Why Pledge to the Welcoming Project?

WHY PLEDGE?

WHEN YOU CELEBRATE DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND LGBTQ PEOPLE, YOU SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY!

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MENTAL HEALTH

Members of the LGBTQ+ community are at a higher risk for experiencing mental health conditions — especially depression and anxiety disorders.

LGBTQ+ adults are more than twice as likely as heterosexual adults to experience a mental health condition.
Transgender individuals are nearly four times as likely as cisgender individuals (people whose gender identity corresponds with their birth sex) to experience a mental health condition.
LGBTQ+ youth also experience greater risk for mental health conditions and suicidality.
LGBTQ+ youth are more than twice as likely to report experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness than their heterosexual peers.
Transgender youth face further disparities as they are twice as likely to experience depressive symptoms, seriously consider suicide, and attempt suicide compared to cisgender, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer and questioning youth.

Demonstrating support and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community can mitigate health risk factors (rejection, trauma, substance use, homelessness, suicide).

Sources: National Alliance on Mental Health and Healthy People 2030

ECONOMICS & EMPLOYMENT

More than 75% of LGBT adults and their friends and relatives say they would switch to brands known to be LGBT friendly. In 2017 alone, the LGBT consumer buying power was over $917 billion.

In a 2017 national survey, 80% of respondents said that inclusion is an important factor in choosing an employer, and 72% would leave an organization for another that was more inclusive. Companies that adopt LGBT policies show a long term increase in financial performance compared to peer companies that do not adopt them. Companies embrace LGBT inclusion to attract and retain the best talent. In turn, companies are better able to engage and retain LGBT employees and cultivate strong partnerships with community organizations, external organizations, and employee groups.

Check out the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's LGBT Inclusion Hub for Small Businesses

Source: “Incorporating Inclusion” 2019, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation

HISTORY

While LGBTQ+ acceptance, affirmation, and rights have come a long way, we still have more progress to make. 2024 marks the 55th anniversary of Stonewall. Early in the morning of June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a Greenwich Village bar that had become a staple of New York City's underground gay community. Tired of the ongoing raids, community members fought back during the raid, sparking what would become known as The Stonewall Riots.

A year later, the first Gay Pride March was held in New York City to commemorate The Stonewall Riots. The New York Times reported that the marches took up the entire street for about 15 city blocks. The march took a positive stance against discrimination and violence toward LGBTQ people, and started an important movement that would only spread and grow.

Fast forward to today, where annual Pride celebrations are held across the globe to promote the self-affirmation, dignity and equal rights of LGBTQ people, increase their visibility as a social group, build community, and celebrate sexual diversity and gender variance.

The inaugural Pride Franklin County, Pa., was held on August 5, 2018 at Wilson College. Over 1,000 people were in attendance.

IMPORTANT TERMINOLOGY

Ally: An individual or group that is supportive of the LGBTQ community.
Gender: A person’s self-identity as man, woman, or other designation along the gender, non-binary spectrum.
LGBTQ: An abbreviation that has replaced what was formally known as “the gay community”. LGBTQ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (or questioning). Its use recognizes a more diverse and inclusive community.
Lesbian: An individual who identifies as a woman who is emotionally, physically, or sexually attracted to other women.
Gay: An individual who identifies as a man who is emotionally, physically, or sexually attracted to other men. (The term gay has also been used to describe any same-gender physical relationship.)
Bisexual: An individual who is sexually and romantically attracted to men and women or others.
Transgender: An individual who identifies as a sex other than that assigned at birth.
Queer: An individual whose identity is more fluid and inclusive of diverse sexual orientations and/or gender identities. Once considered an offensive term, it has been reclaimed by individuals as a description of self-empowerment.
Questioning: An individual who is unsure about their sexual orientation and/or gender identity and prefers to identify as “questioning” rather than adhering to an inappropriate label.
Sex: Designation of male/female usually assigned at birth based on biological characteristics.
Sexual Orientation: An individual’s desire for intimate, emotional and/or sexual relationships with others.
Gender Identity: How one self-identifies based upon an innate feeling of masculinity, femininity, or combination (or lack) of either.
Gender Expression: The way an individual presents to others through appearance, mannerisms, behaviors, and speech which is indicative of sex or gender. The way a person expresses their gender offers clues on how they wish to be perceived and treated.
Pronouns: Words used other than names to identify individuals or groups traditionally based upon sex or gender. He/him, she/her have been used as binary designations (only male/female) while they/theirs (singular) is used by some in our non-binary society. Pronouns are self-selected, varied, and may include ze/hir, ey/em, and numerous others. It is important to use the pronoun an individual prefers.