Embracing Diversity: Strategies That Work for Pride Month and Beyond

We all know that DEI initiatives are increasingly more popular among residents and are essential for building a strong community sense. And, since Pride Month just passed us, we took a look at some strategies developers turned to celebrate love, diversity and inclusivity. Every year, they take the chance to show their support for the queer community in significant ways and this year was no different.

Most real estate developers are coming up with unique ways to foster a sense of inclusivity by planning community events, forming collaborations with LGBTQIA+ organizations and decorating buildings with eye-catching Pride decorations. Although some do go beyond to show their support during Pride month, there are also some simple actions you can carry out throughout this period and foster and promote inclusivity.

“The best way to show appreciation to residents and community members is to celebrate their diversity and provide a sense of security. Working with local businesses and talent to curate events is a great way to bring that celebration to life and to demonstrate to all how much you value inclusivity,” Jeff Edelstein, partner at Roadside Development told MHN.

The firm took initiative at the Intersect at O community in Washington, D.C., which is owned in a joint venture with Dantes Partners. Residents could enjoy the Rainbow Reading Room, decorated with rainbow blending elements and could chose from a collection of books honoring LGBTQIA+ writers. The developers also held a drag brunch and block party featuring regional drag queens and local restaurants.

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Let’s take a look at some ways to show support!

Host Pride-themed community events

Multifamily developers and property managers can easily unite the queer community by planning activities or parties. Consider throwing a block celebration where renters can take part in fun activities, listen to live music and get to know each other. This way, you are building a sense of belonging for them and also creating a joyful diverse environment. Howard Hughes Corp. showed its support at Merriweather District in Columbia, Md., by hosting Good Kid-izen, a kid-friendly Pride celebration to foster diversity. Local chalk artists and DJs are part of the events.

“The Good Kid-izen series is a summer-long program full of entertainment and education for kids every other Saturday morning in Color Burst Park. Activities change every week based on the theme. This summer’s activities will include crafts, sing-a-longs, science experiments, DJ dance parties and camp games like sack races and water balloon tosses,” said President of the Columbia Region Greg Fitchitt. Each event in the series highlights the importance of kindness, inclusion, creativity and learning—reflecting values that are close to the heart of Columbia and the Howard Hughes Corp.”

Showcase your pride décor and rainbow flags!

One of the most simple and effective ways to make your community more inclusive and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community is to incorporate the flag or other design elements into your building’s exteriors and interiors. It’s the perfect time to get creative and put out rainbow flags, vibrant lighting or paint murals. All these elements attract onlookers’ attention and foster a friendly, lively atmosphere that expresses the developer’s support for the queer community.

You can even create a special space that features art pieces and work from local artists or authors. “The LGBTQIA+ community is an integral part of DC’s culture and history, and we’re excited to feature local LGBTQIA+ artists and authors within our Rainbow Reading Room installation at Intersect at O apartments and help to elevate their work and voices,” added Edelstein about the Roadside’s initiatives. The firm is taking the initiative by organizing year-round events and installations celebrating the community members.

Promote diversity with LGBTQIA+-friendly amenities

Creating a sense of security and visibility is essential for showing your support for the queer community. Try to come up with creative ideas for respecting different genders and backgrounds. For instance, you could incorporate gender-neutral restrooms in your buildings to create a secure environment. At the same time, you could establish outdoor or indoor meeting spaces or support groups for people within the community. Having a special space designed for the community could be helpful for educating other people on the matter or simply promoting diversity all year round.

“As the community developer in Downtown Columbia, we are committed to creating places welcoming to all. With that, we strive to do our part to educate future generations about diversity and inclusivity from a young age. Our hope is that as these children grow up in our community, they will continue to be encouraged to value kindness and acceptance in all situations,” added Fitchitt.

Roadside Development is expanding its support to other communities besides the Intersect at O. “In Northwest DC, we turned the former private Fannie Mae campus into a public gathering place for the community at City Ridge,” Edelstein mentioned. “There, we’ve hosted dynamic events including book signings, tennis watch parties, holiday markets and more that spotlight local talent, and bring together people from different ages and backgrounds around common interests,” he explained.

Collaborate with local queer organizations

To ensure that your events have a greater impact, consider collaborating with local LGBTQIA+ organizations to host worthwhile initiatives. You can try holding charity events or fundraisers, partner with local queer artists or retailers, providing the community with event or meeting space during Pride month or inviting people from the community to speak about their experience or LGBTQIA+ issues.

This year, Hoffman and Associates, the developers of The Wharf, a DC waterfront neighborhood, partnered with The Washington Blade, an LGBTQIA+-related newspaper and LURe DC, a nightclub for queer women to host Pride on the Pier, a celebration that included a drag show, fireworks show and the Pride parade. “Pride on the Pier is always a special celebration for the community. The annual event provides an additional opportunity to showcase and support our LGBTQIA+ owned and managed businesses at The Wharf,” said Julie Keleti, senior manager of media & marketing at The Wharf.

“Pride on the Pier aimed to establish an inclusive and secure environment, welcoming individuals of all ages to partake in the celebration of Pride. It is the only Pride fireworks show in the region and all other activities are planned to accommodate attendees of all ages,” added Stephen Rutgers, director of sales & marketing at The Washington Blade.

Roadside Development and Dante Partners focused on collaborating with regional organizations and artists. “At all our properties, we also partner with local talent and restaurants to celebrate the diversity of DC, including Intersect at O’s Drag Brunch Block Party, which welcomed some of the region’s most iconic drag queens and music artists,” said Edelstein.

Multifamily marketing: giving a voice to members of the community

Marketing your queer-themed events and showing constant support to the community through campaigns can be an effective tool to showcase your diversity initiatives. You can try to highlight LGBTQIA+ voices and stories in your blog posts or social media campaigns. Try to include their experiences and accomplishments, so that it inspires other members of the community to be a part of your initiatives. You can even reach to residents who are part of the community and show your support. The possibilities are endless!

However, most of these contributions go beyond Pride month and can foster a sense of community for your residents. By encouraging inclusive amenities, highlighting LGBTQIA+ stories and partnering with local organizations, you can easily create an environment where everyone feels welcomed, appreciated and seen.