Kinetic and WINPride Celebrate Pride Month with Enthusiasm and Inclusivity

June marks a significant month for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies, commemorating years of struggle for civil rights and the ongoing pursuit of equality. In the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, the New York Police Department raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich village.

At this time, it was common practice for police to raid gay and lesbian bars. This time, though, the patrons decided to fight back. As the police aggressively dragged people out of the bar, angry locals started to gather in the streets. The confrontations escalated, sparking six days of protests and violent clashes with the NYPD. A year later, on June 28, 1970, the first Pride marches were held in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago to commemorate the sacrifices made by the Greenwich Village citizens. This was the beginning of a celebration that continues decades later and has culminated into a colorfully diverse and celebratory time, Pride month.

At Kinetic, we take this opportunity to amplify our support and celebration through our dedicated Windstream employee resource group, WINPride. As we step into June, WINPride has an array of activities and initiatives lined up to celebrate this momentous time both internally and within our local communities.

What is WINPride?

WINPride was established with a mission to increase LGBTQ+ cultural awareness within Windstream, fostering an environment of inclusion for all employees. Through networking, socialization, and professional development opportunities, WINPride aims to enhance the professional environment for everyone. We strive to stand as a beacon of our commitment to nurturing a workplace where every employee feels valued, respected, and empowered.

In the past, WINPride has successfully hosted multiple speaker series aimed at educating our employees on LGBTQ+ issues, posted countless blogs on our internal social media platform targeting topics of interest for our community, and facilitated a great number of virtual member get togethers. Most recently, guest speaker Mackenzie Hart (Learning & Inclusion Manager from PFLAG) was invited to speak toour employees about the PFLAG mission and programs designed to foster allyship within the LGBTQ+ community. Looking forward to the future, WINPride is planning a Pride month celebration to be enjoyed by all with weekly themes, blog posts, and virtual meetings with exciting discussions and games.

We have accomplished a significant increase in membership over the years, with our most recent “Bring a Friend” recruiting event occurring at the end of 2023. This event was a testament to our growing community, welcoming new members while rewarding those who helped expand our reach. This month we plan to capitalize on the momentum of Pride to focus on encouraging more Windstream employees to join us.

Most importantly, WINPride is more than an employee resource group. It is a family of passionate individuals dedicated to making Windstream not just a place to work, but a place where everyone belongs!

Community Outreach: Remembering the past and looking to the future.

WINPride plays a pivotal role in not only supporting our LGBTQ+ employees but also in driving outreach and connection within the LGBTQ+ community. Our goals extend beyond internal inclusivity, and we actively seek to broaden our market share among the LGBTQ+ community, ensuring our services resonate with and support the diverse needs of this vibrant demographic.

Historically, our engagement has taken us to community Pride events all across the country, and this year we have plans for members to attend Pride events in Cleveland, OH; Hastings, NE; and Louisville, KY. The participation in Pride events aligns seamlessly with our broader diversity and inclusion initiatives. By participating in these events, Windstream not only contributes to the visibility and support of the LGBTQ+ community, but also strengthens our internal culture.

In addition to these Pride events, we have also worked in conjunction with one of our other employee resource groups, WINVets, to participate in their annual Memorial Day flag laying ceremony. This event gives us a chance to reflect on the contributions of the veterans who are no longer with us, and honor them by laying a flag on their grave. Members of all Windstream employee resource groups are encouraged to participate in this event. Notably, it is the first veteran service project initiated by Windstream, starting over nine years ago, even before the establishment of any employee resource groups. In 2023, however, WINPride and WINVets partnered together specifically for the event, and it was a rousing success! With both groups working together, we had more volunteers and were able to cover more ground placing flags at our nation’s heroes’ graves.

As we step into the second half of 2024, WINPride Ambassador Program is going to be central to our community outreach efforts. This initiative will empower our members to represent Windstream and WINPride in local communities, including collaboration with groups like PFLAG. Partnership with these groups will allow our members to support, advocate, and participate in LGBTQ+ inclusive activities and volunteer events. Our ambassadors are the heart of our outreach efforts, bridging the gap between Windstream and the broader community and ensuring our support and solidarity are felt far and wide!

To everyone at Windstream, and all of our customers, WINPride encourages you to participate in your local Pride events this June. Supporting the LGBTQ+ community is more than a gesture of solidarity; it’s a commitment to fostering an inclusive, diverse, and spirited society where everyone can thrive. Your presence, participation, and support make all the difference. Let’s make this Pride month a memorable and impactful one, filled with love, unity, and pride in who we are and all that we stand for. Remember, we are #bettertogether!

June marks a significant month for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies, commemorating years of struggle for civil rights and the ongoing pursuit of equality. In the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, the New York Police Department raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich village.