Do you know why we call this month full of LGBTQ events and commemoration, “Pride?”
Well, the definition of pride is: A feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction from your own achievements, the achievements of those you are closely associated with, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.
There was a time when LGBTQ people didn’t feel proud.
For years, the LGBTQ community didn’t feel proud. Gays and Lesbians were afraid to let people know who they really were, for fear of being fired at work or being denied housing, healthcare and public accommodations.
In fact, today, it is still legal at the Federal level and in 28 states, including Florida and North Carolina, where 30% of Citrites live, to fire LGBTQ employees for being lesbian, bisexual or gay. And in 30 states, you can be fired just for being transgender.
We celebrate Pride Month at Citrix to say this isn’t okay.
Diversity and inclusion is not just a set of events or a check-the-box exercise for Citrix. It’s engrained in who we are and the way we work every day. — David Henshall, President & CEO, Citrix
This isn’t just lip service; at Citrix we live our values of integrity, respect, curiosity, courage and unity. For the last two years, we have been “A Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality” by the Human Rights Campaign for the second year in a row.
We also signed on to three Amicus briefs asking the U.S. Court of Appeals to amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include discrimination based on sexual orientation.
And today, we are excited to announce that in honor of Pride Month, Citrix will join a coalition of businesses supporting the amendment of the 1992 Florida Civil Rights Act — which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of protected categories — to include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected categories.
Yesterday, Citrites in our Fort Lauderdale, Raleigh and Santa Clara offices came together to raise the Pride Flag in front of their buildings. These flags will fly during the month of June as a symbol of our commitment to equality — not just for our LGBTQ Pride, but for diversity and inclusion on the whole.
We invite you to join us in celebration of Pride this month, and to think about all the things it signifies. No matter where you are in the world, you can share our story, and support the rights of LGBTQ people in your communities.
And if you have any questions or thoughts, post them in the comments section below.
