Motivation Monday is here – pump your fists! This week, everything is coming up rainbows. And who doesn’t love rainbows?!
Yes, it’s Monday. Are you looking for some inspiration and motivation? You’ve come to the right place. If you’re slogging through your morning, let’s get you up and at it, ready to dig into your week. Here, each Monday, we present Motivation Monday tips. We’re here to help get your work week off to a good start.
June is pride month
Never mind motivation Monday, it was Motivation Month back in 1999. At that time, President Clinton declared the month of June the time to formally recognize and celebrate the members and initiatives of the gay and lesbian community. Later, President Obama expanded the terms to be wholly inclusive of everyone, declaring it a month to celebrate LGBTQIA. The effort goes well beyond celebration and is anchored in the critically important aspect of protecting LGBT people from discrimination and violence. Sadly, despite the heightened awareness, acts of violence against transgender people, in particular, continues to rise year over year.
Tips to share pride
There is still a long way to go to make pride, and all things LGBTQ, equitable in society. In fact, quite shockingly, 30 states lack laws that protect LGBTQ people from discrimination in the workplace and bullying in the schools. And suicide is a leading cause of death within the transgender community. These are compelling reasons to get behind Motivation Monday today and get out there to make a difference!
#1 – be yourself
Be proud of who you are and who you have become. Nobody else is living your life – YOU are – so live it as you want to. In a previous column, we talked about joy. And nothing is more joyful than feeling happy and good about yourself!
#2 – be supportive
Open communication and transparency is the key to everything. Through dialogue comes understanding. By creating a safe and supportive environment for your child or your friend or co-worker, you are helping promote acceptance, diversity, and inclusion. All three aspects are critically lacking in society today and need a boost!
#3 – listen with intention
Being straight or binary or something that your friend, child or co-worker is not doesn’t mean that you can’t find a source of connection. A website for LGBTQ allies is emphatic about one tip in particular – listen, don’t preach!
An LGBTQ motivation Monday leader of the pack
Gregory Angelo, pronouns he/him, is one of the 40-under-40 LGBTQ leaders that’s making a difference. He lobbies for conservatives and allies of LGTBQ people. Gregory has already spent more than a decade reaching out to groups that you wouldn’t immediately consider as potential supporters. But he always finds a way.
As the President of Log Cabin Republicans and the Liberty Education Forum, he has successfully lobbied to drive change on critical legislation. Specifically, The Employment Nondiscrimination Act and New York’s marriage equality bill. Gregory is determined to drive equality for LGBTQ people and one of his political briefs was cited in Supreme Court Justice Kennedy’s majority opinion for a critical case. He brings everything down to a level of respect recognizing the people of faith and/or with traditional values may simply lack awareness and hence understanding, so he approaches these groups through education, always trying to find a middle ground. Motivation Monday is 100% behind a successful 2019 Pride Month!