#LifeAtHireRight: What PRIDE Means to Our Team Members Pt. 1
Here at HireRight we continue to celebrate PRIDE month! We’ve asked LGBTQ+ colleagues and our allies to tell us how we can be better supporters of the LGBTQ+ community.
Pride is more than revelry at parades, floats, and marches. It’s more than costumes and banners. And it’s more than a month-long celebration. Pride is an authentic, and intrinsic part of the LGBTQ+ identity, and this month HireRight’s team members are sharing how it helps hold their community together.
At HireRight, we celebrate a culture that is grounded in respect. Yet recently LGBTQ+ freedoms in the U.S. have been challenged, regressing years of stepping-stone progress stemming from the Stonewall Riots. So, as we celebrate Pride at HireRight, we’ve asked LGBTQ+ colleagues and allies to tell us how we can be better supporters of the LGBTQ+ community.
Aaron Bolton, Director, Account Management Cape Cod, MA
What would you want people to know about how you are treated as a member of the LGBTQ+ community?
While I think there has been a great deal of progress, I think it is important to remember that we still have a long way to go. Members of the LGBTQ+ community are still all too often subjected to hateful acts. As a gay man, I have been treated badly by those that take issue with my marriage and family dynamic. Throughout 2019 and 2020 my family was subjected to vandalism, defaming comments, and threats of violence by members of our neighborhood. Understandably, most people do not like to dwell on the hatred that still exists because it is uncomfortable. I do however think it is incredibly important to understand that these hateful acts/behaviors are still affecting members of the LGBTQ+ community. Luckily, my husband and I had a great support system and we got out of the situation unharmed, many others in the LGBTQ+ community unfortunately cannot say the same.
How can our colleagues be better allies of the LGBTQ+ community?
I would encourage our colleagues to start by learning about the LGBTQ+ community and the challenges facing us. We are all constantly learning and better understanding how we can support one another. It is ok to not know everything, no one really does. Taking the step to better understand the experience of LGBTQ+ colleagues, joining a Pride group event, or engaging with a member of the Pride group directly is a great place to start!
What does it mean to be committed to Pride at HireRight?
It means bringing visibility to the LGBTQ+ community and continually working toward a more inclusive, diverse, and supportive culture for all of our colleagues.
Jodi Jeanette, GRC Analyst Remote, ME, US
What would you want people to know about how you are treated as a member of the LGBTQ+ community?
This is such a complicated question; for me and for so many people, the idea of needing to identify as an ally is so preposterous because it’s hard to really even imagine that we’re still at a point in our history where we need to let people know explicitly, “Hey, just FYI, I recognize that LGBTQ+ rights are human rights.” I guess the biggest way I show my pride as an ally is to vote because somehow we’re STILL voting on things that should be non-issues simply because they’re LGBTQ+ adjacent.
How can our colleagues be better allies of the LGBTQ+ community?
Perhaps the simplest way that I’d recommend is to stay educated, listen, and respect each person’s individual journey (identifications, pronouns, etc.).
What does it mean to be committed to Pride at HireRight?
Being committed to Pride at HireRight means celebrating the value and contributions of all team members because the people at HireRight matter. Being unified matters.
Brittanee Moss, Director, Product Management Irvine, CA
What would you want people to know about how you are treated as a member of the LGBTQ+ community?
Sharing experiences, listening, and educating myself on everything that’s happening in the LGBTQ+ community. Most importantly, speaking up in support of LOVE and in favor of LGBTQ+ every opportunity I get!
How can our colleagues be better allies of the LGBTQ+ community?
Listen, remove judgment, and lead with love and understanding.
What does it mean to be committed to Pride at HireRight?
People must be authentically themselves, personally and professionally, and companies that foster authenticity bring high-caliber products and services to market as it is a reflection of diverse thought and perspectives.
Be part of a diverse, global team dedicated to helping the world’s greatest companies – including your most loved brands – hire their talent with confidence.
At HireRight, our team members are innovating together to build the future of screening services and personal data. Experiencing #LifeatHireRight means working with great people on inspiring ideas to help employers get it right – every time, everywhere. Check out our opportunities across the globe at HireRight Careers today!
Release Date: June 15, 2022
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