As Pride Month comes and goes, we continue to press forward

As Pride Month comes and goes, we continue to press forward

June is Pride Month — a global celebration of the community and activists who continue to advance LGBTQIA+ causes by creating awareness, confronting discrimination, and challenging inequities everywhere.

Even if you don't identify as LGBTQIA+, you're likely aware of all the Pride parades, rainbow merchandise, and community events in big cities and — increasingly — smaller neighborhoods. You've probably also seen well-known brands adding rainbow' flair' to company logos and messaging to show their support of Pride initiatives.

Twilio's first formal Pride march was in San Francisco in 2017, but we've embraced diversity in all its forms since our inception. That stance continues to this day with global work environments that welcome everyone, always. And while Pride Month is a great time to raise awareness of all the outstanding accomplishments by Twilions who identify as LGBTQIA+, it's really just an elevation of the support and activities we are immersed in year-round. 

Intersectionality, Pride & Twilio

Twilio's theme for Pride 2021 is “intersectionality,” a term first used in 1989 by American lawyer and civil rights advocate Kimberlé Crenshaw. A leading scholar of critical race theory, Crenshaw coined intersectionality to describe how race, class, gender, and other individual characteristics "intersect" with one another and overlap.

We approach intersectionality at Twilio with a focus on the experiences of queer/trans people of color, inspired by transgender activists Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera (who were Black and Latinx, respectively) and the part they played in bringing national attention to the Gay Liberation Movement at the Stonewall Uprising some 50 years ago. Their voices still ring true today.

Spectrum: a range of colors

One of our strongest queer voices at Twilio is the Spectrum employee resource group (ERG), which serves the needs of LGBTQIA+ Twilions worldwide. As part of our commitment to inclusion and intersectionality, Spectrum ERG welcomes all Twilions, regardless of whether or not you identify as LGBTQIA+.

Throughout Pride Month and beyond, Spectrum has planned a variety of events, including virtual drag bingo, a Trans 101 guest speaker, Queer Trivia, a global Zoom call on the topic of "Cultural Curiosities: Intersectionality of the Queer Asian Identity," and — in partnership with the Black Twilions ERG's Juneteenth celebrations — the Ailey Impact Screening, a movie night and discussion of Alvin Ailey, a visionary black artist who found salvation through dance.

As the festivities of June wind up, Spectrum continues to serve global employees with diverse genders and sexualities by creating spaces for safe self-expression, by supporting member’s career and personal goals, and by hosting programs and events that foster a more inclusive company, industry, and world.

Individual Perspectives

During Pride 2021, we had the chance to check in with a few Twilions  to chat about how they feel about Twilio’s commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community and members of other groups who are notably underrepresented in tech. On deck were:

Tell us about yourself and how you show up as your authentic self.

Chance: I'm a native Californian with a love for friends, family & photography. Having the opportunity to travel, meet new people and understand the beauty of my blackness, I treat every day as a learning experience to grow, tell stories, and give back.

Linda: When asked about this, I often recall this advice from a teacher: "Keep your eyes on your own paper." I liken it to "Worry less about what others are doing around you and focus on yourself."

Morgan: I always knew I was different but viewed it as a liability that would only hurt me if exposed. So I compartmentalized and went to great lengths to hide my gender variance. When the pandemic hit, the quarantine provided opportunities for introspection and allowed me to come to terms with my gender identity. When SCOTUS ruled for LGBTQIA+ employment protections in June 2020, I was navigating the job market and finishing my dissertation as a trans person in the vulnerable early stages of transition. I faced a difficult choice of disclosing my status in the hiring process but eventually decided to just own it and present my true self. That's how I ended up at Twilio.

Maryn: Earlier in my career, I had to hide my authentic self. It was easy to share that I dated men because "that's the norm." But I couldn't let my colleagues know that — heaven forbid — I was in a long-term relationship with a woman *gasp*! Fast forward to today: I'm proud to say that I'm 50 years old, married to my wife for 10 years (legally for 8), and we have a 9-year-old son. Since I'm now bringing my whole self to my career, I find a lot more happiness and satisfaction.

What does Pride mean to you in 2021? How are you celebrating?

Chance: Pride in 2021 represents the rebirth of activism in a new world of communication— reimagining what the world looks like through the lens of an LGBTQ+ community emerging from a year of dealing with a global pandemic and continuing to push bounds to create an inclusive world.

