On the Rise and Ready to Shine
The Cleveland Event World is About to Take Center Stage
This year Cleveland installed the world’s largest outdoor chandelier. Soon to be outdone the GOP announced Cleveland as their home for the 2016 Republican National Convention. Then the prodigal son of Akron decided he was also ‘Coming Home’. But before any Cavalier games or committee speeches begin, the City of Cleveland will welcome nearly 30,000 guests with very diverse backgrounds as The Gay Games 9 will begin with their opening ceremonies on August 9th.
In preparation for Ohio’s biggest event this year, Positively Cleveland and The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio teamed up this past month to teach companies about accommodating individuals attending the Gay Games. Rock The House was among several companies on hand for the Gay Games LGBTQ Cultural Competency Training Program.
The Cleveland event and hospitality industries have been two of the more inclusive business practices with diverse backgrounds of LGBTQ individuals for several years. The class was a thought provoking discussion with exercises to understand the LGBTQ vernacular as well as helping to define many uncommon phrases used within the community.
The meeting was lead by Christen DuVernay of The Diversity Center of Northeastern Ohio. Among the topics discussed, she brought attention to the ways in which companies can promote inclusion and improve communication while discovering the necessary steps to value individuals.
The attendees also learned different tactics for addressing discriminatory behaviors outside and within their own organizations. The class then examined the difference between microinsulting (using derogatory words to describe a person) and microinvalidation (a form of microaggression that excludes or negates a person’s thoughts or feelings).
The class concluded with a group exercise that dealt with subconscious microinsults and how you would solve issues as an organizational leader.
To learn more about the The Diversity Center of Northeastern Ohio and their mission you can visit them here.
To learn all about The Gay Games and its positive impact on the city of Cleveland, visit GG9CLE.com
