Celebrating Pride Month at PwC

By definition, Pride Month is a commemoration of LGBTQ+ identity, joy and resistance. From the Stonewall riots in 1969 to present day, Pride Month reminds us that this celebration has not come without struggle, and that the fight for equality for all remains an ongoing challenge. At PwC, we celebrate Pride Month by continuing to elevate the voices and lived experiences of our people, highlight the importance of active allyship, and dedicate time to seek a deeper understanding of issues that impact the LGBTQ+ community.

Building on our culture of belonging

Our Inclusion Networks play a critical role in providing a psychologically safe space to come together and foster belonging for all, which helps reinforce to our people that they belong here, especially during times of uncertainty. Shine (our LGBTQ+ Inclusion Network) has more than 3,400 members to date, and through events and learning resources, members can come together in supportive environments for mentoring, networking and socializing opportunities.

Gabriel Sebastian Carrión (He/Him), Consulting Solutions, Associate, from our Mexico office shared the value of being a part of our Shine Inclusion Network. “They inspire me to continue with work I do at the firm, and it’s so important knowing that I belong to a place where discrimination has no place, and can grow regardless of my cultural heritage or identity.”

“I’ve leveraged BIN (Black Inclusion Network) and Shine. Those two groups are my passion. Inclusion Networks have been my safe havens. I have been fully involved with both groups since starting with the firm and my network has expanded so much and I have built so many friendships through these groups with people I don't work with everyday,” said Lauryn Johnson (She/Her), Trust Solutions, Associate.

And we’re continuing to invest in our people to offer them opportunities to grow and develop, which is exactly what Maria Fotsch (She/Her), Consulting Solutions, Manager has done. “Through my engagement with Shine, I have been a delegate for two Global Shine Summits, most recently in Sydney, Australia in 2023.” PwC US sent two delegates, and PwC Mexico sent one delegate to this three-day summit with over 150 attendees from 12 countries/regions. This event was the launchpad for PwC's first-ever Global LGBTQ+ Inclusion Strategy, to advance equality across our global network in a consistent way. 

The importance of identity

When it comes to interpersonal interactions, our people know how important identity can be to forming connections.

For Bryce Badger (He/Him), Consulting Solutions, Senior Associate, the weight of multiple identities - Black, gay, and closeted before coming out – was a difficult burden to carry. His experience of coming out was a long process, but now that he’s comfortable standing in his truth, he understands that being able to do so can sometimes help others do the same. “My identity matters because there’s still a closet to come out of for so many people. I came out for myself, but I stay out in hopes that it not only emboldens others but also makes the world safer for everyone and opens that closet door up inch by inch for everyone inside.”

“I think identity is key to our social interactions, as it gives us a sense of belonging but also differentiates us from the rest,” said Carrión. “It’s something that is forged by our uprising and our own experiences and as such, helps us to understand our shortcomings, yet appreciate our privileges.”

Being an active ally

An ally is someone who supports another person from a different community, but an active ally is someone who is truly engaged and prepared to take consistent and meaningful action to help make their communities safe and inclusive for all. 

Fotsch shared that to her, allies can “be continuous learners, listen to and believe the experiences of others, and constantly challenge their own assumptions and biases. We can all learn how to better understand and advocate for others - including those who share our identities, and those who do not.” 

To build upon PwC’s values, we recognize being an active ally goes beyond providing support—it includes recognizing unconscious biases, having and managing difficult conversations and taking effective, sustainable action to help better ourselves and the people around us. We encourage all PwCers to upskill themselves with training like our Inclusive Mindset Badge, an internal learning pathway that teaches inclusive leadership and helps our people consider how individual skills and abilities can create access for others.

Advancing LGBTQ+ visibility through action

Since 2004, the firm has had an LGBTQ+ Partner Advisory Board that raises visibility of the LGBTQ+ community within PwC and makes policy recommendations for how the firm can attract, retain and advance LGBTQ+ professionals. With the board, we have continued to work to guarantee benefits for LGBTQ+ staff, including adoption, surrogacy and transgender-related procedures. 

We recognize our impact must also go beyond our firm, and in July 2022, we joined more than 170 businesses and over 20,000 supporters and signed the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Business Statement in calling for the US Senate to pass the Respect for Marriage Act. Alongside organizations like GLAAD, HRC, and OutLeadership, we continue to uplift the LGBTQ+ community. A recent grant from the PwC Charitable Foundation to HRC will help expand the reach of HRC’s bias-based bullying prevention training and resources for educators and youth-serving professionals. Since FY20, the firm, our people and the PwC Charitable Foundation have given more than $15M to support the LGBTQ+ community. 

At PwC, we believe inclusion is innovation, and that deepening understanding is key to stronger workforces. We’ve long stood with the LGBTQ+ community, and as we look to live our values in our business practices, we remain steadfast in our commitments to support equality both inside and outside of the firm.

Gabriel Sebastian Carrión (He/Him)
Consulting Solutions, Associate

Maria Fotsch (She/Her)
Consulting Solutions, Manager

Bryce Badger (He/Him)
Consulting Solutions, Senior Associate

Lauryn Johnson (She/Her)
Trust Solutions, Associate