Talus Bio’s Post

Takeaways from Pride 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 Three A's…Authenticity, Abundance, and Assertion This time of year provides just enough proximity to Pride Month for us to remember its strengths and challenges. Our team at GET PHLUID took the opportunity to sit with all we learned during Pride 2023 and to share our insights. 1. Authenticity Authentic support of the LGBTQ+ community helps mitigate backlash on all sides – even from detractors. When a brand is perceived by detractors as inauthentic, they will call it out as pandering to the LGBTQ+ community. Similarly, the community itself will recognize inauthenticity and call it out as tokenizing. Authenticity must be demonstrated and earned. Issues instead of Influencers: Do not rely on influencers who focus more on their own visibility than the visibility of issues affecting their community. Identify a meaningful connection to the community that relates to your business and brand and engage partners who can help you elevate and address that underlying issue. The partners should have subject matter expertise, ideally with experience as close as possible to the issue. Walk First, Then Run: Hastily entering a conversation without adequate listening and learning is reckless. The community can’t (and won’t) extend room for error – the stakes are too high. Detractors will claim it’s the overzealousness of a few executives – placing responsibility with select individuals instead of recognizing progressive organizational culture and widely-embraced values. Take your time, iterate, engage partners, and learn. Don’t be afraid to do something big, but don’t do it out of nowhere. Slow is better than fast – what matters is that your efforts are genuine, meaningful, and informed by the community. 2. Abundance We as humans often view recognition, affirmation and even love as finite. Scarcity mentality is insidious and quick to overcome a consumer’s posture about a brand, meaning that if a consumer doesn’t see themselves in your marketing campaigns, they might think you don’t value them. To say this another way, inclusion of one group could be perceived as erasure of another. One way to ensure your LGBTQ+ inclusion efforts are resilient over time is to show ongoing support for other communities and issues that complement and expand the full picture of your consumer base. “More is more” when it comes to helping everyone feel seen and valued. 3. Assertion Supporting Pride means asserting that LGBTQ+ lives matter to your company. Focus your Pride campaigns on issues that you are equipped to stand by no matter what. Do not waver. There are so many issues affecting the community, sometimes it is better to pick one you support unflinchingly rather than to select the latest issue of the day. Our team is fully committed to bring voice to these insights, supporting our corporate partners with authentic engagement year round To learn more, please visit www.GETPhluid.com #marketing #lgbtq #leadership Rob Smith #ceo

What DEI efforts are making an impact on the life sciences? This #PrideMonth, we’re amplifying LGBTQIA+ voices in the industry. Julio Rojano, Molecular and Cell Biology Research Associate and PRIDE ERN Co-Chair Vertex Pharmaceuticals, shares: "As co-chair for our PRIDE ERN [Employee Resource Network], culture, career and community are spaces we drive positive change from across all our functions. One initiative we successfully implemented was our Self-ID campaign, where we hope to support representation, hiring transparency and expand LGBTQ+ visibility. Our research, innovation, culture and transformative medicine depends on the principle of inclusion, diversity and equity (ID&E). As part of the ID&E Hub team our ERNs are able to effectively represent members across different affinities. As a 'Vertexian,' I am excited to see what we can achieve next in science and in the space of ID&E."

🌈 Celebrating Wear It Purple Day with Mediscrubs! 🌈 Today marks a significant moment as we stand in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community on Wear It Purple Day – an international movement that resonates with our values of inclusivity and support. At Mediscrubs, we believe in embracing diversity and creating safe spaces for all individuals to thrive. Western Health is at the forefront of driving change and fostering a welcoming environment for young members of the LGBTQIA+ community in Melbourne's west. Among the incredible initiatives is The Space, a partnership with Melton City Council, where support and acceptance flourish. Meet Phoenix Dean, a remarkable individual who has found solace and connection through this remarkable service. Last year's Wear It Purple Day acted as a beacon for Phoenix, guiding them to The Space. Since then, they have found not only a welcoming haven but also cherished friendships with fellow queer youth. For Phoenix, days like today hold immense significance. It's not just about the queer community; it's about collective growth and understanding. As they eloquently put it, "It's a day to advocate for and empower young, queer people, and to celebrate the value of diversity and inclusion in all community settings." At Mediscrubs, we echo these sentiments. Our commitment to fostering an environment of acceptance aligns with the essence of Wear It Purple Day. We celebrate not just today, but every day, as an opportunity to stand as allies, to learn, and to promote a world where everyone can flourish. To learn more about the inspiring journey of Phoenix and the importance of Wear It Purple Day, read the full story here: [Link to the Article] 📖👥 #Mediscrubs #WearItPurpleDay #InclusivityMatters #SupportingOurCommunity

