As a company, we celebrate PRIDE month annually to honor and support the LGBTQIA+ community and acknowledge our employees' authenticity, while showing our commitment to cultivating a sense of belonging for all, and our ongoing dedication to our diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) efforts. Our Employee Resource Network (ERN), PROUD (Promoting Representation, Openness and Understanding of Diversity), led a variety of events throughout this month, ranging from educational sessions, social gatherings, and viewings of LGBTQIA+ films. Employees at our Boston, Research Triangle Park (RTP) and San Diego locations had opportunities to celebrate in person, while remote employees were able to join in on virtual celebrations.

Boston Pride Parade for the People

Members of our PROUD ERN joined colleagues, family members, partners and friends at this year’s Pride festival and parade in Boston, hosted by Boston Pride for the People. Sporting a Foundation Medicine PROUD banner, rainbows and smiles, our employees contributed to the 10,000+ participants. 

Shae, Talent Acquisition Coordinator, speaks on her experience marching in the parade: “I had an incredible time marching with Foundation Medicine. I’ve never marched in a parade during Pride month before, and it was such an amazing feeling seeing all of the people watching and cheering. My partner marched with me and having his support along with all the support and encouragement from fellow colleagues and the opportunity Foundation Medicine provided us with to be able to participate in this event was so great. The feeling of getting to the end of the parade is one I’ll never forget!” 

Out! Raleigh 

Later in the month, employees at our RTP site had the opportunity to show their pride at the “Out! Raleigh” festival. This event was full of local vendors and artists, live entertainment, food and drinks, and many family-friendly activities. Employees in RTP were able to celebrate PRIDE and the LGBTQIA+ community while connecting with each other. 

Buttons, Bracelets and Ice Cream in Cambridge

At our 150 Second Street office in Cambridge, MA, employees were able to express their creativity with a Pride Button Making event. Employees created buttons from preset designs made by the Foundation Medicine creative team, which included the option to make pronoun buttons, or buttons from their own, original designs. This event brought colleagues together and allowed them to show up as their authentic selves where they could express their own unique identities. 

In addition to our button making activity, employees came together for an ice cream social and rainbow bracelet making, creating bracelets that comprised the colors of the LGBTQIA+ flag.  

Pride Movie Discussion: 'But I'm a Cheerleader!'

Employees from all locations met over Zoom to discuss the cult classic LGBTQIA+ film ‘But I’m a Cheerleader’ starring Natasha Lyonne. This Zoom discussion focused on how the LGBTQIA+ community is represented in media and gave members the opportunity to analyze the film and discuss challenges that individuals in the community face. 

Ovia and Lyra Presentations 

Foundation Medicine’s total rewards team invited Lyra, our mental wellbeing benefit that is provided to employees and their families, to hold a virtual event open to all employees. This event titled “LGBTQIA+: Cultivating Inclusion and Belonging in the Workplace” focused on how companies can help cultivate and create workplace environments that are supportive. FMI’s family health benefit partner, Ovia, also held a presentation titled "Alternative Pathways to Parenting", which dove into LGBTQIA+ family building options, and provided a plethora of valuable insights.

Celebrating our LGBTQIA+ Community, during Pride Month and Beyond

In June and beyond, we are committed to providing a safe and inclusive place for all employees to be their most authentic selves every day. Through programming, open discussions and gatherings within our Foundation Medicine community, we strive to continue to listen, support and learn.