Reflection of the Week
Your Business Is a Form of Protest
Happy Friday, all! And Happy Pride Month!
In light of the recent Supreme Court decision in United States v. Skrmetti—which upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth—it’s clearer than ever that our businesses need to provide more than commerce; they can be platforms for resistance and care.
As LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, each decision we make—from who we hire to the pronouns in our communications to the causes we support—is a statement. In a time when rights are under attack, choosing alignment over convenience sends a message: our community matters, and we will not be erased.
Business as protest doesn’t require grand gestures. It looks like inclusive hiring practices, transparently sharing pronouns, donating to or volunteering for queer-led organizations, or simply sharing your story in marketing materials. It can also involve prioritizing mental health in your workflow to resist hustle culture, embedding mutual aid into your revenue model, or refusing to work with clients whose values directly contradict your own. Whatever ways you choose, you can use your platform in small and big ways to create the change you want to see.
One of my favorite mantras is, “The best sermon is a good example.” Leading through action is some of the most visible—and valuable—protests of our time. Your business is not neutral; it’s either advancing equity or letting systems of oppression flourish. This Pride Month, choose the former.
Here’s to building with pride—and protest,
Brian
Questions of the Week
- Which policies or practices in your business reflect your commitment to queer liberation and protest against injustice?
- Are there partnerships or organizations you can support this month to show solidarity with trans rights?
- What small shift—like adding pronouns to your email signature or donating a percentage of revenue—can you implement now to live your values through your work?
Tool of the Week
Use your business operations as micro-activism. Here are two practical value-led choices to embed this week:
- Align your supply chain & partnerships. Audit vendors and collaborators—prioritize queer-led or LGBTQ+-friendly businesses that share your mission.
- Embed inclusivity in client communications. Add pronouns in your email signature, share affirming language on social posts, or highlight your stance on queer rights in your About page.