International LGBTIQ+ Pride Day 2024
Celebrating and demanding equality for LGBTIQ+ community
International LGBTIQ+ Pride Day has been celebrated every 28 June to demand equality for non-normative gender identities and sexual orientations. In many cities, LGBTIQ+ communities unite in marches and protest activities throughout the month of June.
In many parts of the world LGBTIQ+ people (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and other identities and orientations) are discriminated against at work, at school, in public administrations and even in their own homes. They are often mistreated and become victims of physical attacks. In more than 70 countries, laws discriminate against same-gender relationships and they can be arrested, prosecuted and imprisoned, and in at least five countries, they can face the death penalty.
In recent years, many states have made a strong commitment to strengthening the protection of the LGBTIQ+ human rights, passing laws that prohibit discrimination, punish hate crimes, recognise their relationships and marriages, and make it easier for transgender people to obtain official documents that match their gender, according to the United Nations (UN). However, there is still a long way to go to achieve full equality.
International LGBTIQ+ Pride Day, which is celebrated every 28 June and in many countries extends throughout the month, represents the need to continue to demand and make visible respect for gender identity and sexual orientation.
Importance of diversity
LGBTIQ+ diversity refers to the plurality of gender identities and sexual orientations that exist in our society, i.e. an area that is part of individuals' personal lives. However, numerous studies show that most individuals often feel uncomfortable, rejected or even threatened by the possibility of their sexual orientation or identity being perceived by their environment.
The workplace is often a hostile place for LGBTIQ+ people. ManpowerGroup, a global leader in professional recruitment, reflects this discrimination in a survey conducted in 2021 on the level of inclusion of LGBTIQ+ community in the workplace − with 4,800 responses from 14 countries. According to the study, 53% of the participants revealed having heard inappropriate or derogatory language against them at work and 23.3% reported having been a victim of unpleasant comments because of their gender or sexual orientation.
Equal opportunity implies equal treatment to promote the personal and professional development of our human team; diversity refers to respect for and promotion of the set of characteristics that make people unique and singular. Iberdrola España believes that the richness of its team lies precisely in its variety, but it always guarantees equal treatment among the people who make it up.
On the other hand, when we talk about inclusion, we refer to the way in which we value differences between individuals and create opportunities for everyone to realise their full potential. We celebrate the particularities of all members of our organisation, but we also make them feel part of the same project, fostering a sense of belonging that makes them feel valued as part of a community.
Origin of Internatinal Pride Day
LGBTIQ+ Pride Day is celebrated on 28 June in commemoration of the Stonewall Riots, which took place in New York in 1969 and marked a turning point in the demand for LGBTIQ+ rights. In the early hours of that morning, the police raided the Stonewall Inn − a popular meeting place for LGBTIQ+ people in the Greenwich Village neighbourhood − to identify and arrest gay, lesbian and transgender people. This was nothing exceptional: LGBTIQ+ people were often the target of police harassment and violence in such actions.
However, the raid did not end as officers had hoped. Customers at Stonewall Inn and others from nearby venues gathered in the street and clashed with police in an unorganised protest and escalating violence. The riots resulted in 13 arrests and several protesters and police injured. The place was virtually destroyed.
The tensions culminated in a series of demonstrations and violent clashes that lasted several days. Within weeks, a number of LGBTIQ+ people organised themselves into activist groups to focus efforts, fight inequality and establish meeting places where they could openly express their gender identity or sexual orientation without fear of arrest. These protests and their organisation were seen as the spark of the modern LGBTIQ+rights movement around the world.
The first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots was commemorated with marches in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago − inaugurating the first Pride demonstrations. Over time, these protests have become annual celebrations around the world.
Objectives of celebrating this day
International LGBTIQ+ Pride Day is celebrated to promote equality, visibility and full inclusion in society. Some of the objectives of its celebration are the following:
What is being celebrated this year?
In celebration of International LGBTIQ+ Pride Day, colourful marches are called in line with the various pride flags that, through different shades, symbolise the movements of historically discriminated sexual orientations and gender identities.
A nivel europeo, la festividad más conocida es la de Madrid, que se celebra el primer sábado del mes de julio y en 2024 corresponde al 6 de julio. También se conmemora en decenas de ciudades españolas como Bilbao, Barcelona, Sevilla y Valencia, entre otras.
The main protests of a festive nature are joined by a whole program of parties, talks, activities and workshops that are distributed in different parts of the cities and can last about a month in many cities in Spain.
Iberdrola España with diversity
At Iberdrola España, we consider diversity and inclusion to be strategic priorities for sustainable growth, and we aim to ensure respect for these values both within the company and in our relations with external parties. For this reason, we have an Equal Opportunity and Anti-Harassment Policy that brings together the best international practices and, since its approval in 2008, we have made significant progress.
In addition, we have signed up to the UN's LGTBI Standards of Conduct which aim to help the business community tackle discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. This initiative, adopted in 2017 by the UN Human Rights Office, is the first set of internationally accepted provisions on the responsibility of business to respect and promote the human rights of LGBTIQ+ people. Based on analysis of good practices globally, it sets out actions related to five principles for the workplace, marketplace and community:
- Respect human rights
- Eliminate discrimination against LGTBI employees
- Provide support for LGTBI staff in the workplace
- Prevent other human rights violations
- Act in the public sphere
Other initiatives of Iberdrola España
