Pride month and it’s importance for The Virtual Forge

WHAT DOES PRIDE MONTH MEAN TO US?

I’m Tiago, The Virtual Forge, People & Culture Manager and I’m here to talk to you about the importance of Pride month to us.

Being a LGBTQ+ community member myself it is important to me to make sure everyone in The Virtual Forge feels we are an inclusive and diverse company. Alongside our Directors, we establish company policies to make sure our view in this matter is spread correctly in the company.

Pride month is more than changing our profile picture with the rainbow flag colours. Pride month should be celebrated, every second, every day, every month by everyone throughout the world.

In June 1969, there were riots in Stonewall, New York due to a police raid that began in the early morning of 28th June 1969. In the following year, the first LGBTQ+ parades started to take place in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

We are currently in 2021, a new millennium, a new century with the majority of the world population being the most highly educated ever in the History of Mankind, and although we have seen major improvements in the last decade there is still the need to celebrate Pride, and this is due to the fact that:

• In 6 countries being LGBTQ+ is punished by death;
• In 70 countries being LGBTQ+ is illegal;
• In 31 countries being LGBTQ+ is punished with a sentence of up to 8 years of imprisonment;
• In 1 in each 3 countries it is danger to reveal that you are a LGBTQ+;
• There are still plenty to do to make ensure everyone has equal treatment and equal opportunities;
• Love should be a universal right and you should love whoever you want to, no matter their gender, colour or race.

At The Virtual Forge, we reinforce everyone’s right to be who they are, and we are a welcoming, inclusive and diverse company. Above all, we are proud of our employees.