June 1 marked the start of Pride Month, a celebration of — and support for — the LGBTQ+ communities.
Pride Month commemorates the riots and protests that created awareness of deep-seated problems and energized people to take action to create substantial change. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning and allies (LGBTQ+) Pride Month is celebrated in June to honor the Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan which lasted six days in June 1969 as police clashed with LGBTQ protesters.
Below, please find some Pride Month announcements and as well as Pride Month events related to electric utilities and the energy industry.
PNM and AVANGRID said they donated $25,000 to nonprofits in honor of National Pride Month. Alianza of New Mexico, Casa Q, Equality New Mexico, Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico and Youth Shelters & Family Services each received $5,000 toward their services.
“PNM is proud to support our LGBTQ+ community while promoting diversity, equity and inclusion throughout our state,” said Pat Vincent-Collawn, Chairman and CEO for PNM.
Pacific Gas and Electric celebrates Pride Month with #LoveandPride. Brian M. Wong, vice president, deputy general counsel and corporate secretary for PG&E shared a story on the PGE Currents website about a time earlier in his career when he pushed his organization to consider its LGBTQ+ employees’ rights when it proposed a relocation. Wong said PG&E’s Pride Network Employee Resource Group is holding online events over the course of the month and the group will be marching in several Pride Parades throughout the state.
Also in California, the Public Utilities Commission tweeted that it expanded its supplier diversity program to include utility procurement goals from LGBT businesses.
The Orlando Utilities Commission and NiSource also tweeted that they are proud to celebrate and stand with the LGBTQ+ community.
Out in Energy, a national umbrella network for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI) professionals working across the US energy and climate sectors, and across all energy sources and technologies shared several events that are relevant to Pride Month, including:
- June 6 at 10 AM EST, DOE Secretary Granholm will host an outdoor event to celebrate the raising of the Progress Pride Flag in front of DOE’s Forrestal Hall in Washington, DC. Out in Energy members are welcome and invited to attend. The Secretary and other DOE leadership will deliver public remarks and host this occasion to demonstrate solidarity with LGBTQ+ individuals working in energy, climate, and environment.
- June 8 at 4 PM EST, Out in Energy will be co-hosting a free virtual “Ask me Anything” panel discussion with New England Women in Energy & Environment [NEWIEE]. Register here: “Ask Me Anything” featuring Out in Energy – NEWIE
- June 9 from 6 – 8 PM EST, Out in Energy hosts a Pride Happy Hour at Pitchers in DC.
- June 10 at 7 PM EST, Out in Energy participates in the DC Front Runners annual Pride 5K! There is an Out in Energy running team, and all proceeds are distributed to local and national LGBTQ organizations such as Casa Ruby.
- June 29 at 12 PM EST, the Department of Energy will host a virtual event to cap off Pride Month, featuring a number of LGBTQ leaders working across the Department.
BTW, Out in Energy has T-shirts for sale through mid-June. Learn more here.
On June 28, Edison Energy will host a virtual event, “Pride in Power: Challenges and opportunities of coming out in the energy sector”
The roundtable discussion with prominent panelists from the energy industry will focus on the challenges and opportunities in the energy sector for LGBTQ+ individuals and the companies who employ them.
Topics to be discussed include:
- How do LGBTQ+ individuals navigate the energy space as industry professionals?
- What are the complexities of “coming out” in the energy sector, particularly in today’s political climate?
- How can the energy sector move the needle on LGBTQ+ inclusion? And why should individuals outside of that community care about LGBTQ+ inclusion?
What: Pride in Power: Challenges and opportunities of coming out in the energy sector
When: Tuesday, June 28,, 2022, 12 pm-1 pm ET (9 am – 10 am PT), in recognition of the Stonewall Uprising
Where: Online, free registration here.
Is your utility or company celebrating Pride Month? Let Power-Grid.com know what you are doing and we will add it to this list.
