Every June, we celebrate Pride Month by recognizing the contributions of two-spirit (2S), lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and allied (2SLGBTQ+) workers have made to our union, our workplaces, and the labor movement. Pride Month is not only a celebration of identity and community, it’s also a reminder that the protections, rights, and dignity that all workers deserve are rarely given freely. They’ve been won through organizing, solidarity, and collective action.
This year, Pride Month comes at a time when 2SLGBTQ+ communities, especially transgender and gender non-conforming people, continue to face escalating political and legislative attacks across the country. Efforts to roll back workplace protections, restrict access to healthcare, censor inclusive education, and weaken diversity, equity, and inclusion programs are part of a broader effort to divide working people and undermine hard-fought rights. These attacks impact workers directly by affecting safety on the job, access to healthcare, economic security, and the ability to live and work free from discrimination and harassment.
Pride Month is also a call to action. With critical elections approaching and worker protections increasingly under attack, UFCW members have an opportunity to help shape the future of our workplaces, communities, and labor movement. Now more than ever, we must stay engaged, organize our co-workers, speak out against discrimination, and support leaders who believe in protecting workers’ rights, expanding opportunity, and defending the dignity, equity, and economic security of every working person.
Solidarity means showing up for one another, especially when communities are under attack. The UFCW remains committed to fighting for workplaces and communities where all workers, including 2SLGBTQ+ workers, can live and work with dignity, safety, and respect.
UFCW’s 2SLGBTQ+ OUTreach Chair Nikki Rigano noted the importance of securing these protections at the current moment.
“Our members need to know that they belong and add value to our union. Inclusion and belonging means we fight for anti-discrimination language in our contracts. It means we fight for anti-harassment language and gender affirming care. It means we fight against legislation that harms our 2SLGBTQ+ workers. It means that we become the union that young workers in the 2SLGBTQ+ community look to when they want to organize their worksites because they see the work that UFCW does every day to include the voices of their community. I encourage locals to embrace diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging and to not back away from it. Inclusion and representation is how we grow our union and make it stronger.”
Resources and Opportunities to Get Involved
UFCW OUTreach has several free resources available on their website and by request for local unions, including a 2SLGBTQ+ Collective Bargaining Guide and a glossary of terms.
Follow UFCW OUTreach on Instagram and Facebook for Pride Month events, resources, and organizing opportunities. AFL-CIO’s Pride At Work aims to build 2SLGBTQIA+ worker power across the labor movement. This year’s Pride At Work Membership Convention is June 1-4 in Minneapolis.