Celebrating Pride at Bird
Bird
Jun 30, 2022
Pride
1 min read
Key Takeaways
Pride Month at Bird is celebrated by centering the voices and experiences of LGBTIQ+ employees and allies.
Pride is framed both as a celebration of progress and a reminder that there is still significant work to do globally.
For some Birds, Pride connects deeply to justice, personal growth, and the hope that future generations will live in a world where Pride is “just” a celebration, not a struggle.
Pride is also a lifeline for those without supportive environments, offering visibility, community, and emotional safety.
Allyship shows up in many small, everyday choices: challenging injustice, teaching children about LGBTIQ+ issues, and visibly supporting equality (e.g., flags, conversations, openness).
Some team members express Pride through supporting loved ones who’ve lost relationships due to lack of acceptance, reinforcing that chosen family and allies matter.
Financial choices can be a form of allyship too: avoiding brands that lobby against LGBTIQ+ rights and actively supporting LGBTIQ+ businesses.
Pride is seen as a yearly recognition of activism past and present — acknowledging both the progress made and ongoing struggles in different parts of the world.
For LGBTIQ+ employees, Pride brings confidence, safety, and visibility at work, helping them feel less afraid to be open about who they are.
A recurring theme is the importance of creating a non-judgmental, respectful workplace where everyone can show up as themselves.
Pride is also a moment to remember the movement’s roots — from Stonewall to figures like Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Harvey Milk — and the reality that Pride began as a riot, not a party.
Every person is encouraged to use their platform, however small, to speak up against discrimination, create safe spaces, and ensure representation really does “matter” in practice.
Q&A Highlights
Why is it important to celebrate Pride Month at Bird?
Because it honors progress on LGBTIQ+ rights, highlights ongoing inequality, and creates space for employees to feel seen, supported, and safe being themselves.
How is Pride framed in this piece — celebration or protest?
Both: it celebrates what has been achieved while openly recognizing that there is still a long way to go in many parts of the world.
What does Pride mean for employees with children?
For some, it’s about teaching their children justice, inclusion, and history — and hoping their kids will one day see Pride as a simple celebration rather than a fight for basic rights.
How is Pride meaningful for allies with LGBTIQ+ family members?
It’s a time to actively celebrate their loved ones, affirm their identities, and counterbalance the rejection or lost relationships those loved ones may have experienced.
What everyday actions show allyship in this article?
Challenging injustice, being openly supportive, teaching others about LGBTIQ+ issues, choosing inclusive brands, supporting LGBTIQ+ businesses, and creating non-judgmental spaces at work.
Why is workplace culture highlighted in the context of Pride?
Because the workplace is a common site of discrimination, and building a culture of acceptance and safety determines whether people feel comfortable being open about who they are.
How do some employees describe the emotional impact of Pride?
They describe feeling more supported, less afraid to be open, and more confident knowing there is a visible community and allyship around them.
What global perspective on LGBTIQ+ rights is mentioned?
The article notes that in over a third of countries it’s still illegal to be who you are, and discrimination persists everywhere — which is why Pride must also remain a call to action.
Why are historical figures and the origins of Pride referenced?
To honor those who took great risks for LGBTIQ+ rights, remind us that Pride began as a riot against oppression, and connect current celebrations to a long history of activism.
What role does Bird’s Head of DEI emphasize for individuals?
Using your personal platform — however small — to speak up, resist discrimination, listen, learn, and create safe spaces where others can be themselves.
How do LGBTIQ+ employees themselves “show allyship” in the story?
By being openly out, thanking allies, modeling authenticity, and working to ensure that others feel safe and supported in the community and at work.
What is the overarching message about Pride at Bird?
That Pride is not just a month or a marketing moment, but an ongoing commitment to visibility, inclusion, allyship, and creating a workplace where everyone can show up as their full selves.
To celebrate Pride Month here at Bird, we started the month asking Birds who are members of the LGBTIQ+ community and community allies to share what Pride means to them.
Today, we’re sharing those responses, as we strive to elevate and support diverse communities here at Bird.
We hope you enjoy learning more about what Pride means to members of our team!
Frans-Jan van Steenbeek, Team Lead in Infrastructure
Why is it important to celebrate Pride Month?
It's important to celebrate what has been achieved so far for LGBTQIA+ acceptance and rights; it's equally important to recognize there's a long way to go still.
What does Pride Month mean to you?
We don't have Pride Month as such in the Netherlands, but for me Pride celebrations are connected with a deep sense of justice and a personal break with past convictions. I'd like my children to live in a world where Pride is "just" a celebration, not also part of an ongoing struggle.
How do you show allyship for the LGBTIQ+ community in your everyday life?
I'm open about my allyship, try to confront injustice when I (think I) see it, teach my children about LGBTQIA+ issues and history, and fly the rainbow when that makes sense. 🏳️🌈
Lucy Sanchez-Sandoval, Software Developer Associate
Dennis Philipse, Regional Manager Technical Services APAC
What does Pride Month mean to you?
Pride Month is for me a yearly recognition of all the people and the hard work which has been done – and in some parts of the world still needs to be done – to bring your true, authentic self to the world, at the workplace, to your family and friends.
How do you show allyship for the LGBTIQ+ community in your everyday life?
Being an openly gay cis man myself, I thank allies for being a role model and coming out for their support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Stacey Cracknell, London Office Coordinator
Why is it important to celebrate Pride Month?
To celebrate differences, remove any stereotypes, and give more confidence to those within the LGBTQI+ community.
What does Pride Month mean to you?
Pride Month allows me to feel supported and not afraid to be open about who I am.
How do you show allyship for the LGBTIQ+ community in your everyday life?
By being open minded, accepting, and supportive of whoever anyone is or wants to be – no judgments. Everyone is different and should be allowed a place to do this, especially in the workplace as this is where discrimination can occur. So take every opportunity to create a non-judgemental workplace.
Nikita Baranov, Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Editor’s Note: For our last employee profile, we’re excited to share our final highlight from MessageBird’s brand new head of diversity, equity, and inclusion. It's so important to support and elevate voices from the LGBTIQ+ community – not just for Pride month, but all year round. We're thrilled that Nikita is here to guide us as we continue our efforts to be a more inclusive workplace!
Why is it important to celebrate Pride Month?
In more than one-third of the world's countries, it's still illegal to just be who you are. In the rest, we still see a lot of discrimination against the LGBTIQ+ community on a daily basis. We need to celebrate the successes but also remember the progressive journey – which is still to be taken, not only during Pride Month, but during the entire year.
What does Pride Month mean to you?
For me personally, I'm always reflecting on how privileged and thankful I am to my predecessors, like Marsha P Johnson, Silvia Riviera, or Harvey Milk who had the courage back in time to stand and speak up for the rights of the community where activism was forbidden and punished. Never forget that Pride started with a riot!
How do you show allyship for the LGBTIQ+ community in your everyday life?
I always try to establish a safe space for people to be able to be themselves, admit what I don't know, listen and learn, and be the voice for those who have no voice – because every one of us has a platform, no matter how small it might seem, and one can use it and be vocal against any kind of discrimination or unfair treatment. Representation matters!
