As we begin this year’s celebration of Pride, the evolution of the Pride flag has captured my attention, leading me to reflect not only on the evolution of the flag and the LGBTQ+ community it is synonymous with, but also on our responsibility to evolve as allies.
For many of us, the rainbow-colored flag - a globally recognised symbol of the LGBTQ+ community - is the first image that comes to mind when we think about Pride.
From the first known version of the flag, flown at the 1978 San Francisco Gay Freedom Day parade, to the most recent iteration launched in London in 2021, underpinning the evolution of the flag is the spirit of greater inclusivity - to better represent the nuances and diverse expressions of identity within the LGBTQ+ community.
The Pride flag is both a symbol of the courage and activism that has been necessary to bring about the progress we celebrate each year, and a reminder that the work to achieve LGBTQ+ equality is not yet complete.
LGBTQ+ people still face unacceptable stigma and discrimination every day, including at work, where most of us spend the majority of our time.
Feeling forced to hide our authentic self in the workplace for fear of prejudice, exclusion and hate can have devastating and long-lasting effects on our mental and physical health and job performance and prevent us from fulfilling our true potential.
Our priorities and commitments
As the leader of Mundipharma, it is imperative to me that the culture of our organisation fosters a safe environment where our people are not only comfortable, but proud to bring their whole self to work and feel seen, valued and respected for who they are.
By setting diversity and inclusion as a global priority, we make it clear that building and sustaining a culture where we can all thrive - regardless of identity, sexual orientation or gender expression - is everyone’s responsibility at Mundipharma.
I am proud of the tangible positive change being delivered as a result of our five commitments to a diverse and inclusive environment at Mundipharma, through a bespoke programme of inclusive leadership coaching and bias mitigation training which is available for all colleagues.
The Pride movement has always been progressive and to be effective as allies, we must be too. From how we behave, think and empathise, as our understanding and awareness of the needs, issues and challenges impacting those we advocate for deepens, true allies evolve alongside those they support.
An important part of allyship is making a commitment to repeatedly learn, unlearn and relearn. One way we encourage this at Mundipharma is by holding safe spaces to amplify the voices and experiences of the LGBTQ+ community in sessions that colleagues can join from around the world, and I look forward to all the new things we will learn as we celebrate Pride this year.
At Mundipharma, we proudly stand with the LGBTQ+ community against hate, prejudice and discrimination. For us, Pride will always be an important time to celebrate everything that makes LGBTQ+ people such an important part of our society and workforce.
Marc Princen, Chief Executive Officer, Mundipharma
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At Mundipharma we are committed to achieving high ethical standards and acting in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations, and industry codes.
We urge anyone who believes we are failing to uphold our commitment to Be Brave to contact us so that we can review their concerns and take any remedial action. Mundipharma prohibits any form of retaliation towards anyone who raises concerns in good faith. Anyone can call the Mundipharma Integrity Line to raise questions or concerns.