LGBTQ+ ERG | Pride at SLAC 2026
Pride Month Wrap-Up
Thank you to the SLAC Community for showing your Pride last month. It was truly heartening to see so many folx participating in the various activities available around the Lab.
Here are some highlights from the month!
We distributed over 150 pins and 500 stickers in locations throughout SLAC - make sure to contact the Council if you’d like more pins or stickers! Keep an eye out for giveaways at future events.
To kick off the month, we posted a banner at the SLAC main gate.
Over 100 staff members joined for the 5th annual pride march on June 2, and folx got creative with chalk drawing at designated locations along the route. Pins, stickers, pride flags, rainbow fans and sunglasses were distributed, and attendees enjoyed a catered lunch and social at the Main Quad after the march. See photos here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCZWXB.
On June 10 we held our monthly Queer+ Connect lunch gathering, on July 1 we discussed Before We Were Trans at a SLAC Reads lunch event, and on June 18 we watched a selection of shorts and enjoyed movie-themed snacks at the Rainbow Reels screening.
Thank you
Sending a HUGE thank you to everyone who helped make the Pride Month events possible:
Bhavna Nayak
Diane Hascall
Greg Stewart
Holly McDiffett-Mahaffey
Jeremy Mock
Katie Roberts
Marla Guttman
Molly Glover
Nicole Neveu
Nikoo Samee
Simon Elmir
Tracy Chalmers
Call for new leadership for the ERG Council
Several members of the LGBTQ+ ERG leadership council will be stepping down this year. Help is needed from the SLAC Community. Please reach out to us if you are interested in joining, or if you have questions.
Reminders
Don’t forget to call out your community/ERG work in your performance review! You’re supporting the improvement of Lab culture, and it is important to highlight this crucial work
While we are very happy to be celebrating, we also want to acknowledge there is much work to be done at SLAC - as always, feel free to reach out to the ERG Council if you have questions/concerns/suggestions about what’s happening around the Lab.
Join us for our next Queer+ Connect monthly lunch gathering on Wednesday, August 12: LGBTQ+ ERG | Queer+ Connect, a casual monthly lunch meetup | SLAC Today
Contact lgbtq_erg_council@slac.stanford.edu
By mollye@slac.st…
Note: stay tuned to this page and the #lgbtq-erg slack channel for updates.
Imagine returning from a long Memorial Day weekend and your colleagues are warmly sharing stories about their adventures with spouses, families, and friends. Yet, amidst these joyful exchanges, you find yourself silent, feeling uncomfortable to share your own experience from Sunday's vibrant Drag Brunch. This scenario is a reality for some, where expressing one's identity freely remains a challenge.
Consider another case where an employee, passionate about a niche hobby commonly celebrated in the LGBTQ+ community, feels the need to suppress their enthusiasm about their leading role at the local queer book club. These instances of self-censorship not only contribute to a sense of isolation, but can impact an individual’s psychological safety and integration within their team. Over time, such experiences can lead to decreased job satisfaction and hinder career progression due to a lack of authentic connections with colleagues.
Pride Month at SLAC is about turning the spotlight on these challenges. It's a time to raise awareness, encourage understanding, and empower both individuals and the organization to foster an inclusive environment.
Through celebrating Pride, we aim to provide everyone the freedom to be themselves, ensuring that all employees, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, feel valued and included.
This June, we invite you to join us in events designed to celebrate and support our LGBTQ+ community
Pride Flag Raising
Tuesday June 4 | 10:30-11 a.m. | in front of SUSB (Building 53)
Kick off the month with us for the Third Annual Pride Flag Raising in front of SUSB
by the flag poles.
Add to your outlook calendar (via SLAC Today)
Pride March
Wednesday June 12 | 12-2 p.m. | SUSB (Building 53) Main Entrance
The Third Annual Pride March will start at noon in front of the SUSB main entrance.
Before the march commences, there will be a short security briefing to ensure everyone's safety throughout the event. Just like last year, we will parade around Loop Road, spreading positivity and inclusivity.
The march serves as a powerful statement of solidarity, demonstrating our unwavering support for equal rights and respect for all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Light refreshments will be provided. Festive dress is encouraged. See photos from last year here.
Event timeline:
- 12 p.m. - Kick off in front of the B53 main entrance. Before the march commences, there will be a short security briefing to ensure everyone's safety throughout the event.
- 12:10 p.m. - Begin the march around Loop Road.
- 12:30 p.m. - End the march at the Main Quad and stay for a gathering, including brief remarks, refreshments and surprises.
We encourage you to invite family and friends to join us for the SLAC Pride March.
Sign up guests here.
Add to your Outlook Calendar (via SLAC Today)
SLAC Reads Discussion
Tuesday June 18 | 12-1 p.m. | SUSB (Building 53) Havasu Conf. Room
The LGBTQ+ ERG is trying something new this year! We invite you to listen to a selection of podcasts related to queer history and some of the queer culture we have in our own backyard here in the Bay Area. Note that Stanford login is required to access the document with the link to the podcasts. The discussion will be held on June 18 and lunch will be provided.
Add to your Outlook Calendar (via SLAC Today)
Rainbow Reels: Nimona
July 10 | 4 to 6 p.m. | Kavli Auditorium
“When a knight in a futuristic medieval world is framed for a crime he didn't commit, the only one who can help him prove his innocence is Nimona -- a mischievous teen who happens to be a shapeshifting creature he's sworn to destroy.”
Our Rainbow Reels selection this year is Nimona. Join us in watching an animated film with 3 awards and 43 award nominations, including an Oscar nomination for best animated feature.
Add to your Outlook Calendar (via SLAC Today)
These events are open to all at SLAC.
Through these initiatives, SLAC’s LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group and the DEI+ Office aim to build a community where everyone can thrive.
Download Pride Month zoom backgrounds here
Join us in making Pride Month a memorable and impactful time at SLAC!
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A note on participation and time-charging: Supervisors are encouraged to allow employees to participate in community activities as operations permit. Employees should charge their usual PA since the activities provide value to SLAC. However, if a particular project requires work to be backfilled during this time, a separate PA number might be required. For employees who are part of a service center, they should charge their shop’s UDT (undistributed time) code. For exceptions or complex charging situations, reach out to your business manager.
