Pride is a word with many meanings. It can mean a job well done. It can mean satisfaction in who you are or what you stand for. For me, it is all of that and more. It is one of the values that runs deeply at Heroku and what keeps me here -- pride in the work we do, pride in how we do it, and most importantly, pride in our people. One of the most moving things I have seen this past month is this Heroku Pride wallpaper on peoples’ screens all around the office.
At this 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, and the conclusion of Pride month, on the day after the Pride parade here in San Francisco and in so many other places far and near, big and small, we asked for reflections from our team about what pride means to them. We are sharing some of their responses here.
"Pride, to me, is about feeling comfortable being your most authentic self. When it comes to the workplace, diversity has measurable benefits for teams and organisations, and pride is an absolute cornerstone of that. By celebrating our differences, we create space for people to participate, and to flourish." — Charlie Gleason
"I am proud to work for a company that represents and stands up for the thing that is most important in this world: equality. I was never prouder than seeing a rainbow banner gracing the home pages of heroku.com and jp.heroku.com and the reception that they received. I am humbled by those around me constantly. My goal is to always be true to who I am and who everyone else is - our differences are what make us all better people." — Jennifer Hooper
"Pride is a celebration of who we are and how far we’ve come. The glitter, the rainbow tutus, and the parades all serve as an important reminder that we’re visible, vocal, and proud. However for me, Pride is also a time of remembrance and reflection, both on our past and what’s in store for the future. From Stonewall to Obergefell v. Hodges, there are some tremendous moments in history to celebrate as an American. But the fight isn’t over. Transphobia and racism still exist inside the LGBTQ community and in the world at large. Many LGBTQ people around the world are still struggling for the rights I have in the US, and even here, sexual orientation and gender identity aren’t protected classes under federal law. Pride is a party but it’s also a moment of pause on a longer journey for equality and justice." — Stella Cotton
"Everyone should have the right to introspect, embrace, and share who they are and how they want to live. To me, Pride is a way to support and celebrate that right." — Raul Murciano
"Pride is both a sad and smile inducing time for me. Sad because I read, for example, a history of the events at Stonewall and feel that the exact same oppression is happening today just in different contexts: transgender people in the U.S military, gerrymandering in the US, the Rohingya people in Myanmar. Why are we so bad at learning from others’ histories? Why do we keep making the same mistakes? What prompts a person to oppress another? Some difficult questions that all of us should spend some time thinking about.
But then I stepped outside today, Sunday, June 30, to NYC’s Pride Parade (115 thousand marchers participating and millions watching) and am overjoyed to see so much positivity and compassion. So many smiles and celebrating humans — humans of all colors and shapes and sizes and countless unseen differences. We’re getting there. We can do this, humanity. Don’t give up on love..." — Chris Castle
"Every Pride to me represents another inexorable step forward, toward a better version of us, of humanity. There will be stumbles, there will be scraped knees and worse, sometimes much worse. But as we march, and as the parades and celebrations grow and flourish, so do my LGBTQ friends and family members. Pride allows us all to see them not just as themselves as they truly are--which is magnificent--but as their best selves. Pride to me represents hope that the world will continue to become more compassionate and accepting, and I'm honored to be even the smallest part of that." — David Routen