🧐 Can trade union conferences feel safer and more inclusive? We think that they can - a case study of NEU LGBT+ Conference. I’d like to share with you some good practice we have uncovered through NEU LGBT+ Educators’ Conference which resulted in our 2024 conference being the most successful yet*. *according to data from our conference evaluation completed by two-thirds of delegates. ⭐️ Sobriety Scheme A completely voluntary scheme for delegates to enter into that invited pledges for total sobriety across the weekend or just one night. Those who took part received a badge to wear. There was no policing but we made sure a range of soft drinks were on offer. Result: More than a quarter of delegates took part and our feed back beamed about the scheme. ❤️ Listeners Team Delegates were invited to be special badge-wearing volunteers who were open for people to talk to about how they were feeling. Led by members of the lay conference steering committee, a briefing and pack was supplied to those who volunteered. Volunteers could only wear the badge if they were sober and communicated with each other via a special WhatsApp group. More than 20 delegates volunteered and, again, our conference feed back beamed. 🤲 Session Carers Every breakout session had a person that clearly identitied themselves and their role in supporting the vibes of the session and being an advocate for an issue that needed challenging. Carers were exclusively members of our steering committee. 🤫 Low Sensory Plan For larger, whole-conference sessions we made sure that a low sensory room was available. Sometimes this looked like a live feed from the main room. These spaces were often used. We also had fidget toys and ear defenders available for delegates. Feed back suggested our low sensory plan had a huge impact on neurodivergent delegates. 😎 Summary: Conference evaluation exercises and intersectional stakeholder groups can identify innovative solutions that are lay-led and delivered. The impacts of these measures resulted in a majority of delegates feeling the benefit. This impact has increased the number of delegates now wishing to take up an elected role in the NEU.

🌍 Today is International Clinical Trials Awareness Day! At Bristol Myers Squibb, we believe that diversity in clinical trials is crucial for advancing healthcare for everyone. By ensuring that our trials reflect the rich diversity of our communities, we can improve health outcomes for all patients. We're proud to be pioneers in normalizing the collection of sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex status (SOGIIS) data in our clinical trials. This initiative helps us understand and address the unique needs of LGBTQ+ individuals, ensuring that our therapies are effective and safe for all. Science and society have a symbiotic relationship. By making scientific information accessible and engaging, we can foster a deeper understanding and inspire collective action towards a healthier, more informed world. I love the science communications role I play to bridge back research and real-world impact, fostering a deeper understanding and trust. Join me in celebrating the importance of inclusive clinical trials. Together, we can amplify the voices of researchers, clinicians, and patients, ensuring that innovation benefits everyone. #BMS_employee #ClinicalTrialsDay #ICTD2024 #DiversityInResearch #HealthEquity #InclusionMatters

Happy International Non-Binary Awareness week! So inspired by people who express themselves in ways that sit outside the binaries of societies assumptions. Also inspired by those people who just quietly know who they are on the inside. Hoping we are moving towards a world where we can all be happy and comfortable being ourselves as loudly or quietly as we want to - in different ways on different days. #nonbinaryawarenessweek #genderdiversity

Folks in the nonprofit sector often talk about being part of movements - the LGBTQ movement, the reproductive rights movement, the movement to end homelessness. I wanted to explore this word and what it means. So I went and found myself a movement builder - the guy you want in your corner if you want to mobilize people to take action. There is really only one guy to find. Jeremy Heimans - you'll want to listen to this conversation. #nonprofit, #nonprofitleadership, #mobilizing, #movements https://lnkd.in/eAR4A_MY

Inclusion is the core principle of a thriving society—the transformation in which all people can engage and know they are welcome. It is an ongoing fight against exclusionary social institutions, practices, and prejudices. The fight needs a coherent strategy that draws allyship, activism, and education into a heterogeneous whole. Nurturing inclusion creates space for a greater diversity of voices and talents, promoting innovation, problem-solving, and a more equitable society. But talking is not enough, and to build inclusion, it takes more than vocal support. We need active allies. We can be allies by standing with marginalized groups. Attending cultural events, volunteering with inclusion groups, or even shopping with diverse businesses all add another thread to the tapestry of inclusion. Finally, giving a voice to inclusion involves advocacy. Lobbying for policies ensuring that employment, educational organizations, and communities are fully inclusive would be one tool of the trade. This could mean contacting your representative, joining advocacy groups, or forming our own.

🌈 Happy Pride Month! 🌈 As we celebrate Pride Month, it's a time to reflect on the importance of equality and inclusivity in all aspects of our lives. This includes not only our personal interactions but also our professional environments. In the cannabis industry, we have a unique opportunity to champion diversity and create a space where everyone, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation, feels welcomed and valued. As an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community, I am committed to advocating for equal opportunities and ensuring that our industry remains a beacon of inclusivity. Cannabis has a history rooted in social justice and healing, and it's essential that we continue this legacy by supporting policies and practices that uplift marginalized communities. From ensuring equal access to employment and leadership roles to promoting LGBTQIA+ businesses and entrepreneurs, we must actively work towards a future where diversity is accepted and celebrated. Let's use this month as a reminder of the progress made and the work that still needs to be done. By standing together and supporting one another, we can create a cannabis industry—and a world—where everyone has the chance to thrive. Happy Pride! Let's keep pushing for a more inclusive and equitable future. #PrideMonth #LGBTQIA #Equality #CannabisIndustry #Allyship #DiversityAndInclusion