Inclusivity Should Be Year-Round. Full Stop.

Happy Pride month! And, if you forgot (or just did not know), May was Mental Health Awareness Month. Usually by the fifth day of June every single year, companies and individuals post their stance as allies and members of the LGTBQIA+ community, offering insight into their values and what they want the public to see as being ‘inclusive’ for all.

Some may call this out as being performative. In a lot of ways, it is. Being supportive of marginalized and targeted communities is not something that deserves to be spotlighted 30 days out of 365.

We have Gen Z to thank for this. Companies and brands that want to stay current with – and respected by – Gen Z will need to start treating accessibility as standard every single day of the year, not just for a dedicated month. People want access to content, AND they want to see themselves represented in it.

Accessibility and representation are inextricably linked: content needs to be designed to connect communities, not exclude people or shame by omission. Everyone and anyone should see themselves reflected in the brand – that it’s speaking to them, and that it’s approachable. 

The effect? It humanizes your brand. Thinking in terms of inclusivity-first presents a picture of a brand that understands the need for diverse representation. It shows that the brand’s audience – all of it – really matters. 

If people can’t access your content – either physically or emotionally – they will be excluded from your message, whether you intend it or not. The new generation of consumers won’t stand for that. 

From Sprout Social:

People expect the companies they shop with and the organizations they support to take a stand—in fact, 70% of U.S. consumers say it’s important for brands to take a stand on social and political issues. Furthermore, 67% of people believe brands are effective at raising awareness around important public issues when they speak out on social media specifically.

Prioritize representation. Show it in your leadership, in your teams, on your Zoom calls. Even if you think your brand is not affected by this sudden culture shift, it is. It will be. Make the moves necessary now, have the hard discussions and work towards bettering your work environment before you get called out as ‘performative’.

Have a great Pride month! 🏳️‍🌈