Linda: I am trying to show up and support our local drag queens, kings, queer and burlesque performers to help them after a rough year in the industry. With the growing popularity of RuPaul's drag race, it's also important to support those that haven't got that platform.

Morgan: This is my first Pride as an open member of the LGBTQIA+ community. San Francisco canceled their Pride parade, and I still don't know many people in the city, so I'm having a toned-down celebration relative to the pre-pandemic norm. I have a little trans flag hanging from my apartment window and wear a trans flag Apple watch band. It's my hope that these small gestures play a small part in normalizing the transgender community at a time when it finds itself increasingly targeted.

Maryn: Pride this year means a lot. The former administration made discrimination against our community not only allowable but celebrated — especially against transgendered sisters, brothers, and children. So Pride for me this year is about celebrating who we are and standing in protection for our transgendered family as well.

Thinking locally, what are small ways Pride celebrations can be more inclusive and diverse in the workplace?

Chance: Creating safe spaces for open conversion, self-expression, and inclusive hiring practices.

Linda: Educating ourselves on the experiences of those who are less represented in media, such as non-binary, trans folk, and intersex, and allowing them the space to speak and be heard.

Morgan: Pride is the opposite of shame, and the concept of Pride Month at its core is to cast away the societal stigmas that so many people face in their lives. The more exclusive Pride is, the less effective it is at reaching those that would most benefit from exposure to it. Don't just limit Pride to LGBTQIA+ resource groups! Have different forums for people to celebrate or observe Pride in their own ways. Company-wide events are important, but so are celebrations at a more human scale: team outings and other opportunities for people to share personal experiences.

Maryn: We should very publicly highlight and celebrate successful LGBTQIA+ colleagues to show others that anything's possible and that we support each other.

What can Twilio — or any employer — do to raise awareness about critical issues impacting the global LGBTQIA+ community?

Chance: Continue to listen to our collective voice and pay attention to the news and laws passed that affect every member of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Linda: I think that many Twillions want to know how best to be an ally but yet aren't aware of how to go about it. It comes down to three things: education, recognizing privilege, and advocation.

Morgan: When every company changes their LinkedIn logos to a rainbow variant, it can be hard to stand out from the crowd. Take stock of your LGBTQIA+ employees, allow them to share the critical issues they face or feel strongly about, and then give those issues a platform. Make LGBTQIA+ a priority in business decisions and refuse to do business with the biggest offenders in perpetuating hate.

Maryn: At the moment, we highlight LGBTQIA+ employee success stories only to the Spectrum Employee Resource Group and the #be-Inclusive channel on Slack. It should be company-wide and led from the top.

Any tips for colleagues on how to ally with the LGBTQIA+ community, specifically queer/trans people of color, throughout the year and not just during Pride?

Chance: Acknowledge, respect, and equal opportunity.

Linda: Introduce reading lists, events to attend, and TV shows that help illustrate the injustices and struggles the LGBTQIA+ community faces. Spread accurate information that helps the community. Use your privilege to fight for inclusivity, vote, sign petitions, and so much more.

Morgan: Check in on your coworkers. Ask them how they're doing and let them know that you care about them. So many within the LGBTQIA+ community lack a family support system, making quality friendships invaluable. If you've opened your news app and seen an anti-LGBTQIA+ story, the odds are that your LGBTQIA+ coworkers have too. They may be remiss to bring it up unprompted, but that doesn't mean it doesn't affect them. Be an ally even when no one from the LGBTQIA+ community is around. When they are, let them know you know and that you're there for them. Sometimes it can make all the difference in the world.

Maryn: Be visibly supportive. When George Floyd was killed, I personally reached out to every black colleague and friend to see how they were doing and offer my support. This should happen for LGBTQIA+ employees, too. Lead with compassion.

Happy Pride!

From all of us at Twilio, we hope you've had a wonderful Pride and wish you a safe and happy remainder of 2021 and beyond.

If you have a moment, please check out our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) report for 2021. It showcases the work done and results of Twilio's long-range and annual strategic DEI priorities. Check it out here.

And if you're not a Twilion yet, we hope you'd consider joining us. Please visit our careers website and apply to our open roles.

We can't wait to see what you build.