Traditionally, at Shoott, we always celebrate PRIDE with an uplifting email. It’s our simple way of honoring diversity and inclusion for the LGBTQIA+ community, a value we hold dear.

But each year, like clockwork, we receive a barrage of negativity from people who disagree with our stance. Our customer service team, many of whom identify as LGBTQIA+, bore the brunt of this hate, and each year, it was disheartening to hear about the hate they received.

I deeply appreciate my customer service team. If you’ve had a great experience with Shoott, it’s often due to them - they are kind, patient, and generous people who truly go above and beyond - so the last thing I want is for them to endure hurt just by doing their jobs.

So, this year, we decided to skip the PRIDE email. We rationalized that it was better to shield our LGBTQIA+ team members from the negativity that would result from us sending the email.

Fortunately, a friend from the LGBTQIA+ community reached out asking about our PRIDE email. They shared how much it meant to see it each year. I explained our decision to protect our team, but the conversation stayed with me.

That nagging feeling led me to a realization—I had never consulted my team on this matter. I wanted to protect them, but was this what they actually wanted?

So, I reached out to my team and posed the question: Should we remain silent or send the email celebrating PRIDE knowing what would result? I decided it would be their call.

Within minutes, we received a unanimous response: Thank you. And send the email!!!

My team shared that yes, they receive hate, but they also receive some sweet messages of love and support and that those messages of positivity make it all worthwhile.

It reminded me that in so many situations, you have to take the bad with the good. And always always ask, don’t assume, even if you have “good intentions.” Because it’s always so much more important to make sure other voices speak instead of unintentionally speaking for them and in so doing, minimizing the importance of visibility and representation.

So learn from my mistake: when it comes to “tough” decisions that impact other team members, always start by seeking input directly from them! Don't just assume you know what's best for others!

Now please join me in celebrating the beautiful, resilient, and diverse LGBTQIA+ community and let's always remember to listen, learn, and lift each other up. HAPPY PRIDE!!!

#PRIDE #DiversityandInclusion #EmployeeVoice #ListenAndLearn #RepresentationMatters