Every Color, Every Shade, Everywhere
LGBTQIA+ Pride is celebrated throughout the summer in many countries, and the Pride at Adobe employee network will be bringing our global community together through a myriad of programs in June. We see this as a time to reflect on our history and carry those visions forward in the pursuit of a future that is safe and welcoming of the vibrant expression of who we are. It is in that spirit that we centered on the 2022 theme of Every Color, Every Shade, Everywhere.
We’re highlighting the ways that creativity can be a powerful method of cultivating hope, restoration, and inspiration, especially when our global LGBTQIA+ community faces persistent threats to our right to live openly and protect our families from harm.
Every Color, Every Shade, Everywhere is inclusive of all of us, and reflects our commitment in supporting the LGBTQIA+ community wherever and however we live.
Celebrations at Adobe
Our Pride at Adobe members have been excited for opportunities to meet in person again, as some locations began reopening. Starting in February, Pride at Adobe members in Sydney joined Mardi Gras celebrations, and in May, our Pride at Adobe India members held a creativity contest in observance of International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia. Heading into Pride season, our members are looking forward to joining Pride marches and parades, starting on June 5th with a large group from our Lehi office participating in the Utah Pride Parade, and volunteers from our New York locations providing support for LGBTQIA+ elders marching in Queens Pride. Pride at Adobe London is partnering with Pride in London on a unique art + technology initiative to commemorate the 50th year of Pride in the UK. Adobe employees are also planning to participate in Pride marches in Dublin, Munich, Hamburg, Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Ottawa.
At Adobe throughout June, we’re hosting global virtual events that bring our community together, provoke thoughtful discussion, and find hope in moments of joy and creative expression. Early in the month, we’ll hear from a panel of journalists Tre'vell Anderson (host of What A Day), Tuck Woodstock (host and producer of Gender Reveal), and Katelyn Burns (host and producer of Cancel Me, Daddy) about their experiences in the media and journalism’s impact on queer and trans people. During our Pride celebration event, we’ll showcase some amazing artists from our community including: spoken word performer Yosimar Reyes, visual artist and Pride at Adobe London site leader Matthew Mifsud, and storytelling moments from Cheryl “Ras” Thuesday and Gerardo Rojas Juárez. Finally, we’ll close the month with our Pride Bake-Off fundraiser, where executives compete in a baking contest to raise money for charities that are working to support the LGBTQIA+ community.
Amplifying LGBTQIA+ creative voices
Over the last year, I’ve been honored to serve on a review committee for the Adobe Stock Advocates program and Artist Development Fund, a creative commission program centered on artists who self-identify with and expertly depict diverse communities within their work. This volunteer opportunity has been a highlight of the last year for me, and a reminder of the inspiration and emotion to be found when the work about us is created by us. These global funding recipients’ contributions and stories truly reflect every color, every shade, everywhere.
#CreateWithPride
This year, we are celebrating with our #CreateWithPride social activation to give everyone a platform to better express themselves or their allyship this Pride month.
We’re excited to partner with LGBTQIA+ creators Joey Jay and Gregory Littley, who will create their own Pride-themed Adobe Express flyer templates to share the role creativity plays in their lives and what Pride really means to them. They will also encourage followers to do the same and continue to share their creations with #CreateWithPride. Flyers have often served as the building blocks of movements like Pride, playing an integral role in popularizing powerful symbolism of community expression, and we’re proud to honor and recognize that piece of history through our Adobe Express templates this month.
Our social series Women Create Wednesday will also have a special Pride edition of featuring inspiring queer creators and their stories. Make sure to check out @adobe on Instagram throughout June to see the influencers highlighted each week including: Jack & Bec (June 8), Melissa King (June 15), Savana Ogburn (June 22), and Summer Luk (June 29).
Supporting the broader LGBTQIA+ community
Pride at Adobe values giving back to our broader communities, and partners with various local, national, and international organizations on fundraising and volunteering initiatives.
In 2021, we established a deeper partnership with OutRight Action International, in alignment with the Adobe Foundation grant and Equity and Advancement Initiative. We’ve already had several inspiring opportunities to get involved, join summits, and participate in virtual volunteer projects. A few of the projects Pride at Adobe network members have worked on with OutRight in 2022 include: volunteer application reviews for United Nations Program: 2022 Advocacy Fellowship, design volunteers working on the OutRight Annual Impact Report, and volunteer translation for an OutRight article on LGBTIQ+ and the Olympics.
In 2022, we asked our global Site Leaders for their recommendations on organizations that are doing the work in the communities where they live for us to highlight for Pride Month fundraising.
- Mermaids: Supporting transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse children, young people, and their families to be free from fear, isolation, and discrimination. Recommended by London Site Lead, Felicity Lees-Price.
- ACON (Aids Council of NSW): Focused on community health, inclusion and HIV responses for people of diverse sexualities and genders. Recommended by Sydney Site Lead Callum Swain.
- Rainbow Health Ontario: Promoting LGBT2SQ healthcare, providing clinical resources & training, with an emphasis on gender affirming healthcare. Recommended by Ottawa Site Leads, Lauren Gardner & Tasha Bridgen.
- Trevor Project: With the current surge of US states with legislation impacting transgender children, and suppression of LGBTQIA+ books and expression in schools, the Trevor Project's mission of ending suicide among LGBTQIA+ young people is more vital than ever. Recommended by Austin Site Lead, Carissa Barenblat.
Thanks to all the Pride at Adobe members and site leads around the globe who’ve worked so tirelessly to develop this programming. You are truly making a difference and we appreciate you.
I invite everyone to find ways to explore the creativity of our community, support and elevate our artists, and join us as we join hands in support of LGBTQIA+ people everywhere.