate inclusive language into your regular conversations and professional interactions. (E.g. Don’t ask someone: What does your husband/wife do? Instead ask: What does your spouse do?) Most importantly, take time to learn what it truly means to be an ally and show up for your LGBTQ+ co-workers, family, and friends. Not only in June, but all year. ✨

🏳️🌈 These are the four questions I now ask before engaging in any LGBTQ+ advertising campaigns with clients: 1. Have you/your team gone through LGBTQ+ sensitivity training? If not, are you open to doing so? 2. What drives you to advertise to LGBTQ+ consumers aside from wanting to increase revenue opportunities? 3. In what ways does your company support or amplify the voices of LGBTQ+ people beyond advertising? 4. How will you handle pushback should you advertise to LGBTQ+ people? I like to make sure that potential prospects are advertising for the "right" reasons and I'm no longer afraid to turn down business that doesn't feel right. 💰 Today, I turned down a $12K client because he refused to answer the above questions and was solely focused on his financial gain with no interest in learning about or supporting our community. 🚀 If you can answer the above questions and want to put your brand in front of LGBTQ+ consumers, let's chat! #ethicsfirst

Fiction authors, do you want to write LGBTQ+ characters, but are scared to "get it wrong"? Many have this fear, which is a shame. Writing LGBTQ+ characters, even if you're not in the community, can be so fun and fulfilling! If you want to learn more, check out the article below ⬇ :

Throughout Pride Month we have been highlighting useful resources and articles on our websites news page! The resources include the 'Skills for Care LGBTQ+ learning framework' and 'Supporting LGBTQ+ carers: A good practice briefing' and more! If you haven't had a chance to take a look, then you can learn more at the link in our comments section! #pridemonth2024 #pride #healthandsocialcare

Did you know that less than 40 U.S. higher education presidents identify as LGBTQ+ compared to the 21% of total college students who identify (with specific institutions reaching over 40% of students) as LGBTQ+? Diversity among institutional leaders allows for greater representation that better reflects their student community and different perspectives when responding to the challenges facing their institutions. #LGBTQleadership #highereddiversity #inclusiveleadership #representationmatters #lgbtqinhighered #highereducation #higheredleadership #executivesearchfirm #recruiting