CI&T celebrates Pride Month 2023

This year, we reaffirmed our commitment to supporting, championing, and fighting for the rights of the LGBT+ community with our global theme, "We must continue."

At CI&T, we marked Pride Month with a resounding commitment to the theme of "We Must Continue." This global theme served as a powerful reminder that our support for the LGBTQIAPN+ community extends far beyond the designated month. It underscored our ongoing dedication as allies, advocates, and a model employer for LGBT individuals. Throughout the month, we organized a series of impactful events that celebrated, educated, and engaged our employees.

Brazil: "My Name, My Rights"

At CI&T, we recognize the profound importance of gender-affirming names and documents. We are deeply committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful environment where our people's preferred names and genders are honored.

We are proud to announce our exciting partnership with Casa Neon Cunha to launch "My Name, My Rights," an initiative that aims to provide transformative financial support to CI&Ters seeking to align their identification documents with their true selves. 

Vic Marchiori, Senior Manager of Innovation in People, remarks, “Including transgender people in the workplace is often very complicated. I’m excited to see our organization providing financial assistance to our people in their journey towards dignity.”

Recognizing the power of a name and the significance of gender affirmation, this program stands as a beacon of hope, enabling individuals to embrace their authentic identities with pride and dignity. Together, we are paving the way for a more inclusive future where every CI&Ter's right to self-expression is celebrated and respected.

At our headquarters in Brazil, we celebrated  Pride Day on June 29. This day brought dozens of people from the community and allies to our Campinas office to discuss, learn and share.

We started the morning with a networking coffee providing members of the LGBT+ community the opportunity to learn more about internal and external resources for professional and social mobility. We then hosted a session to clarify our benefits packages, policies, and offerings to ensure everyone knew the benefits available to them regardless of gender or sexual identity. We also held a coworking session moderated by Bianca Amorim, where we discussed ideas to promote more inclusive and proactive recruitment strategies for the LGBT+ community.

At the end of the morning, we brought the collective Capoeira Para Todes, from Campinas, for an artistic performance and a conversation circle, mediated by Antonia Moreira and Rodrigo Bela. We tackled critical issues like building inclusive futures and enjoyed capoeira and vogue performances. Capoeira is an ancient martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics, music, and spirituality created by Afro-Brazilians. Vogue is a dance style created by the LGBTQIAP+ community in New York City. 

For Maria Lua de Oliveira Castilho, a developer who just arrived at CI&T, participating in Pride Day confirmed CI&T was the right place for her. Maria says, “Meeting in person and engaging with other trans people from the area was a highlight for me. I also enjoyed the thoughtful day of programming that was put together. Thank you for bringing Capoeira to Todes. It was too beautiful to see and hear the power of Diameyka in that place”.

For Cris Morais, an ally and Global Mobility Analyst, participating in the community event was a positive surprise "because, in addition to being an event for listening and learning with our people who are part of the community, I was astonished by watching the performances by Capoeira para Todes. It was awe-inspiring and beautiful!”

United States and Canada: Breaking the Bias

During Pride Month, we emphasized the value of education by facilitating Unconscious Bias Training. We understand that fostering an inclusive environment requires continuous learning and growth. By arming our people with awareness, we empower them to recognize and challenge their biases, paving the way for greater empathy, understanding, and collaboration. Through these efforts, we reinforce our commitment to creating a workplace where diversity is embraced and celebrated.

Furthering our commitment to education, North American CI&Ters were privileged to host Dr. Nikita Sheppard from Columbia University. Dr. Sheppard's insightful session helped us better understand the history of gender identity and queerness in the United States.

CI&T Global: Our First Global Pride Panel

At CI&T, we understand the value of listening, the power of storytelling, and the impact of empathy. One of the highlights of our Pride Month activities this year was our inaugural Global Pride Panel. This panel brought together CI&Ters part of the LGBT+ community from Brazil, and the United States, and was moderated by our DEI Specialist/ESG Partner for the Americas, Brittany Bronson. This panel provided a platform for our LGBTQ+ community members to share their unique perspectives, personal journeys, and insights with the larger CI&T community. 

This panel was hosted virtually and made available to CI&Ters in all regions we operate in, including Europe, North, Central, and South Americas, Asia, and the Pacific.
 
One of our panelists, Antonia Moreira, remarked that the global panel was an opportunity to  “generate connections between countries, and allow the LGBTQIAP+ community to learn from the past, and imagine the future together".

Conclusion: Pride the Entire Year

These events and initiatives underscore our unwavering commitment to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. At CI&T, we firmly believe that embracing and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community enriches our organization and fuels innovation. As we reflect on Pride Month, we are inspired to continue driving positive change, standing up against homophobia, transphobia, and all forms of discrimination, and creating a workplace where everyone can thrive.

Together, we will keep moving forward, advocating for equality, and ensuring that every voice is heard and valued.

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